Astella’s pov

The night had settled into an eerie stillness that matched the unsettled feeling gnawing at my insides. Though the battle was won, the victory had come at a cost I wasn’t yet willing to face. The pack had returned to the safety of the house, our bodies battered but not broken. Dre's mother had given me the peace of knowing Emerald was safe, but my mind couldn't quiet its unease.

I was standing in the quiet of my room, staring out into the night, when the door creaked open. I turned to see Thane step inside, his face marked by the signs of the battle—blood smeared across his...