The next morning passed quietly. Too quietly. After breakfast at the hotel, the four of them prepared once again for the final stretch of their journey toward the Stone Claw Pack territory. Despite the calm atmosphere, tension lingered heavily beneath the surface.
Everyone felt it. This ceremony was no longer just a ceremony. It was a test. Possibly a trap. And perhaps the beginning of something much worse. Diana adjusted the sleeve of her dress coat before stepping outside the hotel. The morning air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain. Beside her, Talon scanned their surroundings automatically, his instincts refusing to relax even for a moment.
“We are close enough now,” Fenrir growled internally to Talon. “If something happens, we tear everyone apart.”
“Let us try di
