HUNTER POV
The moment Lyra followed Luna Alice through the French doors and disappeared into that sun-drenched veranda, a weight settled in my chest. Not the crushing kind that steals your breath—no, this was heavier in a quieter way. Like something important was happening and I wasn’t allowed in. Like I was watching her walk into the unknown and all I could do was stand back and trust her to come back whole.
Trust.
That’s what it boiled down to, right? Trusting her. Trusting the Queen Witch.
Still, I couldn't help the anxious beat of my pulse as I lingered near the bottom of the stairs, staring at the place she’d vanished. My hands itched with the urge to follow, to stand guard like I was trained to do. But this wasn't a rogue ambush or a skirmish on pack borders. This was Lyra steppi
