The metallic tang lingered in the air, sharp and unmistakable. I froze mid-step, glancing at Asher. His gray eyes were narrowed, alert, muscles tensing even though we were still in the warmth of the packhouse.
“Did you smell that?” I asked quietly.
He nodded. “Yeah. Let’s figure out what’s going on before anyone panics.”
I wrapped a blanket tighter around my shoulders and followed him to the window overlooking the treeline. Moonlight sliced through the branches, revealing shadows that moved just slightly differently than the rest of the forest.
Gage and Arlo, who had been teasing Emily just moments before, had sensed it too. They appeared behind us, tense, every instinct on edge.
“Something’s out there.” Gage muttered, his eyes scanning the darkness. “And it’s not small. I can smell i
