The night was thick with a heavy calm, the forest beyond the packhouse dark but still. The wolf remained in its pen, lying on its enormous paws, chest rising and falling steadily. From upstairs, I could hear the faint creak of floorboards as Gage and Arlo shifted their positions, trying to get comfortable for their first watch.
Emily sat on a folding chair beside the pen, blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She wasn’t speaking, just observing, but her energy seemed to ripple through the twins. I could sense it even from a few feet away. The way their shoulders relaxed, the way their eyes followed her subtly whenever she shifted, like they were subconsciously seeking approval. It made my stomach twist in an odd mix of unease and frustration.
“Do we… have a beta?” Gage asked quie
