The forest surrounding Moonflare hummed quietly in the early morning light, birds chirping and the leaves rustling in the breeze. The packhouse sat comfortably in the clearing, smoke curling from the chimneys, wolves moving between the stone and timber buildings with a calm energy. Yet beneath the surface, tension simmered.
Taryn and Justin had been with us for a few days now, integrating themselves into the pack’s routines. Their skills were undeniable, their strength and precision evident in every move they made. But even as they trained younger wolves, something about their presence unsettled me. The Moonbound bond picked up small inconsistencies in their energy, subtle hesitations, a trace of unspoken knowledge.
I found Asher watching from the porch, our son bouncing happily in his a
