Each village they passed through came with its own ceremony: curious villagers, brief meetings with local alphas, and polite exchanges. At first, she thought it was part of some formal custom.
But with each new stop, something felt off.
The energy in the air grew heavier, as if the very earth recoiled under her boots when she stepped down. Tempest, her wolf, stirred restlessly beneath her skin, whispering warning after warning.
Watch. Listen. This is not safe.
River clenched her fists discreetly in her lap. She was grateful for Tempest’s presence, but also painfully aware of the risks. She couldn’t shift—not now. Not when it could harm the pup. That limitation wrapped itself around her like chains.
When they finally arrived at Lord Diego’s estate, dusk had already bled across the sky,
