(Caius)
By the time Isla and I reached the pack house again, night had fully settled over Ashcrest. Torches burned along the outer paths while royal guards continued moving through the territory below. Wolves stayed quieter now than they had earlier, careful around the guards stationed throughout the grounds.
Nobody stopped us when we entered. The halls felt calmer too. Not peaceful. Ashcrest would never become peaceful overnight after what happened here. But controlled. That mattered.
I felt Isla's hand remain in mine while we moved through the corridor together. She no longer watched the floor while walking through this place. No hesitation remained in her steps either. Good. That part of her was disappearing little by little.
The guards outside our quarters straightened immediately
