Peace does not break all at once.
It unravels.
Thread by thread.
Morning comes quietly—but the unease remains.
The camp moves as usual. Wolves train, patrols rotate, leaders meet.
On the surface, everything looks stable.
But beneath it—
Something is wrong.
Aria feels it the moment she steps out into the clearing.
Eyes follow her.
Not all of them loyal.
Not all of them trusting.
Her silver wolf stirs low in her chest.
Watching. Listening.
Not for enemies outside.
For something closer.
Kael approaches, already tense.
“You feel it too,” he says.
Aria nods slightly.
“It’s spreading.”
“What is?”
She scans the camp again—small groups whispering, wolves falling silent when she passes, subtle glances exchanged.
“Doubt.”
Kael exhales sharply.
“That didn’t take long.”
“No,”
