: N

story, and if you paid attention, you could read it. I had taken my time, walking along the edges of the territory where the forest began to thin and the brush became dense, looking for any sign that the rival pack's sco

ll changes in the leaf litter, and pawprints that were too big and too planned to be from my own pack. My heart started to race. The scout had come back, or maybe the other pack was testing the borders, looking for weak

they might take, the pros and cons of the terrain, and where I could hide if I had to fight. My muscles tightened and coiled like springs as I thought about different situations: one scout alone, two moving slowly, and a fu

growing bravery, and everything we had built in secret. I took a deep breath, taking in the earthy smell of the forest and grounding myself. Then I quietly moved along the edge of the territory, following the faint trac

limits, or just getting information to share with their pack? And if they did find us, how many would come with us? The thought of a fight made my

he air changed slightly, and the leaves brushing against their paws made a faint noise. There. Moving slowly and on purpose, weaving between the trees just outside the border. I counted them carefully in my h

even roots made me think about how I could use the land to my advantage. I could set traps, make distractions, or just watch until I had enough information to c

ing all my senses sharper. Someone I didn't expect had come into the woods. My heart raced and my pulse quickened as I thought about the options. Could it be one of the Betas who is pat

he woods with that familiar, almost unnoticeable grace, his eyes scanning the area, alert, and commanding. My chest tightened, my breath caught, and for t

mehow shown up out of nowhere. Everything got harder because Kael was there. I couldn't see his eyes, but I could feel them going through the trees, the leaves, and maybe even my own thoughts. I had trained

m. My hands shook a little, not just because I was scared, but also because of the stress, the adrenaline, and the strange thrill of having my carefully laid plans interrupted b

ould be more aggressive and use the terrain to my advantage, attacking before either side knew I was there. My mind worked quickly, weighing the odds, figuring

without knowing that I was watching them. I felt a strong urge to protect my pack, Lyra, and the others. I also felt the pull of curiosity, the undeniable inte

re listening, sensing, or figuring something out. My heart skipped a beat. Did he know about the scouts? Did he know who I was? Or was he follow

th to calm myself down and thought about a small move that could change their course without a fight. It would be a subtle intervention that would keep my pack safe without g

an, Kael's voice broke the silence. It wa

n a way that was both scary and impossible to ignore. I couldn't move; my heart was racing a

out plan, my strategic advantage, and my control over the situation had all

eful placement of threats and defenses in the delicate dance I had planned was no longer useful. Then his shadow moved closer

. And I didn't know if he wou