Caleb's grip on her tightened, offering silent reassurance. Yet, as they approached what seemed to be the center of the pack, the atmosphere grew even more oppressive. Marisol felt as if the very air she breathed carried the weight of the pack's collective anguish.

She struggled to find her voice, attempting to speak through the suffocating fear. "Caleb, something's terribly wrong here," she managed to choke out, her words barely audible.

He held her tightly, trying to offer some ...