“I made sure she wasn’t around before I left. I’m guessing she went into the forest to look for you.” I watch my right-hand man start to pace, a look of angry frustration on his face. “If it weren’t for the promise you extracted from us, we would have been out there searching for you first.”

I shake my head. “I already told you, if anything happens to me, you are not to interfere. We cannot afford for the rest of you to fail, too. The pack needs you. When I go, you’re the next ...