Athena

The forest was quiet, but it wasn’t peace that hung in the air—it was the oppressive calm before a storm. Every rustle of leaves, every shift in the shadows, sent a jolt of tension through me. Gian had retreated with the remnants of his forces, but I could feel the weight of what was coming. His rage wasn’t just anger; it was a tempest of fury, betrayal, and obsession, and it would sweep through our pack like wildfire if we weren’t ready.

I sank to the moss-covered ground, ...