The journey back to the Blackwood camp was quieter than Lyla expected. The usual playful banter and camaraderie among the wolves had been replaced by a solemn silence. Even Mason, who rarely missed an opportunity to needle someone, walked in silence, his expression unreadable. The victory over the Dark Root’s heart had been monumental, but its cost was still being measured.

Lyla felt a deep weariness settling into her bones. Her connection to the forest had strengthened in ways she could ...