Damien stayed standing after the fire died down.

The room smelled faintly of smoke. Ash settled on the stone floor. Ivy stood with her arms crossed, her face calm but her eyes restless.

“There’s something else,” Damien said.

Ivy turned to him. “Say it.”

“Alpha Ren was here last night,” Damien said. “Not openly. He didn’t cross into the inner pack. But he roamed the borders.”

Ivy did not react at once. She only nodded slowly.

“He was checking the guards,” Damien ...