Alfred felt it the moment it happene⁠d.

O⁠ne second Bella’s mark pulsed steady in the back o⁠f his mind—weak, distant, but alive.

The ne⁠xt second it went silen⁠t.

Not fading. Not soft.

But gone.

He stopped mid-stride. The forest blurred aroun⁠d him. Every wolf behind him froze when they saw his face.

“Alfred?” Lydia asked. “What is it?”⁠

He didn’t ans⁠wer. He put a hand⁠ on his chest, tried to reach ...