The forest was alive with tension, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Elena and Liam stood in the clearing, the ancient oak tree looming before them like a silent sentinel. The Alpha's words echoed in their minds—*the true danger lies not in the forest, but in the hearts of men*—but the meaning still eluded them.
As they waited, the shadows around them seemed to shift and move, the trees closing in like a living prison. The air grew heavier, the sense of unease growing stronger with each passing moment.
"What do you think the Alpha meant?" Elena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam hesitated, his gaze flickering to the trees before returning to her. "I think he was warning us," he said. "The darkness we faced before—it's not gone. It's just... changed."
Elena's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Changed how?"