Chapter 20

 The Ties That Bind

The days following Daniel's departure felt like a long stretch of quiet tension. Eric went through the motions of his duties as Alpha, but his mind was elsewhere, constantly replaying our last conversation and the implications of what he'd said.

 If there truly were packs backing the rogues, then this wasn't just a matter of defending their territory—it was an all-out war for dominance, a war they weren't prepared for.

Eric found myself standing at the edge of the forest more often than not, staring into the trees, wondering when the next move would come. The sun was setting now, but it did little to soothe his nerves. Each patrol report that came back without incident felt like a ticking clock, counting down to something he couldn't see.