Chapter 106: The Monster in the Woods

The night air was thick with tension, the scent of damp earth and pine settling over White Moon's territory like a warning.

Bella stood at the edge of the forest, her golden-brown eyes locked on the spot where the shadow had disappeared.

Her heart pounded violently.

Because she knew what she saw.

It wasn't a rogue.

It wasn't a wolf.

It was something else.

Something old.

Something wrong.

"Bella?"

Dante's voice was low, rough with sleep, but the second he saw her standing by the window, stiff, tense, breathing too fast—

He was awake.

"What is it?"

Bella turned to him, her skin crawling, her instincts screaming.

"Something was out there."

Dante's blue eyes darkened.

"A rogue?"

Bella hesitated.

Then—

She shook her head.

"No. It wasn't a wolf."

Dante went completely still.

"Then what was it?"

Bella exhaled shakily, pressing a hand against her chest as if she could physically shove away the unease twisting inside her.

"I don't know."

But deep down?

She had a terrifying feeling that whatever she had seen wasn't just lurking.

It was waiting.

Watching.

And soon?

It was going to strike.