As the pack breaks into smaller groups to plan and assign scouts, Grayson keeps his hand in mine.He doesn’t ask questions and he doesn’t push.But the bond hums with quiet awareness.He knows there’s more.Iknow there’s more.
And the dead aren’t done with me yet.This was only the first warning.
Chapter Eight
Grayson
I’ve learned the difference between fear and certainty.
Fear is loud.It rushes your blood and narrows your vision until everything looks like a threat.Certainty is quieter.Heavier.It settles into your bones and refuses to move no matter how much you wish it would.
Today, Trinity radiates certainty.Not confidence.Not calm.
Knowing.
The pack shifts around after her words, voices lowering, bodies angling inward as plans adjust and instincts sharpen.Caine doesn’t bark orders.He never does because he doesn’t have to.He listens, weighs out the options, and chooses the course that is best for the entire pack.
He is a good leader and a fair Alpha.And he leads this pack with compassion and care.But I see it in the set of his shoulders, by the way Peyton’s hand tightens on his forearm.This isn’t a maybe.It’s just a matter of time.
Trinity stays close to me as the groups split off to prepare.She’s steadier now, her earlier tremor replaced by something like grim resolve.Whatever she saw, or heard, it’s anchored her instead of breaking her.
That scares me more than panic ever could.
Max joins us near the edge of the compound, his gaze still fixed on the tree line.“Our scouts will move in pairs,” he says.“They’ll go in quiet and they will not engage.”
Caine nods.“We confirm before we commit.”
Talon snorts softly.“Hunters don’t usually set this much stage without expecting applause.”
Calum glances at Trinity, then back to Caine.“She didn’t guess.”
No one argues.That’s the Katu pack way.When something feels real, we don’t waste time pretending otherwise.
As the pack disperses, I turn to Trinity.“Walk with me.”She nods immediately.
We take the same outer path as before, but the air feels thicker, more charged this time.My wolf is restless, pacing hard under my skin, reacting to something I can’t see but can sense through her.
