“Julian,” she breathed.
He stopped just short of her, his hand reaching out instinctively to steady her by the arm. His gloves were cold against her skin.
“Easy,” he said quietly. “Easy there. What is it?”
“I-I couldn’t find anyone,” she gasped, “They’re gone, all of them. The Sawmill’s empty, nobody’s picking up my calls—”
“Slow down.” His tone was calm but tight, his eyes scanning the clearing. “Start from the beginning.”
Layla tried to speak, but her throat felt too dry. She swallowed hard, the words tumbling out. “They’re gone. I had a vision, I don’t know when, maybe a few hours ago, maybe longer. There were wolves, Volkhov and Norden, fighting hybrids in the snow. And an avalanche. It—it swallowed everything. I think they’re in danger, Julian. Iknowthey are.”
Julian’s gaze snapped to her at that. The faintest flicker of color drained from his face. “You’re certain?”
“I saw it,” she whispered, “Ifeltit.”
Julian didn’t argue.
He turned his head slightly, scanning the tree line as though he expected to see movement there. His usual composure, the cool, measured control that made everyone in Skymist wary of him, had faltered. There was tension in the line of his shoulders now, an alertness that made her blood run cold.
Layla grabbed his sleeve. “Where are they?”
He hesitated a heartbeat too long. “Dominic led a team out before dawn. Theodore and the other Volkhov warriors, Arthur, and the rest of the Nordan. We found a trail near the mines at Voskresen. They went to track it.”
Layla’s blood ran cold. “Then they’reout there.”
“Yes,” Julian said, voice low. “And if your vision’s right—”
“They’re walking into a trap.”
He met her eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The fog thickened around them, curling like breath through the trees.
Layla’s hands clenched at her sides. “We have to go after them.”
“Layla—”
“I’m serious.” Her voice cracked. “I need to warn them. Wait…why aren’t you with them?” He didn’t answer immediately, and she turned to him slowly, voice dropping low. “Why aren’t you with them, Julian?”
“Dominic commanded me to stay here,” Julian said, jaw tight, anger flinting in his eyes. “He didn’t want to leave the town utterly without protection from alphas.”
“You’re going to protect the whole town?” Layla said, unable to stop the note of derision in her voice.
She gave her a sharp look. There was something else beneath it. Something worn and open. A plea, almost.
“Oh,” she said, voice small, “he didn’t tell you to protect thetown, did he?”
“No,” Julian said, “he did not.”
“He wanted you to…to protect me?”
She hated how tiny her voice was, how filled with stupid, childishhope.
“If Leonid got word in time that both packs have left Skymist, had leftyouunguarded…” Julian said, his voice trailing off.
“I can handle myself against Leonid,” Layla said, “I half grew up with him.”
“Trust me,” Julian said, his voice turning dark, “he’s not the same male he used to be. I’m not sure anything can bring him back from the brink.”
