Did you see that?Sage growls.
Yeah.I slow, scanning the sky.What’s Grant doing with the drone this late?
Sage shakes his fur out.Not that. I meant the bird.
What about it?
It’s been getting too close to the drone lately. Grant has been trying to chase it off, but it keeps returning.
I frown, watching the raven circle overhead, wings barely moving.Forest would be pissed if it broke the drone. That thing cost a small fortune.
Come on,Red urges, leading the way.Let’s get home.
I pick up the pace.
Sage bumps my side.We’re planning a trip into Prodigy soon.
What for?
Supplies. And to meet up with some… contacts.His tone dips at the same time his tail flicks.
Who?
Kaine wants to meet with us.
I stop.Any reason?
He thinks he may have found where one of them is hiding.
The cold seems to thicken around us. My hackles rise.And you’re just telling me this now?If they have information on the coven, I need to know.
Red growls, low and warning.We just found out this morning. We’re still sorting the details.
Why only one?
We don’t know.Sage turns toward the trees.Kaine just said they’ve found one, and they’re alone.
I doubt that.My muscles tense.The others are probably just hiding inside. Same as they did at the club. Foxx made Rip do all the dirty work.
Sage glances at me.Calm down, nephew. I know what you’re feeling and—
Yeah? How could you possibly know what I’m feeling? Your mate’s life isn’t on the line!
Not right now,Sage fires back,but it has been in the past. You know that.
I bare my teeth and turn away, leaping across the creek. Cold water bites at my paws, grounding me for a heartbeat before the anxiety pushes back.
They catch up fast.
Red speaks first.The bond is making you antsy.
This isn’t the bond!I snap.This is stress. I need to keep him safe.
They exchange a look—shared understanding, shared history. Sage would be rolling his eyes if he had a face right now.
You need to claim him,Red says, slower this time, exhausted from the day’s run.Your wolf is restless without that connection.
I recoil.I can’t yet.
