Chapter 21 The Morning After

• The dawn light crept gently through the trees, casting a pale gold sheen over the bloodstained forest floor. Ivy stood at the edge of the clearing, barefoot, wrapped in the tattered remains of the shirt she’d shifted out of the night before. The battle was over—but its echoes were still humming in the air.
• Around her, the camp was quiet, broken only by the sounds of rustling leaves and low murmurs. Some wolves were tending to the wounded. Others patrolled the borders with watchful eyes, ensuring the rival pack hadn’t left a trap in their retreat. The fire from last night had dwindled to glowing coals, its warmth fading.
• Ivy closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of pine, smoke, and blood. It felt like something had changed—not just in the pack, but within her. A deeper tether, a stronger pull, like the Blood Bond had awakened something ancient in her veins.