Page 48 of The Pack

When Magnus pulled back, his piercing gaze shifted to me, a silent question in his eyes. I nodded, my chest tight with emotion.

Zara smiled between us, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brighter than the sunrise.

For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped. Like nothing existed outside this tiny clearing, with the three of us and the promise of something more, something incredible.

But then the sounds of the waking forest broke through the quiet.

Tobias appeared, scanning the clearing before he turned to Zara and me. I didn’t miss the slight smirk that tugged at his lips, but he didn’t comment on what was happening between the three of us.

He knelt beside Zara, his voice gruff.

“Sleep well?”

She nodded, her cheeks still flushed.

His lips quirked. “Good. We’ll need your energy today.”

Killian appeared, his ever-present grin widening when he saw the three of us.

“Oi, lovebirds,” he called. “Save some of that for later.”

Thorne was the last to join us, his pale eyes flicking from Zara to me and Magnus, then to the others. There was the slightest smirk on his lips that was a rarity to see and that made my heart warm with emotion. He’d been through a lot, and he deserved a little bit of happiness.

We all did.

Tobias rose, his gaze fixed on Zara. “Come,” he said. “We have a long way to go today.”

Zara nodded, her expression quickly becoming determined. I helped her up, my fingers brushing against her skin and sending a spark of desire through me right down to my cock.

I swallowed, pushing it aside.

Now wasn’t the time.

We set off, the quiet of the forest wrapping around us like a blanket. The morning air was crisp and fresh, the sunlight dappling through the leaves and branches.

As the day wore on, the terrain grew rougher, the path winding its way up the side of a steep mountain. The trees began to thin out, leaving rocky ground and scrubby bushes in their place. Zara walked ahead of me, her steps cautious but steady, her eyes darting to the shadows like she expected something to leap out at any moment.

I didn’t blame her.

This place had its way of making you feel like prey being hunted at every step.

Tobias led the group, his broad shoulders cutting through the underbrush, while Magnus scanned the path ahead. Killian brought up the rear, his easy grin belying the tension in his body, while Thorne moved like a shadow at the edges, his pale eyes always watching.

Something felt off.

The scent hit me first—a faint trace on the wind, sharp and musky. It wasn’t quite feral, but it carried the desperate edge of wolves on the brink.

“Do you smell that?” I said, keeping my voice low.

Magnus stiffened, his hand already reaching for the blade at his hip. “I do.”

Zara glanced back at me, her eyes wide. “What is it?”

“Wolves. Ferals, maybe,” Tobias growled, his tone grim. “Close.”

Magnus held up a hand, motioning for us to stop. The group fell silent, our breaths held as we strained to listen. The faint sound of snapping twigs reached my ears, followed by a low, guttural growl that sent a chill racing down my spine.

“They’re moving fast,” Thorne said quietly.

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