The clearing had emptied, but the silence it left behind felt heavier than noise.The moon still hung high above Shadowpine, bright and unwavering, as if unaware of the fracture it had caused inside the future Alpha of the pack. Kael stood alone near the edge of the training grounds, his hands braced against the rough bark of an ancient oak. The night air carried its usual scents pine, earth, distant water but none of it grounded him the way it normally did.For the first time in years, Kael Blackthorne felt uncertain.He replayed the moment again.The silver glow around Ayla.The way