NATHAN’S POV
We descended from the ridge just before sunrise. The blood hadn’t dried from the last fight. Vivian walked on her own, but barely. Theon hadn’t said much since we bound the prisoner and left him with our scouts. Sophia hadn’t looked back once.
I didn’t blame her. Neither did I.
We knew where the twins were now. That changed everything. It made every heartbeat feel heavier. Every delay feel dangerous.
We stopped at an old ranger station half swallowed by moss and time – an outpost from before the packs ran these lands. Good cover. Enough distance from the lodge to regroup. Not enough to make me feel better.
I stood outside, arms crossed, eyes scanning the treeline.
The twins were close. I couldn’t feel them, not exactly, but something kept clawing at the back of my mind. Their presence. Their scent. Their fear. It didn’t feel like instinct anymore. It felt like need.
And rage.
“You’re vibrating.” Theon said behind me. “I’ve only seen you like this once.”
“When?” I asked, s
