The sound of approaching horses rolled across the valley in slow, steady rhythms, carried by the morning breeze. Every member of the group instinctively fell silent, listening as the hoofbeats grew clearer with each passing moment.Scarlett carefully folded Elena's letter and slipped it inside her jacket before closing the wooden box. Whatever happened next, she refused to leave behind anything her mother had protected with her life.Lucas noticed the movement and gave a slight nod."Good."His voice remained barely above a whisper."If they've followed us this far, we assume they know this place."Scarlett agreed.The hidden compartment beneath the stones was still open. Anyone arriving now would immediately know someone had discovered Elena's first secret.The advantage of surprise was already gone.The Black Fang Alpha looked toward Ethan."How many?"Ethan had climbed halfway up a rocky slope to gain a better view of the valley. Remaining low, he watched the ridge through the bran
Read more