Alpha’s Claimed Mate.
Only his pendant remained, charred and cracked.
Maren screamed his name. Lupa pulled her back, dragging her from the fight. Asher, watching from the ledge above, felt the ridge pulse again—hungry. Angry.
They hadn’t just disturbed the dead. They had woken something.
---
PRESENT – THE BIG HOUSE AT DAWN
Asher sat by the hearth, staring into the dying embers. Ember entered quietly, wrapping her shawl tighter against the morning chill.
"You had the dream again," she said. It wasn’t a question.