Chapter 7: The Spark of Suspicion

The fragile, bitter truce between Caleb and me stretched thin. My newfound weapon—his jealousy—was a double-edged sword. It gave me a perverse sense of power, but it also made him more volatile, more watchful. Orion, sensing the heightened tension, kept his distance, though his kind eyes still sought mine across the courtyard, a silent promise of a world beyond these walls. The pack, however, was buzzing with a different kind of energy. The annual Harvest Moon Festival was approaching, a...