The moment the young woman vanished, Kael growled low in his throat, his entire body tense as his wolf instincts kicked in. Gina and Sarah immediately moved to Lyra's side, their sharp gazes scanning the darkened forest. The air thickened, heavy with something unseen yet watching, lurking just beyond their reach.
"This is a trap," Kael muttered, his fingers curling into fists. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted her."
Lyra ignored him.
Because she heard her.
A voice—soft, yet firm—whispered in her mind. Come.
She didn't question it. She took a step forward.
Kael grabbed her wrist before she could go any further. "Lyra—what are you doing?"
She turned to him, eyes unwavering. "She's calling me."
Kael's jaw tightened. "We don't know who she is or what she wants."
Lyra placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "I have to do this."
