The noon sun rose higher above the estate, yet its warmth did little to soften the tension that lingered near the gate, for what had begun there had not ended, it had only changed shape.
Elara stood unmoving where she had faced the unseen presence, though the distortion had faded for now, leaving behind only the echo of something far greater than any of them had expected.
The foreign wolves remained just beyond the threshold, their formation intact, yet their posture had shifted in ways that could not be mistaken, the subtle lowering of shoulders, the quiet recalibration of gaze.
Alessandro's presence remained beside her, steady, grounded, though the tightness in his jaw had not fully eased, his awareness still stretched outward, still searching for what had not yet revealed itself again.
"…that wasn't normal," one of the foreign wolves murmured.
His voice barely carried.
