KIERAN’S POV
The first thing I noticed when we crossed back into Nightfang territory was the silence.
Not the absence of sound—there were still voices, still movement, still the distant rustle of activity as warriors moved through the aftermath.
It was the kind of silence that pressed against the ribs and made every breath feel heavier than it should.
Nightfang had known battles before. We had bled, buried our dead, rebuilt, and stood stronger for it.
But this…this felt different. Quiet in a way that had nothing to do with peace.
I parked haphazardly and stepped out.
Gravel crunched under my boots as I straightened and surveyed what was left behind.
The clearing had been mostly restored, but there were still traces if you knew where to look.
Dark stains that hadn’t fully faded. Shallow gouges carved into stone. The faint metallic scent of blood lingered in the night air.
Beside me, the passenger door opened more slowly.
