Ethan was coming back from the barracks in the early hours of the morning after his duties, when he noticed the crowd situated in front of the west wing of the pack's house.
At first, he paid them no attention. The courtyard was rarely quiet, especially because of the preparations for the hunt. But there was something strange about the way everyone had gathered.
They were staring at something.
Ethan slowed, his instincts going sharp and cold. His gaze moved past the men and women clustered near the edge of the courtyard until something familiar caught his eye.
A flash of vibrant red.
His steps stopped dead.
There was a woman kneeling on the frozen stone several yards away, a coarse, thin blanket wrapped around her trembling shoulders. Her head was bowed, her red hair spilling over the wool.
Ruri.
Ethan stared, his chest tightening so hard it hurt. No. It couldn't be.
Then he heard a whisper from the crowd.
"Lady Ruri has been out there since last night."
