"We're going back."
Haelyn's voice cut through the smoky air like a blade.
Archer froze mid-step. "Back? To the packs?"
Seraphis turned sharply. "You said you wanted to disappear."
"I did," Haelyn said. "But disappearing won't end this. And it won't protect him."
She adjusted Ezra in her arms. The baby stirred, his tiny brows twitching like he sensed the tension weighing on the air.
"We go back. We clean house. We rebuild."
Artemis leaned against the crumbled cave wall, arms crossed, jaw tense. "You know what's waiting for us there, right?"
"I do."
"Half the packs think your son is a curse."
"Let them."
He stepped forward. "Some of them will try to kill him."
"I know."
Her voice didn't tremble.
"I don't care how many wolves are foaming at the mouth for our blood," Haelyn said. "They can bite. I'll bite harder."
Archer stared at her. "Why now?"
Haelyn's eyes didn't leave Ezra's face.
"Because I'm done running."
She looked up, jaw set.
