Karl's POV
The forest holds an unnatural silence tonight. The kind that sets every nerve on edge.
Earlier, before our first joint patrol, I had assembled the new enforcers in the clearing beyond the cabins. The Midnight wolves formed a tight semicircle, their disciplined stance impressive as I prepared to extend the pack link. Allowing outsiders into the sacred mental connection felt strange, almost invasive. Their presence would feel different, colder, but communication during patrol demanded this temporary bond.
"While you're here, you answer to me," I announced, my voice carrying the unmistakable weight of Alpha authority.
