Chapter 13

Hours later sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting golden light over the trees. Zoe stood beside Nikola and Dominic at the parking in front of school border, while their parents exchanged quiet words nearby.

Sara joined them, her usual upbeat demeanor slightly muted by the weight of the goodbyes. Her parents had already said their farewells, her mother wiping away tears as her father tried to keep his composure.

Zoe’s father, Thomas, approached, his expression a mixture of pride and sadness. “You all ready for this?”

Dominic, ever the stoic one, gave a sharp nod. “We’re ready. Nighthaven will be good for us. We’ll learn what we need to.”

Zoe watched him carefully, sensing the resolve in his voice but also something else. Dominic had been particularly focused on this trip, driven by more than just his duties as Alpha Philip’s son. There was a part of him that seemed... distant, as if his mind was already at Nighthaven, focused on something beyond the pack.

Before she