CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I pace outside the ancient, timber cabin that serves as our pack's meeting hall. My nails dig into my palms, nerves jangling like a chain in the wind. The sun is setting, casting a golden hue over the mountains, but the beauty of it all does little to ease the turmoil within me.
"Jones," I call out, spotting the older wolf emerging from the shadows. His grey-flecked fur, visible even in his human form through his unruly beard, marks him with wisdom and years of experience. "I need to talk to you."
He pauses, leaning on his walking stick, his weathered face creasing into what passes for a smile around here. "What's weighing on your mind, Ava?"
"Ethan." The name falls heavy between us. A rogue wolf, Ethan's sudden presence in the West Mountains has everyone on edge—every
