Lucia watched as Jax disappeared into the forest, his form quickly swallowed by the dense foliage. Her heart ached at the sight of him leaving, but she knew it was the right decision. Jax was swift and clever, and he would make it back to the pack with the vital information they had gathered. She, on the other hand, would stay behind to gather more intelligence and maintain the guise of a lost villager.
As the camp came to life around her, Lucia made her way to the cooking area. The soldiers were preparing a simple meal of grilled deer meat and bread, but Lucia had other plans. She had gathered a variety of herbs and vegetables from the forest, and she knew she could make something far more satisfying.
"Let me help," she offered, stepping up to the cook.
The cook, a burly man with a per
