Chapter 116

Aubrey's POV Knox opened the gate to Lena's garden, the hinges creaking softly as we stepped onto the winding stone path. Sera was nowhere to be seen—perhaps she'd given us privacy for whatever revelation Knox was about to share. The cottage looked the same as I remembered from our brief visit before, but the atmosphere felt charged with anticipation. To my surprise, Knox didn't lead me toward the cottage itself. Instead, he guided me to a small path branching off to the right, almost hidden by overhanging branches of flowering bushes. We followed this narrower trail in silence, his hand warm and steady around mine despite the nervous energy I could feel radiating from him. "Where are we going?" I finally asked as the path began to slope downward, leading us deeper into the wooded area behind Lena's cottage. "A sacred place," Knox answered, his voice hushed with reverence. "One few pack members ever see." The path ended at a small clearing surrounded by ancient oak trees, their massive