Chapter 17

KNOX'S POV The walk from Father's study felt endless. Jax followed silently beside me, his footsteps matching mine as we passed through the torch-lit corridors. My mind raced with questions, but I knew better than to ask them here, where the stone walls had ears. We reached the castle's main entrance, where guards snapped to attention at our approach. The morning sun was high now, warming the cobblestone courtyard. Warriors were still training in the distance, their shouts carrying on the breeze. Everything looked so normal, as if my world hadn't just been turned upside down. "Come on," Jax said, already stripping off his formal shirt. "Let's run." I eyed him suspiciously. "Now?" "Now." There was something in his voice that brooked no argument. Whatever he needed to show me, it couldn't wait. We headed for the tree line, our boots crunching on fallen leaves. As soon as we were under the cover of the forest, Jax began to shift. I followed suit, letting my wolf take over. The familiar se