Chapter 46

Lorelei Xander’s hand closed around my arm—his grip firm, but careful. His voice dropped, low and insistent. “Foraging for herbs isn’t worth the risk. Not out here.” “I know what I’m doing,” I said, my tone steady, holding his gaze just long enough to make it clear this wasn’t up for debate. I pulled my arm free without hesitation and moved deeper into the undergrowth. Yes, I’d told the others I was gathering wild seasonings for the stew—but that was only half the truth. The real reason ran deeper, and far more urgent. Ever since we’d been stranded here, I’d been scanning these hills for specific plants—the kind that often thrive in dangerous ground. Places like this… where snakes cave. Some of those plants might hold properties that could counter the wolfsbane poisoning slowly killing Alpha Keith’s wolf. Modern medicine had already failed him. This might be his only chance. Stay sharp, Lorelei, I told myself. This is survival. His survival. But it wasn’t only about Alpha Keith. Even i