84. Awakening of The Horror

With a frustrated groan, he bent down and hoisted Jayden into his arms, slipping toward the cracked window. Jayden’s unconscious body slumped against him like dead weight, but Ryanne managed to climb through, disappearing into the night just as footsteps echoed down the corridor. The heavy door creaked open. Hawkbone stepped inside, his eyes sweeping the room with suspicion. Rose stiffened instinctively, her pulse quickening—but she forced herself to breathe, to settle into a composed stance. She let out a short gasp and jumped slightly, faking surprise. “It was a cat!” she said quickly, placing a hand over her chest as though calming herself. “Ryanne heard it first. Must’ve snuck in because someone left the entrance open. I told him to seal it before it happened again.” Hawkbone studied her. She smiled—calm, even sweet. “Father?” she said, walking toward him with measured steps, lowering her eyes in a show of humility. “Will I truly be able to find the wolf who killed my brother? Can