Chapter 39

KNOX'S POV The basement air grew heavier with each step down. Elder Lena stood beside my father, her silver-streaked hair catching the dim light. Though she'd lived with our pack for years since we rescued her from her former mentor, I'd never seen her look so grave. Few remembered that Lena was once a witch's apprentice before finding sanctuary with us. Now she served as our awakening ceremony officiant, her unique blend of wolf understanding and magical knowledge making her invaluable to the pack. "Thank you for coming so quickly," Father said as we gathered around the preserved white wolf. The corpse looked unchanged since we found it—pristine fur, unnatural stillness, and those haunting blood-red tears. Lena moved with careful grace, her fingers hovering over the wolf's face. The air seemed to thicken with magic, making my wolf bristle uneasily. Something about her expression sent a chill down my spine. "I had hoped I was wrong," she said softly, finally touching the crimson stains