Chapter 27

Draven’s POV

I stood at the entrance of the underground cave beneath the castle, my eyes drifting upward as the sun hesitated to hand the sky over to the moon. Night had already claimed its dominion, a silent herald to every member of the Winter Howl Pack that mayhem and danger lurked just beyond the horizon.

After my morning session with Maeve, I joined the other warriors on the training field. Anxiety crackled through the ranks—some were already gathering weapons and supplies, while the younger wolves pushed themselves harder than ever before. Seeing my pack in such a state of tension tore at my heart. I couldn’t focus on anything else, and I’d purposely avoided my office because I knew Maeve would be there.

I didn’t trust myself not to lash out in regretful anger. Just yesterday, I’d come so close to marking her permanently—if Dorian hadn’t intervened at the last second, I would have dragged Maeve into this night’s calamity. Once marked, her life would h