Chapter 23. A Whisper in the Dark

He stepped deeper inside, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. Something wasn’t right.

On the desk, Dorian’s journal lay open. Thorne flipped through the last few pages, his eyes narrowing at the words scribbled in a hurried hand:

She’s not what she claims to be. She’s feeding on something—us, I think. The Alpha listens only to her now. If I don’t make it to the Council, tell them—

The ink trailed off. The page was smeared.

Thorne closed the book and tucked it inside his cloak.

He stepped back toward the door—but froze.

A whisper.

It wasn’t a voice exactly—more like a breath across his neck.

He turned sharply.

Nothing.

Just the shadows stretching long across the floor, still and silent.

He left quickly, locking the door behind him this time. His heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm. No one could know what he’d found. Not yet.

Especially not her.

***

Meanwhile, in the Alpha’s quarters