"Even across the silence of kingdoms, his roar reached me, and I knew I would always be the tether pulling him back from the edge."
The forest at night was alive with whispers. The wind moved through the trees in hushed tones, brushing against the leaves like restless fingers, and the stars above seemed to glimmer with a strange unease. RoanRidge had always been my sanctuary, my home, but tonight, something about it felt unsettled, as if the very roots of the land were trembling with the weight of something beyond my reach.
I had walked this path a thousand times before. The twisted oaks and tall silver firs had always given me comfort, their scent grounding, the sound of the river nearby steadying my heart. But now, every shadow stretched longer than it should, every rustle in the undergrowth made my pulse quicken.
I was not here for peace. I was here because my chest had grown too heavy with the storm I carried inside. And then it came like a strike of thunder through my chest.
