Chapter 116

• The Blackthorn pack’s territory was as hostile as its reputation—dense, dark forests that stretched for miles, the trees towering and suffocating. The air was thick with unease, and I could feel the weight of every footstep we took toward the Blackthorn compound. This wasn’t just a diplomatic mission. It felt more like walking into the jaws of a predator.
• Rose walked beside me, her jaw tight, eyes scanning the horizon. She hadn’t spoken much since the trial, and I wasn’t sure whether it was anger toward me or anxiety about the negotiations. Probably both.
• “Noah, are you sure you need to come along?” Rose finally broke the silence, her voice sharp. She hadn’t trusted him from the beginning—and to be fair, I wasn’t sure I did either. Not completely.