When I finally came to my senses, the sun was already high in the sky, its warmth mocking the cold, hollow ache in my chest. I blinked, looking around, and realized I was sprawled in the middle of a meadow, surrounded by pansies. Panic hit me like a slap. This wasn’t anywhere near our territory, and I’d been lying here, snoring like an idiot, without a care in the world.
“I’m really losing it,” I muttered, scanning the area.
Something felt... off.
The air was heavy like it was holding its breath, but I couldn’t figure out why.
Then I saw him.
A black wolf stepped out from behind a tree, his blue eyes gleaming like polished gems in the sunlight. For a second, I was frozen, stunned by his presence. There was something about him—captivating, almost. But reality hit me hard. We were strangers, both far from home.
I growled a low warning, though my gut told me he wasn’t a rogue. His movements were too deliberate, too composed. Still, I wasn’t about to drop my guard.