Zane had been standing in for Thorin, leading the pack in the Alpha's absence. When Warren Zacharia arrived at Wintertooth, Zane had been away on a routine patrol with a few other wolves, sweeping the perimeter for threats.
Coming home to find a Zacharia among his own had shaken him to his core.
At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him—maybe it was age catching up with him, or the exhaustion of patrol blurring his vision. But the longer he stared, the more undeniable it became. This was no illusion.
Panic surged through him.
His instincts had kicked in fast—Zane was ready to fight, to take down the last of the Zacharia bloodline if he had to. But before he could make a move, Charna stepped in, blocking his path and quickly laying out the situation. Her words, calm and concise, brought him back from the edge.
