Chapter 4 — Trial of Shadows

Riley

The damp air of the Hollow Den clung to Riley’s skin as she shifted nervously in the chamber. The whispered conversations of the pack swirled like distant echoes around her, their gazes sharp, curious, and riddled with mistrust. Every inhale seemed heavy, as though it carried centuries of legacy—of power, duty, and failure. The faint, steady warmth of her father’s crescent moon pendant pressed against her chest, grounding her in the moment.