Philip's POV
The walk back from the creek feels heavier than it should be.
The forest around us hums with life. Birds chirp overhead and leaves whisper in the breeze, but none of it matters. The real silence hangs between us like a thick blanket. Sally hasn't spoken since Jackson made his last observation, and frankly, none of us know what to say either.
She moves just ahead of me, staying close behind Karl. Her shoulders stay straight and strong, but her head dips forward like she's carrying invisible weight. Sunlight filters through the trees and catches her skin, making it shimmer with something that might not be natural light anymore.
I stick close without crowding her. Close enough to catch her if she stumbles, if that strange heat in her chest becomes something dangerous. My wolf paces under my skin like a caged animal, restless and worried.
She's okay, I tell myself, but the words ring hollow.
