Threat?

Ariel.

The festive spirit of the pack’s Christmas gathering buzzed around me, a swirl of laughter, warmth, and the soft crackling of fires burning in the hearth.

Children ran between the legs of adults, squealing with delight as they tore into their gifts. The air was heavy with the scent of roasted chestnuts and pine, mingling with the faint musk that I had come to associate with Magnus.

His presence loomed over me, protective and commanding, even amidst the happy chaos.

But it was his words, spoken low and near my ear, that had my heart racing for an entirely different reason.

“You know we didn’t finish what we were doing last night, right?” Magnus’s voice was deep, a rumble that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

I froze mid-step, my cheeks heating as his words sank in. I turned to face hi……