The path behind them was swallowed by darkness, their footprints soft and fading in the dirt as Megan and Orion finally reached the mouth of the cave. Nestled between jagged stone and towering trees, the entrance yawned like the breath of the earth itself—deep, cool, and waiting.
Megan stopped first, crossing her arms — she gave Orion a small, encouraging smile.
"I'll wait out here," she said. "Just ehm… do your thing."
Orion turned to her, the moonlight catching in his eyes. His jaw was tight, body tense from the effort of containing the wolf that clawed beneath his skin. He was already starting to burn through him.
Still, he lingered, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You sure there's nothing I should know?" he asked. "You've been off all day. Even now."
Megan waved a hand, brushing off the concern even as her stomach fluttered.
"Come on, it's fine. Everything's fine. Now go get ready — the moon's almost at its peak."
