CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN – RIFTS IN THE PACK

She jolted awake with a gasp, her hand flying to her chest where she had felt the phantom pain of the blade. Beside her, Erik stirred, immediately alert. "Anna?" he murmured, concern evident in his voice as he pulled her close. "Another nightmare?" She nodded, burying her face in his chest as she struggled to calm her racing heart. "It felt so real," she whispered. "I could feel the dagger..." Erik stroked her hair soothingly, his other arm tightening protectively around her. "It's okay," he murmured. "I'm here. You're safe." But even as Anna allowed Erik's presence to comfort her, she couldn't shake the feeling that these dreams were more than just nightmares. They felt like warnings, premonitions of dangers yet to come. As the days passed, Anna's supernatural experiences intensified. She would sometimes catch glimpses of shadowy figures in her peripheral vision, only to find nothing when she turned to look. Other times, she would be overwhelmed by sudden, inexplicable feelings o