Chapter 34

MAGNAR’S POV “What happened? Why is he returning so soon?” I asked, my voice laced with frustration. Braden was slightly out of breath as he met me in the hallway, his face shadowed with concern. “I don’t know. I was tracing their location like you asked, but then I noticed their route changed. They’re coming back earlier than planned. I had to alert you immediately.” I nodded, trying to keep my irritation in check. Braden had done his part, and honestly, he’d done it well. He always did. He was good with technology—better than anyone else in the pack—and as my future beta, he was the one person I trusted with my life. Still, this early return threw everything into chaos. I had been counting on more time. “Did you find anything?” he asked, his tone low and cautious, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “Not really,” I replied vaguely, avoiding his gaze. I wasn’t ready to talk about what I’d found—or what little I understood of it. Braden narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean,