-Julien Grayson:
The road that curved toward the border stretched out ahead of me, quiet and nearly empty, the pale morning light spreading across the pavement in long, thin strips through the trees. The motorcycle vibrated steadily beneath me as I rode, the engine humming in a familiar rhythm that usually helped calm my thoughts.
But today something felt… wrong.
The wind pushed softly against my clothes as I continued down the road, the fabric of my skirt fluttering lightly against my thighs. The forest on both sides looked the same as always—tall pine trees standing close together, their dark green needles rustling quietly in the breeze.
Normally, as I got closer to the checkpoint, I would start seeing movement.
Guards walking along the edge of the clearing. Someone is leaning against the small guard post. A few wolves standing in pairs, scanning the tree line.
But as the road slowly opened into the clearing near the border, I noticed something that made my stomach tighten.
