Adrian pov
The moment I heard the first screams echo from the outer walls, my heart sank. I had known it was only a matter of time before Ethan would strike again, but I hadn't anticipated it would be this soon, or this brutal. The fortress, which had once felt like an unbreakable sanctuary, was now a cage closing in on us. I stood on the balcony of my chamber, the crisp morning air sharp against my skin, my eyes scanning the horizon. There was no sign of movement from the usual patrols—no sound of wolves howling to signal an incoming attack. But I could feel it. The tension thick in the air, like the calm before a storm.
