The wind howled like a mournful beast across the cliffs as dawn broke. A pale pink light crept over the horizon, bathing the land in soft hues, but the serenity it offered was a lie. Beneath that quiet sky, Aria stood with her cloak fluttering around her and Kael at her side. Her hands clenched into fists, her heartbeat steady, too steady, as if her body was preparing for war.
Jonah, Nora, and a handful of Kael's most trusted warriors waited silently. They'd all seen the change in her since she returned from the hidden chamber. Her scent had shifted, still familiar, still Aria, but infused with something older, something almost… divine.
Kael stepped closer, his voice low. "Are you sure about this?"
Aria turned her gaze to the horizon. "No. But I've never been more certain that I have to go."
Nora approached, eyes shadowed by worry. "If the things that called your name truly came from the Shadowlands, then this is no longer a battle of packs. It's ancient magic awakening."
