The mountains lay silent, snow falling heavy, the air sharp with the scent of blood and smoke.
Kael stood before the pack, his massive frame scarred, his green eyes burning with fierce determination. Wolves gathered in a circle, their golden eyes flickering with fear, but also with faith.
Aradia stood at his side, her cloak trailing in the snow, her fire glowing faintly at her fingertips. She could feel it—the storm coming. The shadow was no longer lurking. It was marching.
Kael's voice rumbled low, deep, unyielding. "Tomorrow, the shadow comes with everything it has. Ronan has sold himself to it, body and soul. He comes not as wolf, but as Lord of Darkness. He comes to destroy us, to claim her."
His hand found Aradia's, rough and steady. "But he will fail. Because she is not shadow's. She is not curse. She is ours. She is mine."
The wolves howled, their voices rising like thunder.
And Aradia felt it deep in her bones: tomorrow, everything would break.