ns. The remnants of the rogue pack littered the clearing, their bodies now still

e. But the forest felt wrong-too quiet, too still. There was no sound of wind in the trees, no chir

y to spring into action at any moment. His gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, th

ou?" Lana asked, her voic

"Something'

thing unseen. She clenched her fists, her claws scraping against her palms. Her power was still raw, still unfamil

hing more, a shadow moved

to a defensive stance, but Kian's hand was already on her arm, holding her

his voice low and cautious

smooth and fluid. She was tall, slender, with long, dark hair that seemed to absorb the moonlight around her

a quiet yet undeniable strength. But there was something unsettling about her p

ing smile. "I see the rumors are true. The

nct screaming that this wasn't a

on the woman with a mixture of wariness and recognition. "Ela

in the shadows, their members possessing abilities that no one dared to speak of. They were like g

d, her voice heavy with dis

ckwood heir," she said, her voice low and melodic. "There is a force rising, one that seeks to claim the p

beginning. A darker, more dangerous force was coming, and they were

, her anger rising. "I've already faced th

n you know, but power alone won't protect you. The one who seeks you doesn't care about

fists. "I'm not

thing Lana couldn't quite place. "The one who pursues yo

dows as quickly as she had appeared. Lana's breath came in sharp,

unreadable. "We need to leave," h

preceded the arrival of something-or someone-dangerous. They couldn't stay here any longer. But

he growl itself, or the overwhelming sense of dread that had s

hear the movement, the soft padding of paws against the earth, but the creatures that f

is eyes narrowing as he scanned

ake a move, a figure st

a piercing blue, colder than the moon itself, and his aura exuded p

to our territory," the man sai

wolf. This was someone with a purpose-so

e you?" Lana asked, her voice steady

We are the true force. The ones who will rule th

was impossible t

the man's attack knocked her back, sending her sprawling to the ground. She scrambled to regain h

ast. His strike hit Kian's shoulder, sending h

n through. But as she pushed herself to her feet, she felt the weight of the fight bearing dow

the clearing as he circled La

will be. When we're through with you, y

ower bubbling to the surface, could feel the surge of stren

eper. She had to

he understood somethi

ackwood heir. She was

was just