Shadowed Paws, Shattered Lights

near the horizon, its glow faint but steady on the dense canopy, throwing elongated shadows over the dense foliage. For most people, the forest re

His rejection was abrupt, cold, and shattering, leaving her to fight for herself in a world where wolves like her were chased down, avoided, and mis

hard way. The human race had not welcomed her kindly, but it was a world she could comprehend-one in which surviving depended on intelligence, strength, and strategy. She created her empire

she had run, the tug of her h

Her reign was enormous, yet in the quiet moments when the world outside became still, she couldn't help but remember the pack she had abandone

rupted her daydream, and she st

aid, her voice d

a cunning gaze. He was one of the few humans who had gained her trust, and she rarely welcomed st

asked, receiving

raining. "They've been targeting the wolves again. They've

but their unexpected concentration on wolves had intensified in recent months. She ripped open t

ion is i

ck she once called home. She could feel her old scars reopening, fury and betrayal rushing th

ulders, yet it was nothing compared to the enormity of this new knowledge. She couldn't let her pa

ct in her eyes. But he knew better than to question her.

forests, divided by years of turmoil and Orion's obsession with control. But that was not her concern anymore. She had

ng profound within her. It had been decades since she had visited their te

an the chance to eliminate the threat to her empire. If Orion was truly in di

to happen. Whatever happened next, she couldn't imagine allowing herself to be vulnerable again. The girl w

isturbed by the abrupt ring of her phone. S

und on the other end,

aid, her voice

one. "The pack... we're under attack. I don't know how much

t she stifled it. She sensed the rush in his tone

n. "After all the harm you have caused me, after y

an us. But this is beyond us. There's a new adversary, one who will exterm

a desperate plea from the alpha who had once held all the pow

lected the wolves she

and impersonal. She hung up without saying anything

ight with her. Who could be powerful enough to bring an entire pack to its kne

or again. But this time, it wasn't her lieutenant. It was a shadow-a

her heart

softly, her tone

ing. His mere presence made her feel weak, but there was something

lothed in black, blending in with the darkness. But there was no

ill

, Selene noticed a spark

nued, his voice gruff

sliced through

sing her eyebrow. "And w

inute, his eyes fixed on her. There was something in hi

hesitated. His dagger was just inches from her

f them reacted. It seem

bove murmur, Aiden said the w

second-cha

impact of his words gushe

ed too quickly and suddenly, and e