Sentries standing atop the fortress walls fought the chill wind as they scanned the distant horizon. Dawn was still an hour away, and a muted glow kissed the edges of the sky. A hush blanketed the watchtowers, broken only by the occasional flutter of a warning banner.
Aria stood below in the courtyard, listening to the anxious chatter of patrols returning from the night’s sweep. They spoke of a wolf that moved like a living shadow, sometimes spotted at the edge of a field, then vanishing without a trace. Rumors traveled quickly, stoking speculation that this was yet another sign of an imminent threat.
“Never seen a wolf move like that,” muttered one weary patrol leader, shaking his head as he reported to Layla and Ronan. “Eyes that reflected no light, pale as bone. We chased it, but it s
