Lucian's POV.
The morning air is crisp, biting slightly against my skin as I stand at the edge of the overlook that stretches beyond my territory. The sun is rising slow and golden over the treetops, painting everything in a soft glow that does little to chase away the weight in my chest.
We were lucky. My pack. My people. We're safe. The hunters didn't reach us. Not this time. But Malakar's pack hadn't been so fortunate.
My jaw tightens as memories of the previous night flick through my mind - screams, blood, the unmistakable stench of burning wood and singed flesh. The hunters didn't fight with honor. They fought with cruelty. Precision. No hesitation. No mercy.
Something had to be done. Soon.
I glance down at the grounds below, catching sight of a few of Malakar's wolves as they f
