Winter arrived quietly. The skies dimmed, the woods thickened with blue shadow, and the world seemed to hold its breath. In Moonrise, peace settled like snowfall. Fields were tended. Children’s laughter filled the main hall. Aria’s daughter, once fragile, now thrived—cherished by all as a living promise.
But beyond the warmth of the village, the land held memories older than the pack. Along the northern border, frozen rivers and wind-swept forests stood untouched, keeping their own counsel. There, on a night of rising wind and drifting snow, something ancient began to stir.
The lake was a black mirror, its ice smooth and unbroken. Weeks earlier, Rowan had sent scouts—young wolves eager to prove themselves. Their reports were steady, uneventful.
Until they weren’t.
Birdsong faded. Track
