The halls of the fortress buzzed with voices—strategists muttering over maps, warriors sharpening blades, and patrol captains barking orders. I walked between them, my steps unsteady but my spine straight. They all looked at me with something between awe and hesitation like they didn’t quite know what to make of me yet.
Elias walked beside me, his presence solid, grounding.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
I stopped. “No. But when has readiness ever mattered? This is happening, Elias. Magnus won’t stop. We both know that.”
He looked at me for a moment, then reached out and clasped my hand. His touch was warm, and firm. “Then we face him together.”
Before I could respond, a warrior sprinted toward us, his face flushed. “Alpha Elias! They’ve crossed
