51: The Hunt Through Shadow
The fortress alarms broke the silence first — three long howls from the watchtowers, echoing across the cliffs. Every wolf in the stronghold froze. Every heart knew what that sound meant. The Phantom was loose again. Damon was already moving before the echoes died. “Seal the gates!” he barked, sprinting down the main corridor. “No one leaves — no one enters! If you see Eli, do not engage. He’s not in control.” Aria followed close behind, her boots slipping against the stone floor still slick with rain. Her lungs burned, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. They reached the courtyard just as the patrol guards were raising the outer barriers — heavy iron doors that groaned under their weight. The night air was thick, almost alive, every shadow breathing with movement. A guard stumbled
- Writer
