The scratching on the door did not stop. It dragged slowly across the wood, uneven and desperate, like claws struggling to hold onto strength.
Mira’s body went rigid.
Ryker stepped in front of her without thinking.
“Stay back,” he said.
“I’m not hiding,” Mira replied, though her voice was tight.
The scratching turned into pounding. Then a voice came through the door, broken and wet.
“Alpha… please…”
Ryker opened it.
A guard collapsed inside. Blood soaked his shoulder. His eyes were wide with terror.
“They… took the seer…” he gasped.
“Who?” Ryker demanded.
The guard tried to speak, but his body gave out and he fell still.
Silence filled the room.
Mira swallowed. “That wasn’t Nightshade.”
“No,” Ryker said.
His voice had turned cold.
“This is internal.”
Within minutes, the st
