The bloodied crest glistened in the moonlight, a silent challenge. Aria knelt slowly, her fingers brushing over the iron-stained emblem. Her heart pounded like a war drum. This wasn’t just a threat — it was a message.
Killian stepped closer, his sword still raised, his golden eyes scanning the corridor. “They’re taunting you.”
“They’re taunting us,” Aria corrected, her voice low and dangerous. She closed her fist around the crest, feeling its sharp edges dig into her palm. The pain grounded her. “This isn’t just about me anymore.”
Killian’s jaw tightened. “Then we hunt them down before they make the next move.”
Aria nodded once, resolute. She rose to her feet, her claws retracting, though every part of her ached to unleash her wolf and rip through the night until she found the betrayer
