The Autumn Festival was unlike anything Aria had ever experienced.
In Silvercrest, pack gatherings were stiff, formal affairs dictated by politics and fear. Aiden would sit on a raised dais, glaring at anyone who laughed too loudly, while Aria was forced to stand silently in the corner, trying to make herself invisible.
But Nightfall didn't celebrate with silence. They celebrated with fire, music, and a wild, undeniable joy.
Fiddles and deep wooden drums echoed through the valley, setting a fast, thrumming rhythm that made the ground vibrate. The air was thick with the scent of roasting venison, pine needles, and sweet, spiced honey wine.
Aria stood near the edge of the massive central bonfire, her cheeks flushed from the heat and the wine. Lena had just dragged her through three conse
