The night before the ritual felt endless.
Black Hollow territory remained locked beneath fear and tension while warriors patrolled every border through the freezing darkness.
No wolf slept peacefully anymore.
Not after the mountains began roaring back.
Not after infected wolves started gathering like shadows beneath the northern cliffs.
And certainly not after rumors spread that the Luna herself carried the Blood King’s attention.
Lyra stood silently near the balcony outside her chambers, staring toward the distant mountains glowing faintly beneath moonlight.
The air felt wrong.
Heavy.
Waiting.
Far below, patrol torches flickered across the forests while howls echoed faintly in the distance.
War was coming.
She could feel it.
But somehow the greatest battle wasn’t outside Blac
