The air grew thick, heavy with tension.
The shadow-guard knelt before Theodore, hesitating for what felt like an eternity before his trembling voice broke the silence. "Lillian went to the pack's hall today… she faced the spiked gauntlet. Ten rounds. Her flesh torn, blood everywhere… and now she's…"
"What?!" Theodore grabbed the guard's collar, his eyes blazing with fury and dread.
A sickening premonition clawed its way up from his gut.
He wasn't sure he could bear to hear what came next.
"She's left Delmora Town…"
The words barely landed before Theodore shoved the guard aside and tore toward the stables like a wolf possessed.
"Send trackers now! Bring her back to me!" His voice cracked, raw with desperation.
In that moment, the chaos in his mind snapped into sharp clarity.
It was
