The castle’s great hall pulsed with the lingering energy of battle—warriors tending to their wounds, pack members regrouping, and the air thick with the scent of blood and sweat. Despite the chaos, the pack stood stronger than before. I watched from the side, my senses heightened as I scanned the crowd for familiar faces. My gaze landed on Sophia, moving swiftly through the crowd like a blade cutting through fog.
“Sophia!” I called out, relief washing over me. We met near the center of the hall, where warriors knelt for healing or offered support to their comrades. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, locked onto mine as she approached.
“We held them off,” she said, her voice steady but edged with urgency. “The rogues didn’t expect what they found here today.”
“Neither did we,” I admitted, gl
