Brooks:
The knock came at 3:07 a.m.
A hard, urgent pounding at my door. Not the kind of knock you ignore—not anymore.
I was already halfway out of bed, tugging on the nearest pair of pants, when a warrior’s voice rang through the door. “Alpha! Rogues—north perimeter. It’s bad.”
My heart thudded, but I didn’t hesitate.
I was out the door in seconds.
The cold night air hit my skin like a slap as I burst out into the main corridor and sprinted down toward the armory. I could smell blood before I even reached the exit—metallic, thick. It clung to the wind.
By the time I made it to the north wall, the chaos had already unfolded.
Three groups. Coordinated. Smarter than any rogue assault we’d seen before. They came in waves, hitting the patrols fast and hard before we could even regroup.
