In another part of the forest, deep within its darkest corner, a group of men stood gathered. Something about their stillness, their hushed voices, and the glint of steel in their hands spoke of danger. Their intentions were anything but good. Pale moonlight filtered through the tangled canopy, casting broken streaks across their faces—enough to reveal the cruelty in their eyes, and the darkness of what they planned to do next.
“You failed.”
The voice came from the shadows—low, sharp, and cold enough to freeze blood. “Again, your mercenaries couldn’t kill that wolfless girl.”
The mercenary leader, a rogue, stood trembling, head bowed, eyes fixed on the dirt beneath his boots. “I—I sent my best wolves,” he stammered. “She was alone, far from the pack. She should’ve been easy prey. But th
