---
The stronghold never truly slept after the first battle.
Even in the deepest hours of night, wolves prowled the walls, their eyes glowing against torchlight, their ears straining for whispers in the dark. The war council’s orders spread like wildfire — scouts were dispatched, alliances summoned, weapons sharpened. Kael’s pack had survived, but survival was not enough.
War demanded preparation. War demanded strength.
And for Aria, strength came with a cost she could no longer share.
---
She rose long before dawn, slipping from Kael’s side while his breath still rumbled slow and steady in his chest. The bond tugged at her with every step — as though he sensed even in sleep that she was leaving. She pressed a hand to his temple briefly, whispering an apology, then pulled her cloak t
