The air grew thick with the sound of approaching footsteps, the rhythmic pound of heavy boots, followed by the chilling, guttural growl of wolves. Sera's heart raced as her mind scrambled to make sense of the situation. Matthew stood before her, his eyes still hauntingly familiar, but they were tinged with something darker now. Something that sent a chill crawling up her spine.
She couldn't understand. She couldn't reconcile the boy she had once known with this man standing before her. There was no time for questions, no time for the shock to settle. The wolves were closing in, and Caelum was still fighting to hold off the Council's forces.
“Matthew," she whispered, her voice trembling, “What's happening? Why are you here?"
He stepped closer, his eyes filled with sorrow and something mo
