The Challenge
The wind carried a warning.
It howled through the trees like a wolf mourning the fallen, rippling across the clearing where Rowan stood at the edge of his territory. The scent of ash and blood rode the air, unmistakable, acrid—and familiar. The rogues were near. And not just any rogues.
Caleb stood a few paces behind, tense but composed, his sharp eyes trained on the treeline. Rowan could feel the heat of him, steady and grounding, though neither of them spoke. This was Rowan’s fight. But Caleb’s presence was a reminder—he wasn’t alone.
Not anymore.
The first rogue stepped into view like a shadow unfurling from the darkness. Others flanked him, silent as death, but none dared step ahead. They knew the rules. This was not an ambush. It was a challenge.
The rogue leader—a
