The sound of feet hitting stone was like war drums.
Kael remained still at the entrance to the den, staring at the southern ridge where the smoke had started to rise. Dren knelt next to him, his face pallid and his claws half-shifted.
The pack moved behind them, with wolves forming a line, moms pulling puppies underground, and warriors putting on armor and sharpening their claws. The ground shook beneath our feet.
But the tension didn’t come from the numbers.
It came from the scent.
Silver.
A scent no one in the realm had smelled in years.
Royal blood.
Enforcer blood.
And they were coming for me.
Kael turned to me, face carved in stone. “Get inside. Now.”
“No,” I said.
He stepped closer, voice sharper. “Seren.”
I didn’t back down. “You said I was your equal. I’ve fought to p
