The Bonds That Break
The halls of the palace were no longer quiet. Not even at night. The scent of anxiety clung to the walls like mildew—unseen but oppressive. Footsteps rushed down corridors at all hours. Whispers twisted through the air like smoke, impossible to grab, impossible to ignore. Aurora stood in the center of the war room, eyes fixed on the large map spread across the table. Her fingers gripped the edge of the polished wood until her knuckles turned white. Every red marker across the border represented enemy movement—rogue activity, sightings, skirmishes. And there were too many. Far too many. “They’re closing in,” Theron muttered beside her, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His dark hair was unkempt, his jaw tense. “Faster than we anticipated.” Aurora didn’t answer right away. Her wolf sti
- Writer
