SELENA'S MIND raced long after the elder she-wolf had departed. It was a stark reminder that the stakes of the ritual were higher than mere survival; they encompassed her very soul and the fate of the land itself. But Nyra’s words also held a hidden solace: a confirmation that a path existed, however perilous, and that Selene was not alone in understanding the true nature of her power. More importantly, it confirmed that the distance Waldemar was creating between them wasn't just painful—it was actively detrimental to their only chance.
Armed with this renewed, albeit terrifying, clarity, Selene sought Waldemar out. He was, as usual, deep in the training grounds, pushing his wolves through grueling drills, his movements sharp, precise, and utterly devoid of joy. His scent, usually a comfo
