The forest had never been this quiet.
After the pulse from the watchers, Ravenspire felt as if the entire world had paused to breathe. Even the wind seemed cautious, brushing softly through the trees as if afraid to disturb the fragile balance that had formed.
Rovan stood at the center of the ridge, the tether flowing through him like a living river. Silver light pulsed beneath his skin, mixing with faint traces of the void he once carried.
Below him, the Moonmarked wolves waited.
Humans too.
Two species. One fragile alliance.
And above them, the moon watched.
Aric approached slowly, his starfire dimmer than usual, though still powerful. “The signal hasn't stopped,” he said quietly. “It’s still out there… watching.”
Kaerin folded her arms, eyes sharp. “Or waiting for us to fail.”
