Lyla’s eyes snapped open.
She gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she sucked in air like she had been drowning. For a moment, everything was a blur, the dark sky, the towering trees, the circle of Marked Ones surrounding her.
Then, it all came crashing back.
The fight.
The Trial of Shadows.
The First Alpha’s words still echoed in her mind.
"You are ready."
Lyla wasn’t sure she agreed.
She wasn’t sure she felt ready for anything.
Because deep down, she knew
Something inside her had changed forever.
And it wasn’t just the power.
It was her.
The Marked Ones stood in a perfect circle around her, their silver eyes glowing in the darkness.
They had been waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
The leader of the Marked Ones finally stepped forward.
"You survived," they murmured.
