They did not run immediately.
That was the mistake that changed everything.
The horn’s echo rolled through the forest, deep and deliberate, not rushed. It wasn’t a call to chase—it was a declaration. The Order was no longer reacting.
They were executing.
Eli pulled Lena deeper into the quarry’s shadows, pressing her against the cold stone wall as he listened. His breathing was controlled, but his pulse betrayed him. She could feel it through his arm, fast and heavy, like a countdown.
“They’re coordinating,” he murmured. “Multiple teams. Hunters and wolves.”
Lena’s stomach tightened. “Together?”
“Yes.”
That word was worse than any threat. The Order never unified its weapons unless it was desperate—or terrified.
Nina stood frozen a few paces away, guilt written across her face. “You
