Declan's POV
I watched Elena closely as she led us through the thinning forest. My senses were on high alert, scanning for any threat. The unfamiliar terrain made me uneasy, but Elena moved with a confidence I'd never seen in her before.
"It's just ahead," she whispered, pointing to a narrow path winding up the mountainside.
As we rounded a bend, I saw it - a massive stone structure that seemed to grow right out of the mountain. Its weathered surface blended with the surrounding rock, making it almost invisible from a distance.
Suddenly, my instincts flared. Figures emerged from hidden alcoves, bows drawn and arrows aimed at us. A growl rose in my throat, my eyes flashing red as I prepared to attack.
"Don't!" Elena hissed, grabbing my arm. "Please, Declan. Trust me."
I glared at her,
