We reached Blackwood territory as the sun kissed the horizon. The land was wrong. Corrupted. Trees grew twisted and black. The earth smelled like rot and old blood. This place used to be sacred ground. Now it was a graveyard.
Kade stopped at the border. His whole body went rigid.
“I can feel them,” he whispered. “My pack. Their bones. Their spirits. They are trapped here. Bound to this place by dark magic.”
“Can you communicate with them?” I asked.
“No. They are just echoes. Screaming. Always screaming.” His silver eyes found mine. “We end this tonight. We free them tonight.”
“We will.” I turned to the others. “Elena, show us the compound.”
She pointed to a massive structure built into the hillside. It looked like a fortress. Stone walls. Guard towers. Wolves patrolling the perimeter
