The war room had never felt so small.
Maps lay scattered across the table, marked with red ink showing Varak’s advancing forces. The air was thick with the scent of fear-sweat, pine smoke, and the metallic tang of barely contained rage. Every face in the room — instructors, council members, senior students, and the newly arrived reinforcements from allied packs — turned toward Elara and Kai as the scout’s report was read aloud.
“Varak has taken hostages,” the scout said, voice hoarse. “At least twelve academy students captured during last night’s raid. One of them is Lila Moon’s younger brother, Finn. They are being held at the old ruin on Blackpine Ridge. Varak’s message is clear: deliver the Silent Healer by sunset, or the hostages die one by one. Their hearts will be offered in a bloo
