The clash of steel echoed through the arena, each strike of the blades resonating with the tension that hung heavily in the air. Juliana's breath hitched as Hak staggered back, blood seeping from his side. Despite the obvious pain, his stance remained firm, his eyes blazing with determination.
From her seat in the balcony, Juliana felt an unbearable pull. Her wolf stirred restlessly, growling low and steady, urging her to act. She gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, her nails digging into the wood.
"You need to help him," her wolf whispered, the voice ringing clear in her mind.
"I can't," Juliana whispered back. "What can I do? I'm powerless here."
"You are not powerless. You are the key. You always have been."
The words struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her wolf had been sil
