The forest felt different now. Elena could feel it in the air—the charged tension that buzzed through the trees like a warning, the undercurrent of something ancient that pulsed beneath the surface. It wasn't just the Blood Moon's fading glow that lingered in her mind; it was the knowledge that the world was on the edge of transformation, whether she was ready or not.
Her feet moved quickly, carrying her away from the confrontation between Roan and Eamon, but her heart refused to be still. Roan had stayed behind, a choice that crushed her with its weight. She had to trust him, trust that he would survive this. But the fear gnawed at her. They had come so far, and now her path was leading her into the unknown.
The Echoes had scattered, some leaving to prepare for what might come next, whi
