The army moved through the dark forest like a living thing.
The trees pressed close on all sides, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky like grasping fingers. The mist that had shrouded the forest from a distance now wrapped around the soldiers like a cold blanket, muffling sounds and distorting shapes. Wolves scouted ahead, their senses sharp in the gloom, noses twitching at unfamiliar scents, ears straining for any hint of danger. Vampires flanked the main force, moving in near silence, ready to respond to any threat that emerged from the shadows. Hybrids walked at the center, their unique abilities keeping everyone connected, their mixed heritage allowing them to understand both wolf and vampire tactics.
Lena led from the front, Kael and Caspian at her sides. Her boots sank i
