Ash still drifted from the ruined towers when the summons arrived. A crow its feathers streaked crimson landed on the broken balcony rail and dropped a wax-sealed parchment at Aurelia’s feet. The seal was unmistakable: the sigil of the Crimson Council.
Kane read the message once, then burned it. “They’ve declared us traitors,” he said. “Every loyal Alpha will be ordered to hunt us down.”
Aurelia stared at the curling smoke. “So the world already chose.”
“Then we choose back.”
He spread a map across the stone table that had survived the night’s destruction. Red ink marked the Council’s strongholds; black circles showed the hidden enclaves of the packs. “We can reach two before the next moon. If they see you, see what you are, they might join us.”
“They might kill us first.”
“T
