LILA’S POV
The howl echoed again.
Long.
Deep.
Wrong.
Every wolf in the clearing froze.
It wasn’t the sound of a rogue.
It wasn’t even the sound of an Alpha.
It carried something darker inside it something ancient that made the hair on the back of my neck rise.
Marcus’s hand instinctively moved to the sword at his side.
“Everyone stay alert,” he ordered.
His Alpha voice rolled through the clearing, strong and commanding, instantly pulling nearby warriors into motion.
But even Marcus looked uneasy.
Because that howl didn’t belong to any wolf we knew.
The wounded guard who had delivered the message staggered slightly, still breathing heavily.
“They’re coming fast,” he said hoarsely. “The eastern border patrol barely held them back.”
Callum cursed under his breath.
“That witch
