LILA’S POV
The forest held its breath.
Thousands of eyes were locked on me.
The High Council warriors stood like an iron wall across the clearing, their silver armor reflecting the pale moonlight filtering through the trees. Their spears and swords gleamed, raised and ready.
Behind me, the rogue wolves stirred restlessly.
Between them stood the ancient Alpha… and the shadow creature.
And somehow, impossibly, both sides were staring at me like I was the center of the storm.
The council leader stepped forward again.
His presence carried the weight of someone used to giving orders and having the entire wolf world obey.
“Lila of the ancient bloodline,” he repeated coldly.
“You will surrender immediately.”
Marcus stepped in front of me before I could even react.
His shoulders were s
