THE SHADOW LEADER EMERGES
Dawn broke over the pack’s territory, pale light filtering through the trees, yet the calm of the morning was deceptive. The forest was still scarred from the previous night’s battle, remnants of shadow energy lingering in the underbrush like mist. Wolves moved cautiously, ears twitching, tails low, every sense on alert. Even in the bright light of day, tension hung thick in the air.
Lykos stood at the center of the clearing, silver aura pulsing faintly around him, wolf instincts humming. His gaze swept over the pack, reading every movement, every twitch, every glance. The bond with Aria had merged fully with the fragment, radiating power outward, but even he could feel the lingering threads of shadow intelligence probing, watching.
Aria stepped beside him, sil
