"We're screwed if we don't get our shit together!" Kaelen's voice boomed across the Stonefang camp, cutting through the chatter of the gathered wolves. He stood on a rocky outcrop, fists clenched, his dark eyes scanning the crowd—Stonefangs, a handful of rogues, and a few scrappy-looking shifters who'd trickled in overnight. The tension was thick, and the cold morning air did nothing to cool it. A sense of urgency hung over them like a storm cloud threatening to burst.
Ariana stood beside him, arms crossed, her voice sharp. "He's right. Lucian's not coming alone—he's got wolves, traps, maybe worse. We can't just charge in blind and hope for the best." Her heart raced, driven by the weight of their situation and the lives at stake. She could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on her shoulders, but she refused to show weakness.
