The inside was cramped—shelves stuffed with jars, a fire flickering in the corner, furs piled on a sagging chair. Ariana perched on the edge of it, while Kaelen stayed standing, his stance restless. She glanced at Elias. "Mira said you've dealt with curses before. We're up against Lucian Thorn—he's got power we don't understand."
Elias shuffled to a table, grabbing a clay cup. "Thorn's a snake. Always was. His strength's not just wolves—it's old blood, twisted up with hate. You'll need more than claws to take him."
Kaelen snorted, his voice sharp. "Great. So what's your big fix? A prayer and a pat on the head?"
The old man's eyes narrowed, his tone cutting. "Mock me all you want, Alpha. I've seen your kind break—stronger than you, even. You're here 'cause you're scared, and you should be."
Ariana leaned forward, her voice steady. "We're not scared—we're ready. But we need to be smarter than him. Can you give us that?"
