Mag-log inThe northern wall shook beneath another heavy impact, sending dust and fragments of stone raining into the courtyard. Warriors struggled to hold their positions as the rogue army pressed against the defenses from every direction. The battle had become louder and more chaotic, but Damien could still see the pattern beneath it all. The rogues weren't fighting like an army trying to conquer Shadowfang. They were creating openings, forcing warriors away from certain areas, then retreating before they could be surrounded. Every movement brought them closer to one objective the packhouse.Damien's wolf snarled inside him as another group of rogues broke through the western side. He shifted fully, his massive body hitting the ground before he charged toward them. His claws tore through the first rogue that reached the courtyard, while another lunged from the side. Damien twisted sharply, caught the attacker by the shoulder and threw him across the ground. Around him, warriors fought
The appearance of thousands of glowing eyes beyond the northern forest sent a ripple of tension through the warriors gathered along Shadowfang's walls. For several seconds, nobody moved. The rogues remained among the trees, their bodies hidden by darkness while their eyes stared toward the territory. There was no shouting, no charge and no immediate attack. They simply stood there, waiting. Damien watched them carefully from the battlements, his instincts warning him that the silence was intentional. The Witch Queen had never been careless, and an army this large would not have traveled all the way to Shadowfang simply to stand outside its walls."How many?" Garrick asked quietly.Korven looked across the forest, trying to estimate their numbers. "At least a thousand.""More," one of the commanders said. "I can see movement farther back."Damien's jaw tightened. "Keep everyone in position. Nobody attacks until I give the order."The command passed
For three days, Shadowfang experienced something that had become almost unfamiliar: peace. No rogue attacks were reported along the borders, no villages sent desperate messages for help, and none of the patrols encountered the strange movements that had kept everyone on edge. The sudden silence should have been comforting, but it had the opposite effect. Damien knew the Witch Queen too well by now. She had never done anything without a reason, and after everything she had already set in motion, he refused to believe she had simply lost interest.The patrols continued as usual, though every warrior had been ordered to remain alert. Inside the Alpha's office, Damien stood over the map while Korven went through the latest reports. "Nothing from Frostclaw," Korven said. "Riverstone is quiet too, and the scouts sent toward Black Hollow haven't found any movement since their last report." Damien's eyes remained fixed on the map. "And the rogues?" "Nothing." Korven placed the report on the t
The journey back to Shadowfang was made entirely in wolf form. Korven led the pack through the dense forest at a relentless pace, his silver-gray wolf weaving between ancient trees with practiced ease while the six scouts followed close behind. None of them spoke after leaving Black Hollow. They didn't need to. The urgency in their movements said enough. Whatever they had uncovered was far more dangerous than a hidden supply depot. Black Hollow wasn't simply a forgotten forest it was a network, carefully maintained over many years and concealed so well that no Alpha had questioned its existence. If the Witch Queen controlled it, she possessed a way to move rogues, weapons and supplies across the continent while remaining almost invisible.By the time the gates of Shadowfang came into view, the sun had begun its slow descent toward the western mountains. The guards recognized Korven's wolf immediately and swung the heavy gates open without question. Moments later
Black Hollow lay between the territories of four different packs, yet none claimed it as their own. The ancient forest had earned a dark reputation long before the current generation was born. Towering trees blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the ground beneath in perpetual shadow, while thick mist wound its way through the undergrowth like silent ghosts. Merchants had abandoned the old trade route decades ago, hunters avoided it whenever possible, and even rogues were rarely reported within their borders. For years, it had simply been another forgotten corner of the continent. Now, for the first time, Damien wondered if that had been exactly what someone wanted.Shortly after dawn, Korven led six experienced scouts into the forest. Their orders were clear: investigate, observe and return. If they encountered rogues, they were not to engage unless there was no other choice. The mission wasn't about victory. It was about answers. The group moved carefully beneath the dense canop
The tension hanging over Shadowfang only deepened in the days that followed. Although no rogue army appeared at the borders, the reports never stopped. Scouts returned at all hours with news of strange movements in the surrounding forests, abandoned camps that still held the warmth of recent fires, and fresh tracks that seemed to disappear as suddenly as they appeared. It was as though the rogues wanted to be followed but never found. Every report ended the same way they were always too late.Inside the Alpha's office, another meeting was already underway. The large map covering the table had become increasingly crowded with charcoal markings, colored pins and hastily written notes. Damien stood at its head with Korven beside him, while Garrick, Elder Myra and several patrol captains listened as another scout finished his report."They're moving in smaller groups now," the scout explained, pointing toward the eastern border. "No more than four or five at a time. They don't attack. The
The road to Shadowfang was long.Long enough for thoughts to grow heavier with every mile.The Silvermoon convoy moved steadily along the forest path, wheels crunching against gravel while tall pine trees towered on either side like silent witnesses to the journey. The wind carried the scent of ear
The morning sun filtered through the wide windows of Shadowfang’s main hall, scattering warm gold across the polished wooden floor. The pack was alive with movement wolves of all ages weaving through the corridors, laughter ringing in the air, tails wagging in excitement. Decorations hung f
The Silvermoon pack was bustling with life.Morning sunlight spilled across the stone courtyards, illuminating wolves moving through their daily routines. Warriors trained in the outer grounds, their blades flashing under the sun. Servants carried baskets of herbs and supplies through the halls, wh
The scent of blood still lingered in the air.Even after the fires were put out, even after the bodies were buried, the smell clung to the earth sharp, metallic, and unrelenting.Selene stood near the training grounds where the battle had ended hours ago. The soil was torn and black







