LOGINThe valley had never felt so quiet.Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.Across the courtyard, dozens of hunters stood at the edge of the forest, their silver weapons catching the torchlight like shards of ice.At their center stood Commander Valric.Tall.Still.Watching.Rowan shifted his grip on his sword and leaned slightly toward Marcus.“Well… I guess subtlety is no longer an option.”Marcus didn’t take his eyes off the hunters.“No.”His voice was steady.“They came prepared for war.”Behind them, several wolves had already shifted into their wolf forms, their fur bristling as low growls rolled through the courtyard.Yet none of them moved forward.Because standing between them and the hunters—The Shadow Fang still knelt in the center of the stone courtyard.The giant beast lifted its head slowly.Its glowing eyes locked onto the approaching hunters.And for the first time since it awakened—It growled.A deep, bone-rattling sound that vibrated through the valley.The hunt
The howl echoed across the valley again.Long.Sharp.And filled with purpose.Rowan’s expression darkened as the sound carried through the trees.“Yeah… that definitely wasn’t a friendly neighbor.”Marcus stepped toward the edge of the courtyard, staring into the dark forest beyond the cliffs.The night wind shifted slightly.And with it came the unmistakable scent of humans.Theron’s jaw tightened.“They found us faster than expected.”Rowan sighed.“Of course they did. Because our night wasn’t chaotic enough already.”Behind them, the Shadow Fang remained kneeling in the courtyard.Its massive body pressed against the stone as it stared toward the pack house doors.The creature hadn’t moved since the moment the unborn child commanded it.Marcus glanced at the enormous beast uneasily.“So… what do we do about that thing?”Rowan shrugged.“Personally, I vote we keep the giant murder wolf on our side.”Theron didn’t look away from the forest.“If the heir continues controlling it, the
The red light spread through the pack house like fire beneath the floorboards.It pulsed from Aira’s body in slow waves, glowing brighter with every heartbeat.Kael felt the power surge beneath his hand where it rested on her stomach.His wolf rose inside him instantly.Not in fear.In response.Outside the open doorway, the Shadow Fang froze mid-step.Its massive claws dug into the stone courtyard as its glowing eyes locked onto the red light spilling from the pack house.Rowan noticed it immediately.“Well… that got its attention.”The beast didn’t move.Didn’t growl.Didn’t attack.It simply stared.Marcus slowly lowered his sword slightly, confused.“Why did it stop?”Theron stepped closer to the doorway.His voice was barely above a whisper.“The bloodline.”Rowan glanced at him.“Yeah, we got that part.”Theron shook his head slowly.“No.”His eyes were wide with realization.“It’s not just sensing the bloodline.”Another wave of red energy pulsed through the air.The torches in
Glass exploded inward.The windows of the pack house shattered as the creature’s roar tore through the night like a storm breaking over the mountains.Aira flinched as fragments of glass scattered across the wooden floor.Mira quickly pulled her back from the window.“Get away from there!”Kael’s wolf surged violently inside him.The sound of that roar triggered something primal in every wolf within the valley.Outside, warriors stumbled back, covering their ears as the beast’s voice echoed across the cliffs.Rowan shook his head as the ringing in his ears slowly faded.“Well,” he muttered, “that was rude.”Marcus stood his ground, sword raised as the massive creature lowered its head and stared directly at the pack house.It wasn’t attacking the warriors.It wasn’t even acknowledging them.Its focus was fixed on one thing.The unborn child inside Aira.Theron’s voice was tense.“It can sense the Blood Alpha.”Rowan glanced at him.“And it’s not here to send a friendly welcome gift, i
The creature stepped further out of the tunnel.Stone cracked beneath its weight.The torchlight flickered wildly as its massive form emerged from the darkness.Rowan stared up at it, his mouth slightly open.“Okay,” he muttered, “that thing is definitely not part of the natural food chain.”The beast stood nearly twice the size of a normal wolf.Its thick black fur seemed to absorb the light around it, making its body appear almost like living shadow. Long claws scraped against the stone floor as it moved.And those eyes—They glowed like burning embers.Marcus tightened his grip on his sword.“That’s a wolf?”Theron shook his head slowly.“No.”His voice carried quiet dread.“That is something much older.”The creature lifted its massive head and inhaled deeply.As if smelling the air.Searching.Rowan felt a chill crawl up his spine.“Please tell me it’s not smelling us.”Theron’s gaze remained fixed on the beast.“It’s not.”Marcus frowned.“Then what is it—”Theron answered befor
The growl from the tunnel rolled through the valley like distant thunder.Low.Heavy.Alive.Every warrior standing near the broken cliff felt the vibration beneath their feet.Rowan slowly turned his head toward Theron.“Tell me that’s part of your dramatic storytelling.”Theron didn’t answer.His eyes were locked on the dark tunnel carved into the mountain.The sound came again.Louder this time.Marcus tightened his grip on his sword.“That’s no echo.”Rowan exhaled slowly.“Nope. Definitely not an echo.”The darkness inside the tunnel seemed to swallow the torchlight completely.It was as if the mountain itself was breathing.Theron finally spoke.“We need to seal that entrance.”Marcus frowned.“With what?”Theron’s voice was grave.“With everything we have.”Inside the pack house, Aira clutched the arms of the chair as another sharp wave of movement rolled through her stomach.The baby kicked again.Hard.Kael knelt beside her, his expression filled with concern.“Aira.”Her bre







