Aries’ POVWe made it out.Barely — and not without casualties.The night air stung my lungs as we ran, feet pounding against the earth, bodies brushing past trees like ghosts fleeing death. The shadowed forest swallowed us whole — a grim reminder of the blood-soaked battlefield we’d just escaped. The trail we left behind was one of sacrifice.I didn’t stop until we were deep enough into the woods — deep enough to breathe, to steady ourselves, and to count our losses.They were significant.“This is all of us?” I asked, my voice sharp and on edge.Julian nodded, his face carved from stone.If he hadn’t warned us when he did, it would’ve been worse. Much worse.Our allies in the other sector had been compromised — they never even had a chance to make it through. I looked around at the warriors who had followed me straight into hell. Some limped. Others bled openly.Robin stood off to the side, guiding his own warriors from the Banished tribe. They were just as battered. No one escaped
Ron’s POVThe sound of marching feet echoed through the walls like an alarm.Another one of Aries’ warriors down.Another foolish step toward his own destruction.I watched the scene unfold from the high tower, arms behind my back, lips curled into a cold smirk. He was foolish, but persistent. I’ll give him that much. Still, desperation makes even the wisest men reckless.I turned to the guard standing beside me.“Are you sure Rex is still contained?” I asked, eyes narrowing. Aries wasn’t the type to launch a head-on assault without a trick up his sleeve. This could all be a diversion.“She’s still in the dungeon… as far as we know, Alpha,” the guard said, head bowed low.I stepped closer. “As far as we know?”“Selene hasn’t reported any issues.”“Selene doesn’t know the meaning of a report,” I growled, grabbing the front of his shirt and forcing him to meet my eyes. “Tell her to check on the girl. Now.”“Yes, Alpha,” he stammered and ran off.I liked watching them cower. Power wasn’t
I sat there... still, for I don't know how long.No one came into the cell.No one to interrupt the silence.Still, I couldn’t tap into my core energy. Only a sliver was able to escape whatever drug they kept injecting into my system — but that didn’t mean I’d stop trying.With my eyes still shut, I forced myself to picture everything worth surviving for — everything I needed to fight for.Aries came to mind first.The way his face and eyes soften when they land on me...Then Maron — the burning urge to avenge her death, to make them pay for cutting her life short.Then Julian, Rose, Lily... the Banished warriors... the entire pack.I felt it — the energy rising from deep within me."You're pushing yourself too far, Rex," Ria warned softly, but I ignored her.I was finally making progress. I couldn't stop now.Darkness had already swallowed the sky.Perfect. The night would be my cover.I aligned every sense within me, thinking back to the wind that once played in my hair... the scent
The moment my eyes managed to open again, I felt a weight press down on my head, every part of my body aching—especially my heart. I tried to cry, but even that was beyond me. The pain was so indescribable it left me numb.I had to get out of here… I had to see her. Maron, no matter what she looked like now.How would the pack have reacted to her death—especially Aries? Two losses in less than a week. How would Lucy react? She'd grown closer to Maron than anyone else recently.It was all my fault. All because of me.> This isn’t the time to blame yourself, Rex, came Ria’s voice in my head. Would you rather give up now and make Aries go through two real losses, or put yourself together, stand by his side, and end the monsters who dared lay a hand on Maron?I knew she was right. But I also had the right to mourn. I couldn’t just force myself to be okay overnight—especially not given the situation I was in.“Give me time, Ria,” I choked out. My voice was unrecognizable.> We don’t have t
Aries The air was thick with tension, like it already knew what today was going to bring.I hadn't really slept. I couldn’t. So I just lay there on our bed, grounding myself in her scent. It haunted me. It strengthened me.I could feel the buzz from the pack grounds even before I got up. They were ready—geared up for war. Just the way we needed.I got up and prepped quickly. After all, the party couldn’t start without me.The moment I made it downstairs, I saw the frenzy—warriors sharpening blades, checking gear. No one slacked. This wasn’t just another territorial clash.This was war.War for her.I stepped outside, eyes immediately locking on Julian. He looked exhausted—no doubt the burden of being Beta had multiplied tenfold in a time like this.> “Gather everyone,” I said without breaking stride.Minutes later, I was surrounded by our warriors—pack, rogues, Banished. All ready. All loyal.> “Scouts confirmed movement along the Ghost Road, leading to Ron’s dungeons,” I began, skip
Aries povIt’s been two days.Two long, agonizing days with no word about Rex.Sleeping in our room with her scent wrapped around me like a ghost was a special kind of torture. So I’ve been buried in my office—digging, reaching, clawing through every possible lead. Every passing hour stole hope from her chances of survival, and I refused to waste a second.The Men of the Shadows came and left without answers. They spoke cryptically, like they always did:> "The shadows cannot freely reveal those hidden in it."Useless. Unless their riddles led me to Rex, they meant nothing.Storming the Blue Crescent Pack was already set in motion. Now, I just needed firepower. Allies—strong ones.We couldn’t wait to send Maron off. The body couldn’t be kept any longer. And though grief still clung to me like chains, we honored her by burying her within pack grounds—like one of our own. She deserved that much.As the ceremony ended, I turned to Julian.“Are they in the meeting room already?”“They’re