weapons, training, and preparing for whatever war loomed on the horizon. Lyra could feel the tension in ever

s and battle plans pinned to every wall. The Alpha stood at the center, a

scouts have been seen near the old ruins, two miles west of here. They're searching fo

nants of a lost werewolf stronghold. Rumors spoke of hidden power and dark secrets buried

?" Lyra asked, glancing

aced with frustration. "But anything the Shad

whatever's hidden there, it could tip the

er hunt-it was a test, another chance to prove herself to the Ironc

ide are iron dust and silver shavings-spread it in a circle if you need to pro

g the pouch into he

ely visible beneath the tangle of roots and fallen branches. As they moved, Lyra felt the weight of unspoken questions between them.

badly?" Caden asked suddenly

e, but the time for secrets was ending. "My bloodline is ancient-tied to the

his expression hard

d firmly. "I w

crumbling stone. The air was thick with the scent of moss and decay, and an unsettling stillness hung over the plac

iet, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. Lyra's eyes caught the faint shimmer of something on the ground

ack," Caden said, his voice low. "

ergy, brief but powerful, like a whisper of something ancient waking beneath h

ws with deadly silence. Shadow Moon scouts, thei

dust pouch in her hand. She flung the dust in a wide arc, creating a barrier that sizzled against the

ld feel the pull of the ruins, drawing her toward a collapsed archway half-b

h frantic speed until her hand closed around a cold, smooth object-a small obsidian stone etched with

adow Moon wolves closed in. "We