Silas stood side by side, the weight of the battle heavy on their shoulders. Yet, in this moment of calm, Aurora felt an unexplainabl

rieve was s

Heart faltered, and an icy chill crept through the clear

t over," h

gripped his arm. "What do yo

ey were only the beginning. I can feel it the

nd more menacing than anything Aurora had heard before. Her blood ran

unnatural crimson. His presence exuded raw power, and the forest seemed to re

s voice a dangerous purr.

w clenched

stomach twisting at the tensi

of the pack, long before my time. He was exiled for trying to

a narrow view, Silas. I sought strength. Freedom

steady despite the fear bubbling inside he

irk widened. "Ah, the human. You've bond

tectively in front of Auror

everything is connected. The Heart, the pack, the forest... and her." His crimso

unded. "What are

oesn't choose lightly. It called you here, human. You're not just an o

shadows around him seemed to come alive. Tendrils of darkness snaked th

roared, launching

were swift and powerful, but Malric's control over the shadows gave him an edge.

ust stand there. Silas needed her,

radiating from it was overwhelming, but she forced herself to focus.

palms made contact, a surge of power coursed through her, and she gasped as

lance they had maintained for centuries. But she also saw the t

voice echoed in her mind. It was s

on blazing within her. The patterns on the tre

, her voice cutting

idening as he saw the tree's glow int

ce firm. "The Heart is connected t

only a moment befo

he glow of the Heart spread, engulfing the clearing in a warm, golden lig

fury. He turned his attention to Aurora, his movemen

teady. "I understand enough. Thi

ded outward, washing over the clearing. Malric screamed as t

t once more. Malric was gone, and the Heart

embling from the effort. Silas was at her

said, his voice

t him, her breath

he brushed a strand of hair from her f

all smile. "I'm sta

a sense of peace she had never known before. The battle was

tion that went beyond words. The forest had chosen them, and th