The Citadel was alive in a way it had never been before. Every stone hummed with the echoes of battle, every corridor thrummed with energy, every torch flickered in rhythm with the pulse of awakened magic. Aria walked through the halls, hands clasped behind her back, wolf coiling beneath her skin, alert and restless. She could feel the weight of yesterday's victory, the aftermath of fire and blood, and the unspoken expectation of the battles yet to come.
Damien followed quietly, his presence a constant shadow at her side. His golden eyes scanned every corner, alert, assessing, protective. The air around him shimmered faintly, the aura of a predator and Alpha in perfect balance. "We've held them off for now," he murmured. "But they will return. And next time, they won't be as careless."
Aria nodded, jaw tight. "Then we prepare. Every pack, every ally, every wolf under our command must be ready. We can't allow hesitation."
