Dusk came earlier than usual.
The sky, which had been covered with dark clouds since noon, finally began to drizzle. Drops of water fell gently onto the village ground, soaking the traces of battle that had not yet completely faded.
But within Ironclaw Camp, no one was truly resting.
The warriors were busy tidying up their equipment, preparing their horses, and extinguishing the campfires one by one.
For them, tonight was just an ordinary night before returning to their respective pack territories.
But for some people in that camp.
Tonight was the beginning of a journey toward something far more dangerous.
Aurelia stood near the entrance of her main tent.
The light rain touched her hair, but she did not move.
Her gaze was fixed straight to the north.
Lucien emerged from the tent behind her.
In his hand was a long black cloak.
He stopped beside Aurelia.
"This journey won't be easy."
Aurelia smiled slightly.
"Important journeys usually are."
Lucien handed over the cloak.
"This will help conceal you."
Aurelia took it.
The cloak was heavy, made of thick fabric that could withstand cold and rain.
She put it on slowly.
Cassian approached from the side of the camp with his usual casual stride.
Two new daggers hung at his waist.
"I like this kind of atmosphere," he said as he stared at the dark sky.
Darius, walking behind him, scoffed.
"Of course you do."
Cassian smiled faintly.
"Night adventure, secret journey, mysterious enemies."
He shrugged.
"It's almost like a legend."
Alaric appeared last.
He carried a roll of old maps in his hand.
"Legends usually end in death," he said flatly.
Cassian replied lightly,
"Not if we win."
Lucien spread the map roll out on a wooden crate.
The rain began to fall a little harder, but they still stood gathered around the map.
"This is the Northern Mountains," said Alaric, pointing to a long, roughly drawn line.
"Beyond this..."
He moved his finger to an empty area on the map.
"...lies the Shadow Land."
Darius furrowed his brow.
"Why is that part empty?"
Alaric answered shortly,
"No one has returned to draw it."
Cassian whistled softly.
"That makes it sound even more interesting."
Lucien pointed to a narrow path that cut through the mountains.
"Aurelia will take this path."
He looked at her.
"It's the only one that looks like an official route."
Darius grinned.
"And us?"
Cassian replied,
"We'll take the path that isn't visible."
Alaric pointed to the other side of the map.
"There's an old hunter's trail."
He looked up.
"Dangerous. Steep. And rarely used."
Darius smiled in satisfaction.
"Good."
Lucien looked at Aurelia once more.
"You'll leave first."
Aurelia nodded.
"How far is it?"
Alaric answered,
"Two days' travel from here."
Cassian added,
"Maybe three if the weather gets worse."
The rain had now grown heavier.
Wind blew from the north, carrying cold air.
Aurelia looked at the Alphas around her.
"If something happens—"
Darius cut her off immediately,
"We'll be there."
Cassian lifted his daggers slightly.
"Closer than they think."
Lucien looked at her seriously.
"You're not alone."
Aurelia felt something warm in her chest.
For the first time since the message had arrived, she felt truly ready.
She took a long breath.
"Alright."
Lucien rolled the map back up.
"We leave now."
The camp gate opened slowly.
Rain poured down on the ground as Aurelia mounted her horse.
The black horse moved its head gently, as if sensing the long journey ahead.
Several guards standing at the gate bowed their heads.
They did not know the true purpose of this journey.
But they knew one thing.
Their Luna was heading off to face something great.
Aurelia pulled on the reins.
She glanced back one more time at the Alphas standing a few steps behind.
Lucien.
Cassian.
Darius.
Alaric.
Four figures who had become the pillars of the new world of wolves.
Darius lifted his hand slightly.
"Don't take too long."
Cassian smiled.
"And don't start the party without us."
Alaric only nodded briefly.
Lucien looked at her for a few moments longer.
"Be careful."
Aurelia nodded.
Then she gently nudged the side of her horse.
The horse began to move.
Slowly.
Then faster and faster.
In a few moments, Aurelia's figure had disappeared among the rain-soaked trees.
Silence fell at the camp gate.
Darius finally spoke,
"How long do we wait?"
Lucien answered without hesitation,
"One hour."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"Can't wait, huh?"
Lucien stared at the dark forest ahead of them.
"No."
He said softly.
"Just realistic."
Alaric had already started walking toward his horse.
"Prepare yourselves."
Darius rolled his shoulders.
"Night journey through the mountains."
He grinned.
"I've missed this."
Cassian added as he walked toward his horse,
"The Shadow Kings probably think they've invited one guest."
He leaped onto the saddle with a light movement.
"Yet they'll be getting five."
Lucien stood a few moments longer at the gate.
His gaze remained fixed on the road Aurelia had taken.
The rain was falling even harder now.
The wind from the north carried the scent of wet earth and something farther away.
Something dark.
Something waiting.
Lucien finally turned around.
"Get ready."
He said to the Alphas.
"The hunt has only just begun."
And far to the north.
Beyond the mountains shrouded in mist and storm.
The Shadow Land began to feel the arrival of its guest.
But this time…
The shadows did not know that the prey they had invited was bringing the best hunters in the wolf world.
The rain continued to fall throughout the night.
The forest path Aurelia took turned into a slippery dirt trail filled with tree roots. But the black horse she rode remained steady on its feet, stepping through the dark shadows of the trees.
The night wind blew cold.
The black cloak she wore fluttered gently behind her.
In the distance, thunder rumbled again from the direction of the mountains.
Aurelia looked ahead.
The path she took climbed higher and higher.
The forest began to change.
The trees grew taller, denser, and older. Large tree trunks stood like ancient sentinels who had witnessed hundreds of seasons pass by.
No sound of animals.
No birds.
The silence felt too deep.
Aurelia breathed slowly.
Her wolf instincts began to grow restless.
As if this territory… was not a place friendly to living creatures.
She stopped her horse for a moment.
Her ears picked up something.
Not the sound of footsteps.
Nor the rustle of leaves.
But a feeling of being watched.
Aurelia turned slowly toward the trees to the left of the path.
Darkness.
But behind the shadows of the thick tree trunks.
Something seemed to be moving.
She did not react.
Instead, she urged her horse forward as if she had noticed nothing.
But her senses remained alert.
A few minutes passed.
Then suddenly.
The sound of a broken branch came from behind.
Aurelia's horse stopped immediately.
She shifted her body slightly on the saddle.
The forest behind her looked empty.
But she knew.
She was not alone.
"If you want to keep watch," she said calmly without raising her voice, "at least do a better job of it."
Silence.
Only the sound of rain falling from the leaves.
Then from behind a large tree at the side of the path.
Someone emerged.
A man.
Tall and thin, wearing a dark cloak that almost blended with the forest shadows.
His eyes were sharp.
And in his eyes, there was something unusual.
Not the golden color of wolves.
Nor the color of humans.
But a pale gray like mist.
The man smiled slightly.
"We were wondering when the Luna would notice us."
Aurelia looked at him without fear.
"So you're the path guardians?"
The man did not answer immediately.
Two more figures emerged from behind the trees.
They stood on either side of the path, blocking the way back.
"More accurately," said the first man, "we are the greeters."
Aurelia tilted her head slightly.
"Greeters who follow their guests from afar?"
The man laughed softly.
"We just wanted to make sure our invitation was taken seriously."
Aurelia dismounted slowly.
Her feet touched the rain-soaked ground.
"If you want to take me to the Shadow Land," she said calmly, "you can just do so directly."
The man shook his head slightly.
"Not yet."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"Why not?"
The man stepped a little closer.
"Because the Kings want to make sure of one thing first."
Aurelia remained silent.
The man continued,
"Whether the Luna who has come is truly as strong as the stories say."
The night wind blew harder.
Aurelia smiled slightly.
"So this is a test?"
The man nodded.
"A small one."
One of the figures behind Aurelia began to move forward.
This man was large.
Larger than most wolves.
His eyes glowed faintly under the rain.
Aurelia looked at them one by one.
Three opponents.
And they were clearly not ordinary wolves.
The energy they exuded felt strange.
Darker.
Heavier.
The first man stepped back a few paces.
"If you win," he said casually, "we will take you to the Shadow Land."
He grinned.
"If not…"
His sentence hung in the air.
But Aurelia already knew the answer.
She removed her black cloak.
It fell to the wet ground.
Rain touched her hair as she stood tall in the middle of the forest path.
Her golden eyes began to glow.
"If that's the case," she said softly.
The Luna's energy slowly began to radiate from her body.
The air around them immediately felt different.
An invisible pressure began to spread.
The three men exchanged glances.
Their casual expressions slowly shifted.
Aurelia took one step forward.
"Begin."
And far behind her.
On the dark mountain trail.
Four other shadows were also moving quickly through the forest.
Lucien led the way.
Behind him, Cassian leaped from rock to rock with light movements.
Darius walked with heavy but swift steps.
While Alaric remained silent like a shadow.
Cassian finally spoke,
"I can feel their energy."
Lucien did not look back.
"Aurelia's."
Cassian nodded.
"And… three other energies."
Darius grinned.
"It's already started."
Lucien quickened his pace.
"Hurry."
The rain grew heavier as they moved through the narrow hunter's trail.
Ahead of them, in the middle of the dark forest.
Their Luna was facing the first test from the Shadow Land.
And if the Shadow Kings thought that test would stop her…
They would soon realize one thing.
The Luna they had invited was not just the new leader of the wolf world.
She was a storm coming to bring down their shadow kingdom.