Chapter 166
The closer they got to the council hall, the quieter the territory became.
Ariana walked beside Kael through the stone paths cutting across the center territory while cold mountain wind moved through the trees surrounding them. Wolves lined the roads in silence, watching openly as they passed beneath silver lanterns hanging from carved wooden posts along the trail. Normally the territory felt alive at night. Warriors trained near the lower grounds, merchants kept fires burning near the gathering houses, and younger wolves filled the streets with noise long after sunset.
Tonight, none of that remained.
The entire territory felt tense.
No one stopped them as they crossed deeper into the central district, but Ariana could feel the weight of every stare following them. Some wolves lowered their heads respectfully toward Kael the moment they saw him. Others looked at Ariana with uncertainty they no longer bothered hiding.
Fear spread differently among wolves.
