The battlefield didn't move.
It didn't breathe.
It didn't even feel real anymore.
Wolves remained frozen where they were—some still kneeling, others collapsed where the force of Aria's power had thrown them.
The night air was eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
Kael stood in the center of it all, holding Aria in his arms.
Her body felt lighter than it should.
Fragile.
Her breathing—
Barely there.
"Aria…"
His voice was low, rough.
No response.
Marcus slowly got to his feet, wincing as he rubbed his side.
"…okay. I officially hate war."
Rowan pushed himself up beside him, eyes scanning the battlefield.
"They're still down."
Marcus looked around.
He was right.
Every enemy wolf remained where they had fallen.
Not moving.
Not attacking.
Not even trying to stand.
"…are they dead?"
Alder stepped down from the ridge, calm but alert.
"No."
Marcus frowned.
"Then why are they not moving?"
Alder's gaze shifted toward Aria.
"They are still under her command."
The words sent a chill through the group.
Rowan looked uneasy.
"…but she's unconscious."
"Yes."
Alder's voice remained steady.
"And yet the command holds."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"How long?"
Alder didn't answer immediately.
"That depends on her."
Marcus blinked.
"…you say that a lot."
Alder ignored him.
"If she wakes and releases them, they will be free."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"And if she doesn't?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Varkos stepped forward.
"They will remain bound."
Marcus pointed at the frozen wolves.
"…forever?"
Varkos shook his head slightly.
"No."
Alder finished the thought.
"Until her power breaks."
Marcus swallowed.
"…and when that happens?"
Alder looked directly at him.
"They will remember everything."
Rowan's expression darkened.
"And then they attack."
"Yes."
The reality settled over them.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Kael adjusted his grip on Aria.
"She will wake."
It wasn't a guess.
It was a decision.
Lena stepped closer.
"We need to move."
Kael didn't look at her.
"Where?"
"Back to the pack."
Rowan nodded.
"We can't stay here."
Marcus added,
"Yeah, especially if they suddenly unfreeze and decide to kill us."
Varkos turned toward the warriors.
"Gather the injured."
Immediately, wolves began moving.
Some limped.
Others helped carry the wounded.
The battlefield slowly came back to life—
Except for the enemy.
Still frozen.
Still bound.
Still waiting.
Kael began walking.
Carrying Aria carefully.
Like she might break if he moved too fast.
Behind him, the pack followed.
No one spoke.
Even Marcus stayed quiet for once.
Because something felt wrong.
Not just the aftermath of battle.
Something deeper.
Unsettling.
Back at the pack house—
Aria was laid gently on the bed again.
The same room.
The same stillness.
But this time—
The tension was worse.
Kael didn't leave her side.
Not even for a second.
Marcus leaned against the wall.
"…this is starting to feel like a pattern."
Rowan sighed.
"She pushes herself. She collapses."
Marcus nodded.
"I don't like the sequel."
Alder stood near the window again.
Watching the forest.
Waiting.
"She went further this time."
Lena crossed her arms.
"How bad?"
Alder turned slowly.
"She didn't just touch the bond."
He looked at Aria.
"She controlled it."
Marcus frowned.
"…isn't that what she's supposed to do?"
Alder shook his head.
"Not like that."
Rowan tilted his head.
"Explain."
Alder's voice lowered.
"She forced hundreds of wolves to submit at once."
Marcus blinked.
"…yeah, we saw that."
Alder's eyes hardened slightly.
"That level of control…"
He paused.
"…belongs to legends."
Silence filled the room.
Kael's gaze never left Aria.
"But she's not a legend."
Alder met his eyes.
"Not yet."
Marcus whispered,
"…that didn't sound reassuring."
Rowan nodded.
"Not at all."
Aria's fingers twitched slightly.
Everyone froze.
Kael leaned closer.
"Aria."
Nothing.
Her breathing remained shallow.
Uneven.
Alder stepped forward slowly.
"She's still fighting."
Marcus blinked.
"…fighting what?"
Alder's voice was quiet.
"Herself."
The room fell silent again.
Time passed.
Minutes.
Then more.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Then suddenly—
Aria gasped.
Her body jerked slightly.
Kael was instantly closer.
"Aria!"
Her eyes opened—
But something was wrong.
They weren't fully hers.
Faint silver flickered beneath the surface.
Wild.
Unstable.
She sat up abruptly.
Breathing hard.
"…too loud."
Marcus jumped.
"Welcome back—wait, what?"
Aria clutched her head.
"Make it stop…"
Rowan frowned.
"Make what stop?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The voices."
The room stilled.
Alder stepped closer.
"You can still hear them."
Aria nodded weakly.
"…all of them."
Kael's expression darkened.
"The wolves?"
"Yes."
Her breathing quickened.
"They're still connected to me."
Marcus looked toward the door.
"…you mean the enemies too?"
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
"…yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Rowan ran a hand through his hair.
"That's not good."
Alder's voice was calm.
"No."
"It is not."
Aria looked at him.
"Why can't I shut it off?"
Alder didn't hesitate.
"Because you never learned how to close the bond."
Marcus threw his hands up.
"Of course there's a 'close button' we don't know about!"
Kael focused on Aria.
"Can you control it?"
She hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"…no."
The answer hit harder than expected.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
"So she can hear hundreds of wolves…"
Marcus added,
"…including enemies…"
Lena finished,
"…and can't stop it."
Alder nodded.
"Yes."
The room fell into silence again.
Then—
A distant howl echoed through the forest.
Low.
Uneasy.
Marcus froze.
"…that sounded close."
Another howl followed.
Then another.
Different directions.
Different voices.
Rowan moved toward the window.
"They're moving."
Kael's eyes snapped to Aria.
"What's happening?"
Her face went pale.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…they're waking up."
The room went still.
Marcus blinked.
"…already?"
Aria shook her head slightly.
"…not all of them."
Her breathing became uneven again.
"But some…"
She looked up.
Fear flickering in her eyes.
"…are breaking free."
A loud crash echoed from outside.
Followed by a distant growl.
Rowan turned sharply.
"That's inside the territory."
Varkos's voice thundered from outside.
"DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!"
Marcus panicked.
"They're here?!"
Kael stood instantly.
His expression cold.
"Stay with her."
Rowan nodded.
"Got it."
Kael moved toward the door—
But Aria grabbed his wrist.
Weak.
But firm.
"Wait."
He looked back at her.
"What?"
Her silver eyes flickered again.
Unstable.
"They're not attacking randomly."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Aria's voice dropped.
"They're coming…"
A pause.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…for me."
Outside—
A deep, enraged howl echoed through the pack.
Closer than before.