The Blackwood pack returned to their camp under a sky heavy with clouds, the moon hidden behind a veil of grey. The air carried the scent of rain, and the forest seemed to mourn, its usual hum of life replaced by a subdued silence. Victory had been hard-won, but it felt hollow. The shadow totems were destroyed, and Kane’s forces weakened, but the shadow’s presence lingered a constant reminder that the battle was far from over.

Lyla sat near the fire, her body aching from the magic she had ...