Aria’s POV

The moon hung low over the camp, casting the clearing in a soft, silvery glow. Fires burned in tight circles, warriors gathered around them like moths to light, their faces grim but determined. The night smelled of steel, smoke, and wild resolve — the scent of wolves preparing for war.

I stood beside Kaelen at the heart of the clearing, the map of our lands spread across a rough wooden table. Pins, lines, and notes marked every border and possible ambush point. Around us, ...