**Gaia’s POV**

The Snow Mountain compound felt like a ghost of its former self in the harsh light of day. Crumbling stone walls enclosed a central courtyard where my warriors stood guard, their golden armor a stark contrast to the bleak, frost-bitten landscape. The air was thin and biting, carrying the faint scent of pine and decay. Sebastian and Dennis knelt in the center, bound in silver chains that sapped their wolf strength, their faces gaunt from wounds and defeat. My uncle’s ...