AFTER THE BATTLE
The howl echoed across the mountains.
Low.
Distant.
Unnatural.
Aria felt the sound crawl down her spine like cold fingers.
Her wolf shifted uneasily inside her mind.
That didn’t sound like a wolf.
The courtyard of the fortress slowly began to move again.
Warriors rushed around the broken gates, helping the injured and putting out the remaining fires.
Some of them glanced at Aria as they passed.
Whispers followed her.
“Did you see that power?”
“That’s her…”
“The Shadow Bloodline…”
Aria tried to ignore them.
But it wasn’t easy.
She had never had people look at her like this before.
With fear.
With curiosity.
With respect.
Rowan stretched his shoulders with a groan.
“Well,” he muttered.
“That was a terrible evening.”
Aria gave him a look.
“You think?”
He smirked slightly.
“At least you didn’t get thrown through a wall.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You literally got thrown across the courtyard.”
Rowan sighed.
“Details.”
Nearby, Darius and the other Alphas were speaking quietly with several fortress warriors.
Even Kael stood silently near the broken gate, staring at the deep claw marks left in the stone.
The Alpha King remained still.
His golden eyes were fixed on the dark mountains beyond the fortress walls.
Aria walked closer to him.
“You really think that thing was sent by someone?”
“Yes.”
His answer came without hesitation.
She folded her arms.
“And this Blood Emperor?”
The Alpha King finally looked at her.
His expression was serious.
“He’s not a rumor.”
Rowan joined them, his voice quieter now.
“Most wolves think he disappeared years ago.”
Aria frowned.
“Disappeared?”
The Alpha King nodded once.
“He ruled before the current Alpha Council existed.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“So… he was some kind of king?”
“No.”
The Alpha King’s voice darkened slightly.
“He was something worse.”
Rowan rubbed the back of his neck.
“He experimented on wolves.”
Aria blinked.
“Experimented?”
The Alpha King gestured toward the destroyed gate.
“Creatures like that.”
A chill ran through Aria.
“You mean… he made that monster?”
“Yes.”
Aria’s wolf growled softly.
That’s bad.
Aria agreed.
“Why would he want me?”
The Alpha King studied her for a moment.
“Because the Shadow Bloodline is older than any Alpha line.”
Rowan nodded slowly.
“Older… and more dangerous.”
Aria sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
She looked down at her hands.
“But I still barely understand my powers.”
The Alpha King’s voice softened slightly.
“You will.”
Aria glanced up at him.
“And if I can’t?”
His golden eyes held hers.
“You will.”
Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten slightly.
For a moment, the noise of the fortress faded into the background.
But Rowan suddenly cleared his throat.
“Not to interrupt the intense staring moment…”
Aria rolled her eyes.
“…but we still have several problems.”
The Alpha King looked at him.
“Such as?”
Rowan began counting on his fingers.
“Broken gate.”
“Possible war.”
“Monster creator who apparently wants Aria.”
He pointed behind them.
“And three visiting Alphas who watched this entire disaster.”
Darius approached just in time to hear the last part.
“We’re still here, yes.”
Aria sighed.
“Great.”
Darius glanced at the ruined gate.
“Your fortress defenses are impressive.”
The Alpha King’s voice was flat.
“They were.”
Darius smirked slightly.
“You’ll rebuild.”
Then his green eyes moved toward Aria again.
“But she’s the real issue now.”
Aria frowned.
“Why am I always the issue?”
Darius ignored the question.
“If the Blood Emperor truly knows about her…”
His expression turned serious.
“He won’t stop sending monsters.”
Rowan nodded grimly.
“That’s what I was thinking.”
The courtyard grew quiet again.
Aria felt her stomach twist.
“So what do we do?”
The Alpha King answered without hesitation.
“We prepare.”
Darius tilted his head slightly.
“For war?”
The Alpha King looked toward the mountains again.
His voice dropped to a cold whisper.
“Yes.”
But before anyone could speak again—
A young warrior suddenly ran across the courtyard toward them.
He looked breathless.
“My King!”
The Alpha King turned.
“What is it?”
The warrior bowed quickly.
“There’s… someone at the outer gate.”
Rowan frowned.
“Another attack?”
The warrior shook his head.
“No.”
His voice lowered.
“He says he has a message for the Shadow Bloodline.”
Aria’s heart skipped.
“A message?”
The warrior nodded nervously.
“He says…”
The man hesitated.
“…he says he works for the Blood Emperor.”