THE SLAUGHTER IN THE FOREST
No one spoke after Lucian’s words.
The forest suddenly felt colder.
The Alpha King’s expression hardened instantly.
“Show me.”
Lucian turned his horse without another word and led them off the narrow path.
The group followed closely behind.
Branches scraped against armor as they pushed deeper into the forest.
The air smelled wrong.
Metallic.
Heavy.
Aria noticed it first.
“…Blood.”
Rowan grimaced.
“Yeah.”
They rode for another minute before the trees opened into a small clearing.
And then they saw them.
Bodies.
Dozens of them.
Wolves in human form lay scattered across the ground.
Some against trees.
Some face down in the dirt.
Some still clutching broken weapons.
Aria felt her stomach twist.
Rowan slowly dismounted his horse.
“…Damn.”
Lucian stood quietly beside him, scanning the area.
“These are the border patrol warriors.”
The Alpha King stepped forward.
His golden eyes moved across the clearing.
Recognition flickered across his face.
“These men guard the northern territory.”
His voice was colder than the wind.
One of the warriors crouched near a body.
“My King…”
He swallowed.
“They didn’t even get a chance to fight.”
Rowan looked closer.
“That’s not entirely true.”
Aria followed his gaze.
Several trees nearby were shredded with claw marks.
The ground was torn up.
Signs of a struggle.
Lucian knelt beside one of the bodies.
He examined the deep wound across the man’s chest.
“…Not wolves.”
Rowan frowned.
“Monsters?”
Lucian shook his head.
“No.”
The Alpha King’s voice came quietly.
“Something stronger.”
Aria felt a chill run through her.
She looked around the clearing again.
There were too many bodies.
Too many warriors.
“This wasn’t a fight,” she whispered.
“It was a slaughter.”
Lucian stood slowly.
“Whatever did this wanted to make a statement.”
Rowan kicked at the dirt.
“Well message received.”
Aria noticed something strange near one of the trees.
“Wait.”
She walked closer.
Something was carved into the bark.
A symbol.
Dark and jagged.
Lucian followed her.
The moment he saw it, his expression darkened.
“Oh.”
Rowan walked over.
“What?”
Lucian stepped aside.
Rowan looked at the symbol.
His relaxed attitude disappeared immediately.
“…That’s bad.”
Aria looked between them.
“What is it?”
The Alpha King had already seen it.
His jaw tightened.
“That symbol belongs to the Blood Emperor.”
Aria stared at the mark.
It looked almost like a claw slashing through a circle.
“He left it here?”
Lucian nodded.
“Intentionally.”
Rowan folded his arms.
“He’s telling us something.”
Aria looked back at the bodies.
Her chest felt tight.
“Or warning us.”
The Alpha King suddenly knelt beside one of the fallen warriors.
He closed the man’s eyes.
Then he stood again.
His voice was calm.
But there was anger beneath it.
“We keep moving.”
Rowan blinked.
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
Lucian nodded slowly.
“I agree.”
Aria frowned.
“Why?”
Lucian looked at her.
“Because this isn’t the real attack.”
Rowan looked around the clearing.
“…You think this is bait?”
Lucian nodded.
“Most likely.”
The Alpha King’s gaze shifted toward the mountains ahead.
“Black Hollow is close.”
Aria felt uneasy.
If this was only bait…
What was waiting for them at the real destination?
As the group prepared to move again, Rowan suddenly noticed something else.
“Uh… King?”
The Alpha King looked at him.
“What?”
Rowan pointed toward the forest behind them.
The warriors turned.
Footsteps.
Many of them.
Branches snapped.
Movement surrounded the clearing.
Lucian’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“We’re not alone.”
Dark shapes began appearing between the trees.
Dozens of them.
Slow.
Silent.
Watching.
Aria’s wolf stirred uneasily.
Those weren’t wolves.
And they definitely weren’t normal monsters.
One of the creatures stepped into the clearing.
Its body looked twisted.
Almost wolf-like.
But its eyes glowed an unnatural red.
Rowan muttered under his breath.
“Oh good.”
Lucian drew his blade.
“Everyone ready?”
The Alpha King stepped forward.
His golden eyes burned with power.
“How many are there?”
Lucian counted quickly.
“…At least fifty.”
Rowan cracked his neck.
“Well.”
“This should be fun.”
But Aria noticed something the others hadn’t yet.
More creatures were emerging behind them.
From every direction.
Her voice came out quietly.
“…There’s more.”
Lucian turned his head.
And for the first time since this journey started—
Even he looked surprised.
Because the forest was now completely filled with monsters.