Chapter 62 - At the Border
The horn sounded before Athena fully woke.
A low, resonant blast that rolled through the stone walls and into her bones.
She stirred, blinking against the dim light of the room, momentarily confused about where she was.
Then she felt it.
Silas's arm around her.
The warmth of his chest at her back.
The memory of the night returning all at once.
The horn sounded again.
Longer this time.
Silas was already moving.
He was upright before she could even sit up, pulling on his shirt with quick, efficient movements that had nothing to do with panic and everything to do with readiness.
Athena watched him.
The shift in him was immediate.
His expression hardened.
His posture sharpened.
This wasn't the man who had held her through the night.
This was the Alpha.
"What is that?" she asked, pushing herself upright.
"Warning," he said.
He crossed the room quickly, pulling open the door.
Athena followed without thinking.
The corridor outside was already alive with movement. Wolves moving quickly but without chaos. Voices low. Purposeful.
Rowan appeared at the end of the hall, striding toward them.
"They're at the border," he said.
Silas nodded once. "How many?"
"Six. And more arriving."
Athena's stomach dropped.
"They're not hiding anymore," Rowan continued.
Silas's jaw tightened.
"No."
Athena stepped closer, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.
"They're here for me."
Rowan didn't deny it.
"They're not here to watch anymore," he said quietly.
He looked directly at her.
"They're here to take you."