The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a golden light over the forest and washing away the remnants of the previous night's battle. Alex stood at the edge of the clearing, watching as his pack tended to the wounded and gathered what remained of The Shadow's defeated forces. The air was filled with a sense of relief and hope, tempered by the knowledge that their struggle was far from over.
Marcus approached, wiping sweat from his brow as he surveyed the scene. "We did it, Alex. We stopped them."
"For now," Alex replied, his gaze shifting to the horizon where The Shadow had vanished. "But they'll be back, and we need to be ready."
"Alex!" Sara's voice cut through the morning air, drawing his attention to where she stood with a group of pack members. Her eyes were bright with urgency, and she waved him over.
He joined her, curiosity piqued by the tension in her stance. "What's going on?"
