The battlefield was eerily silent as dawn approached, a sharp contrast to the chaos of the night before. Cinder stood at the edge of the camp, staring out into the forest. Her mind was heavy with the weight of everything they had lost and all that still needed to be done. The shadow wolves were regrouping, their numbers still strong despite the Moonstone's restoration.
"Cinder," Marcus called softly, approaching her from behind. "The scouts returned. They've spotted the shadow wolves moving toward the eastern ridge. It's only a matter of time before they strike again."
She nodded, her jaw tightening. "We'll be ready."
But deep down, Cinder felt the cracks in their unity. The packs were still struggling to trust one another, and Jason's absence left a hole no one could fill.
