The fortress was eerily quiet after the team departed. Alison sat on the edge of her cot, her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the faint glow of the mark on her shoulder. The oppressive weight of waiting settled heavily over her, each passing second amplifying her unease.
She glanced toward the small window, where the pale light of dawn had faded into the soft gray of an overcast sky. The air felt charged, as though the world itself was bracing for what was to come.
The door creaked open, breaking her thoughts. Lyra stepped in, her expression unreadable as she leaned against the doorframe.
"They'll be fine," Lyra said, though her tone lacked conviction.
Alison let out a bitter laugh. "You don't sound so sure."
Lyra crossed her arms, her green eyes sharp. "I've seen them handle worse. Kane knows what he's doing."
"And Darius?" Alison asked, her voice quieter.
Lyra's gaze flickered, a shadow of doubt crossing her face. "Darius is a wildcard, always has been. But he won't let the pack down."
Alison wasn't sure whether to feel reassured or more anxious. She shifted on the cot, her fingers tracing the edge of the blanket absently. "Why didn't you go with them?"
"Someone had to stay behind," Lyra said, shrugging. "And Kane needed people he trusted to watch over you."
Alison's jaw tightened. "Because I'm such a liability."
"That's not what I meant," Lyra said, her tone softening. "You're important. That's why you're here, and they're out there."
Before Alison could respond, a sharp, distant howl split the air. Lyra straightened immediately, her posture tense. Alison felt her heart leap into her throat.
"What was that?" Alison asked, her voice trembling.
"Trouble," Lyra said, moving to the door. She paused, glancing back at Alison. "Stay here."
Alison watched her leave, the door shutting behind her with a definitive thud. The silence that followed was unbearable, each second stretching into an eternity. Her instincts screamed at her to follow, to find out what was happening, but Lyra's warning echoed in her mind.
The minutes dragged on, the silence broken only by faint, muffled sounds from the courtyard. Alison paced the room, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed the dagger Kane had given her, its weight familiar in her hand, and slipped out into the hallway.
The fortress was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting long shadows on the stone walls. Alison kept to the edges, her steps silent as she made her way toward the courtyard. The air grew colder as she approached, a chill that seemed to seep into her bones.
She paused at the edge of the courtyard, her breath catching as she took in the scene. Lyra and a handful of others stood in a tight circle, their weapons drawn. In the center lay a figure, unmoving—a wolf, its fur matted with blood.
Alison's stomach turned as she recognized him. It was one of the scouts who had gone with Kane. Lyra knelt beside him, her hands pressed against his side as she muttered something under her breath. The others stood guard, their eyes scanning the perimeter for threats.
"What happened?" Alison whispered, stepping forward.
Lyra glanced up, her expression grim. "He made it back, barely. Said the hunters were waiting for them. An ambush."
Alison's blood ran cold. "What about the others? What about Kane?"
"We don't know," Lyra said, her voice tight. "He didn't make it far enough to tell us."
The weight of her words settled heavily on Alison's chest. She looked down at the injured wolf, her heart pounding. The thought of Kane and the others trapped—or worse—made her stomach churn.
"What do we do?" Alison asked, her voice trembling.
"We wait," Lyra said, though the tension in her tone betrayed her frustration. "Kane will find a way back."
"And if he doesn't?" Alison asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it.
Lyra's gaze snapped to hers, sharp and unyielding. "He will."
The hours crawled by, each one heavier than the last. The injured scout had been taken inside, but his condition remained precarious. Alison lingered in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the forest beyond the gates. The oppressive weight of waiting pressed down on her, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and doubt.
The sun had nearly set when the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Alison turned, her breath catching as a group emerged from the treeline. Relief flooded her chest as she recognized Kane at the front, his dark hair disheveled and his clothes streaked with dirt and blood. Behind him were the remaining wolves, their faces grim but determined.
"Kane!" Lyra called, rushing forward to meet them. Alison followed, her heart racing.
"What happened?" Lyra asked, her gaze scanning the group.
"Ambush," Kane said, his voice rough. "They knew we were coming."
"They had wolfsbane," Darius added, his tone cold. "They were ready for us."
Kane's gaze shifted to Alison, his expression unreadable. "We need to talk."
Inside the council chamber, the tension was suffocating. Kane stood at the head of the table, his hands braced against the surface as he spoke. Lyra and Darius flanked him, their expressions grim. Alison sat at the far end, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
"The hunters are getting smarter," Kane said, his voice steady but laced with anger. "They knew where we'd be. They knew how to hurt us."
"Someone's feeding them information," Darius said, his golden eyes narrowing. "There's no other explanation."
Alison stiffened. "You think there's a traitor?"
"We don't think," Darius said sharply. "We know."
Kane raised a hand, silencing him. "We'll deal with that later. Right now, our focus is on fortifying the fortress. They'll come for us soon."
"And what about Alison?" Lyra asked, glancing at her. "If they know about her—"
"They don't," Kane said firmly. "Not yet. But we can't take chances."
Alison swallowed hard, the weight of their words settling heavily on her. She felt their gazes on her, the unspoken tension thick in the air.
"What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady.
Kane's eyes softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "You need to be ready. Because when they come, there won't be time for hesitation."