The air carried a sharp and strong blood who Calledarp. Metallic. Who Called

Sylara Voss pressed herself to the ground amid the foliage with her muscles rigid as she examined the surrounding terrain. A trio of deer sprawled across the clearing with gaping wounds that exposed their spilt innards upon the moist ground. The deer's throats had been torn out and their ribcages had been shattered from internal crushing. But there were no tracks. No signs of struggle.

Her stomach twisted. This wasn't a rottack.AnothererShouts, hu meters. Above, do lm, oon loomed as a massive red orb signalled the approach of a danger worse than anything she had experienced.

A sudden breeze brought a familiar scent which she instantly identified through the trees. Vaelrick Dain.

Sylara's lips curled in irritation. The Greyhound Pack selected him to estigate despite the availability of better options.

From behind her position emerged a low rumbling growl as though the ground spoke. Come out."

She took a slow breath before standing completely upright and moving toward the moonlit area.

Vaelrick occupied a posispiltross the clearing while his intense golden eyes maintained direct contact with hers. He retained her memories—towering height and broad shoulders gave the impression of a contained alpha power. Time worked to sharpen his face's edges while hardening his boyish feature,s into a more sinister appearance.

Too bad she didn't ,care.

She crossed her arms. "Vaelrick."

He angled his head towards her while maintaining a cool tone and stated that they were outside the Crimson Eye domain.

She smirked. "So are you."

His eyes flicked toward the remains before asking, "You found them in this condition?"

She nodded. "No tracks. No scent trail. Just… this."

Vaelrick approached and studied the bodies without revealing any emotion on his face. His jaw tightened as he assessed the situation. "They didn't die naturally."

He clenched his jaw tightly while examining the bodies. "This kill doesn't look ordinary."

"No kidding."

The gleam in his golden eyes intensified when he raised his gaze to her. "Any signs of human involvement?"

She shook her head. "No bullets. No arrows. She searched the area but found nothing that resembled the work of human hands. It was a message."

His jaw showed a small muscle motion while he remained silent.

Their shared history remained unsaid as the silence between them expanded to an oppressive weight.

She had believed that they were destined to be together in the past. Fated mates. The Moon Goddess herself had blessed their destined partnership. Vaelrick shattered her heart with his rejection breaking the illusion of their fated bond.

Their relationship had deteriorated into a tense truce between two adversaries.

Sylara refocused her attention on the d,eer and said, "The disappearances are becoming increasingly severe."

Vaelrick's gaze darkened. "I kno,w."

She observed him with inten,se focus before speaking.

His body tensed while his golden eyes displayed an unreadable emotion.

Her voicdripbodywwastideasas violently prefer to watch this city burn rather than accept our need for each other?"

His silence was answer enough.

A wave of intense frustration boiled within Sylara as her chest heated, but before she could respond, a new sound emerged to slice through the night.

could take action. His Hishersound took on a twisted, warped shape that seemed both ancient and deeply unsettling.

A shiver ran along the back of her neck as hairs stood up sharply.

Vaelrick's entire body went rigid.

"That came from the ruins," he muttered.

Her heart pounded. The ruins. The place no wolf dared to go. The ruins stood as the battleground where initial pack conflicts resulted in bloodshed and served as the site where curses were murmured into the wind as if they were sacred chants.

Sylara swallowed hard. "You don't think—"

Vaelrick responded with a grave tone in his deep voice. "It's awakening."

She understood the nature of the threat without having to inquire.

The Shadow Beast.

A legend. A nightmare. A curse.

The beast had returned after remaining silent for centuries.

Sylara and Vaelrick exchanged a look.

They had reached a point where their longstanding animosity was no longer present.

They were prey.

And the hunt had begun.