The midday sky seemed far too calm.
The sun hung high above the eastern forest, shining down on ground covered in shadows from tall trees. Yet even though bright light touched every corner of the forest, the atmosphere among the wolves felt heavy.
No one spoke after the black wolf's body fell still once more.
The message that had come from the creature's mouth still echoed in all their minds.
"The Shadow Kings… are coming."
Aurelia stood motionless a few steps away from the body. Her gaze remained fixed on the ground, but her thoughts were far away.
Lucien watched her face carefully.
"Are you alright?"
Aurelia took a slow breath before answering.
"No."
The answer was honest.
Lucien was not surprised.
He turned to look at the black wolf's body, now truly lifeless.
"A message like that isn't made carelessly."
Cassian knelt again beside the body, examining the symbol that had now cracked.
"This is a communication ritual."
He touched the burnt lines with the tip of his blade.
"This body was just a medium."
Darius frowned.
"So someone used a corpse to send a message?"
Cassian shrugged.
"More or less."
Darius scoffed.
"Disgusting."
Alaric stood a few steps away from them, his eyes sweeping across the silent forest.
"And effective."
Lucien stared at the broken symbol.
"The question isn't just how they sent the message."
He turned to Aurelia.
"But how they knew about you."
Aurelia finally lifted her head.
She stared at the forest before them.
"I've been thinking the same thing."
Darius growled softly.
"Maybe they've been spying on us."
Cassian let out a small laugh.
"If they can perform a ritual like this, spying on us must be easy enough."
The wind blew gently again through the trees.
Leaves rustled like faint whispers.
Aurelia spoke softly,
"They didn't just watch us."
Everyone turned to her.
"They were waiting."
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"Waiting for what?"
Aurelia did not answer right away.
She walked slowly closer to the black wolf's body once more.
The symbol on its chest was now completely dark.
There was no more light.
Yet a strange feeling still lingered in the air.
"Waiting for change," she said at last.
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"Change?"
Aurelia looked at each of them one by one.
"The world of the packs has just changed."
She pointed toward the distant valley behind them.
"The Pack Council."
"The alliance between territories."
"There are no more wars for dominance."
She took a slow breath.
"If someone wants to rule this world… changes like these would be a threat."
Lucien nodded slowly.
"Because a united world is harder to control."
Cassian stood up, twirling his blade.
"So the Shadow Kings don't like the idea of unity."
Darius smiled slightly.
"Good."
He lifted his axe a little.
"Means we've already done something right."
Alaric still stared at the forest.
"We need to return to camp."
Lucien turned to him.
"Do you sense something?"
Alaric did not answer immediately.
But his expression grew sharper.
"No."
He turned toward the black wolf's body.
"But I don't like being in a place that was just used for a ritual."
Cassian let out a small laugh.
"For once, I agree."
Lucien gestured to the guards.
"Bring the body."
Two guards stepped forward carefully.
This time, no strange light appeared.
The body was lifted onto a wooden stretcher.
Yet even as they began walking back toward the valley.
The feeling of being watched still did not fade.
The packs' temporary camp was now much quieter than last night.
Most of the armies had already returned to their territories.
Only the Ironclaw pack, some warriors from allied packs, and guards helping to clear the remains of the battle were left behind.
When Aurelia and the Alphas entered the camp, several warriors immediately stopped their work.
Their eyes were fixed on the black wolf's body being carried on the stretcher.
Whispers spread at once.
Lucien raised his hand slightly.
"Take it to the main tent."
The guards nodded.
The large tent in the center of the camp was soon opened.
The body was laid on a long wooden table.
Cassian immediately began examining it again.
Darius stood near the tent entrance with his arms crossed.
"So what's the plan now?"
Lucien looked at Aurelia.
"The decision is yours."
Aurelia stood beside the table.
Her eyes stared seriously at the body.
"If they sent a message, it means they wanted us to hear it."
Cassian nodded.
"True."
Aurelia continued,
"But they also wanted to see how we would react."
Darius frowned.
"So?"
Aurelia looked at all of them.
"We don't react."
Cassian smiled.
"I like that strategy."
Lucien nodded slowly.
"We continue with our plans as usual."
Alaric spoke briefly,
"The Pack Council."
Aurelia nodded.
"Yes."
She looked toward the tent entrance, toward the world outside.
"If the Shadow Kings fear unity… then we will make this world even more united."
Darius let out a short laugh.
"I'm starting to like this direction."
Cassian grinned.
"A bigger war is usually more fun."
Lucien shook his head slightly.
"Hopefully this time we can avoid war."
But even as he said it.
The wind suddenly blew hard against the tent fabric.
The sound of flapping cloth echoed through the space.
Alaric immediately turned toward the entrance.
His expression changed.
"Something's here."
Darius grabbed his axe at once.
"Finally."
Lucien moved faster.
He stepped out of the tent.
The others followed right away.
Outside, the sky that had been clear was now covered by dark clouds that had appeared out of nowhere.
The wind blew harder.
Warriors in the camp began to look uneasy.
Aurelia stared at the sky.
Something was wrong.
Then—
A black bird fell from the sky.
Its body hit the ground in the middle of the camp.
Several warriors stepped back in shock.
Cassian approached first.
He knelt beside the bird.
"This isn't an ordinary bird."
Darius frowned.
"Why?"
Cassian pointed to the bird's leg.
There was a small roll tied with black string.
Lucien opened the roll carefully.
Everyone waited.
When the paper unfolded, only one sentence was written in thick black ink.
The writing looked like claws scratching across the paper.
Lucien read the sentence slowly.
His expression immediately grew serious.
Darius crossed his arms.
"What does it say?"
Lucien looked at Aurelia.
Then he read the sentence aloud in a clear voice.
"If the wolves want a new world…"
He paused for a moment.
The wind blew even harder.
Lucien continued,
"…then their Luna must come alone to the Land of Shadows."
Oppressive silence fell over the camp.
Cassian smiled slightly.
"An invitation."
Darius growled immediately.
"A trap."
Alaric looked at Aurelia.
"A choice."
Aurelia looked at the darkening sky.
Somewhere far beyond the packs' territories.
The Shadow Kings had finally made their first move.
And for the first time since the war ended.
Aurelia realized that the new world she was building might demand far greater sacrifices than she had imagined.