Night covered the Red Moon Pack territory like a heavy blanket.
But something felt wrong.
Hazel woke suddenly.
Her chest tightened.
Not fear.
Instinct.
The same sensation she had felt whenever the Devourer tried entering her mind—but this time it was stronger.
Physical.
Real.
She sat up slowly in the bed.
Ryan's room was quiet, the dim moonlight entering through the tall windows.
Ryan opened his eyes immediately from the chair beside the bed.
"What is it?" he asked.
Hazel looked toward the forest beyond the territory.
"He's here."
Ryan stood instantly.
Venom surged.
Blade sharpened.
Ralph growled.
"Where?" Ryan asked calmly.
"The border," Hazel whispered.
Ryan did not question her instinct.
He walked to the door.
Within seconds, Liam and Nick were already in the hallway.
They had felt it too.
Liam spoke first.
"Eastern border disturbance."
Nick added:
"Two patrol wolves injured."
Ryan's aura darkened.
"Alive?"
"Yes," Nick answered.
Ryan turned to Hazel.
"You stay here."
Hazel shook her head immediately.
"No."
Ryan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's dangerous."
Hazel stood slowly from the bed.
Her legs were still weak, but her eyes were steady.
"He is here because of me."
Silence.
Ryan studied her for a moment.
Then nodded once.
"Fine."
Moments later—
They arrived at the eastern forest border.
Pack warriors surrounded the area.
The forest was unnaturally quiet.
Even the wind had stopped.
One of the patrol wolves stepped forward.
"There was a shadow… something moved between the trees."
Nick crouched near the ground.
Dark marks burned into the soil.
Like something had clawed reality itself.
Hazel stepped closer.
The eclipse mark on her wrist pulsed faintly.
Ryan immediately noticed.
"Hazel," he said quietly.
She knelt slowly near the mark.
Her fingers hovered above it.
Cold energy.
Wrong energy.
"He was here," she whispered.
Liam asked:
"Devourer?"
Hazel nodded.
Ryan's aura darkened further.
Venom whispered inside his mind.
Kill it.
Blade hummed.
Ralph growled protectively.
Hazel suddenly looked deeper into the forest.
Then she spoke quietly.
"He's not attacking yet."
Ryan asked:
"Why?"
Hazel answered slowly.
"He's testing the border."
Silence spread across the warriors.
Ryan stood tall.
His voice carried Alpha authority.
"Double the patrols."
"Reinforce eastern and northern borders."
Nick nodded.
Liam immediately began giving orders.
Pack warriors moved quickly.
Hazel stepped beside Ryan.
The forest was still watching them.
Ryan said quietly:
"This is only the beginning."
Hazel nodded.
But inside her chest—
Her power stirred.
Because the Devourer had finally come closer to the Red Moon Pack.
And the war that had been psychological…
Was slowly becoming real.