Chapter 114
The air in the camp was thick with unease. The pack moved through their daily routines, but the tension was palpable, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. Aurora sat by the central fire, her hand resting protectively over her abdomen as she watched Nathan rally the wolves to strengthen the perimeter.
“Reinforce that side!” Nathan barked, his voice carrying over the clearing. “And double the watch tonight. If the King’s forces come, I want us ready.”
Selene stood apart from the rest, her sharp eyes watching everything. Her presence was a constant source of unease among the wolves, and murmurs of distrust rippled through the camp whenever she passed.
Aurora sighed, leaning against Cassian as he sat beside her. “They don’t trust her. And I don’t blame them.”
“She hasn’t given them a reason to,” Cassian muttered, his arm draped protectively over her shoulders. “But for now, she’s useful.”
Selene approached them, her dark gaze flicking between the two. “Useful. A flattering term, Alpha.”
Aurora sat up straighter. “What do you want, Selene?”
“I’ve been studying the Pact,” Selene said, ignoring Cassian’s glare. “And I found something about the Lunar Key. It’s not just a tool to channel the Pact’s power—it amplifies it. If you can wield it, you’ll have strength enough to rival even the Lycan King.”
Aurora’s silver eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Selene’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “That it’s trapped deep within a cursed forest. A place where the Pact’s energy has been warped beyond recognition. Even finding it will be a trial.”
Cassian growled. “And you’re just now mentioning this?”
Selene shrugged. “Knowledge takes time to uncover. Besides, you were already planning to retrieve it, weren’t you?”
Aurora rose to her feet, her silver hair catching the firelight. “Then we’ll go. No matter what it takes.”
Cassian stood with her, his golden eyes blazing with determination. “You’re not going without me.”
Before they could continue, a scout stumbled into the camp, his fur matted and his breathing ragged. “The King’s forces,” he gasped. “They’re gathering. An army. Bigger than anything we’ve seen before.”
A chill swept through the camp as the wolves processed the news. Anica stepped forward, her face grim. “This is it, then.”
Aurora’s heart pounded as she turned to Cassian, her voice firm despite the fear threatening to overwhelm her. “We need that Key. And we need it now.”
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