IThe camp was quieter that night.
A large fire burned in the center of the temporary clearing, its orange light dancing across the trees. Wolves rested nearby, some keeping watch while others recovered from the fight with Magnus.
Sitting near the fire, Aria held a stick and lazily poked at the flames.
Her glowing crescent mark flickered faintly again.
Not painfully.
Just… there.
Like a quiet reminder.
She sighed.
"I really miss boring days."
Across the fire, Alpha Kael sat with his arms resting on his knees.
"You wouldn't last a week in boring days anymore."
Aria looked at him.
"That's not comforting."
Kael smirked faintly.
Before he could say anything else—
Tok.
Tok.
Tok.
The familiar sound of wood hitting the ground echoed again.
Ikechukwu slowly approached the fire with his wooden staff.
He sat beside Aria with a quiet grunt.
"My sister."
Aria glanced at him.
"Yes?"
Ikechukwu gestured toward the moon above the trees.
"You dey feel am again?"
Aria looked down at her wrist.
"Yeah."
The crescent symbol pulsed faintly.
"Like something is… waking up."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"That power no go stay quiet."
Aria leaned back on her hands.
"Fantastic."
Across the camp, Alpha Lucien was speaking quietly with Daniel and a few warriors.
After a moment, Lucien walked toward the fire.
His expression looked thoughtful.
Kael noticed immediately.
"You have news."
Lucien nodded.
"Yes."
Aria groaned.
"Please tell me it's good news for once."
Lucien sat across from them.
"The council gathering will happen sooner than expected."
Aria blinked.
"How soon?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"Three nights."
Aria nearly dropped the stick in her hand.
"Three nights?!"
Kael frowned.
"That's too fast."
Lucien nodded.
"Which means the Alphas are already moving."
Aria stared at the fire.
"So in three nights I'm going to stand in front of a room full of powerful wolf leaders who all want something from me."
Lucien didn't disagree.
"Yes."
Aria sighed deeply.
"This just keeps getting better."
Daniel joined them then, leaning against a nearby tree.
"Magnus will definitely be there."
Aria rubbed her forehead.
"Of course he will."
Kael's eyes hardened.
"I'll deal with him if he tries anything."
Lucien shook his head slightly.
"Not at the council."
Kael looked at him sharply.
"Why not?"
Lucien explained calmly.
"The council ground is neutral territory."
Aria frowned.
"Meaning?"
Daniel answered.
"No fighting."
Aria blinked.
"So Magnus can stand in front of me and I'm just supposed to behave politely?"
Lucien nodded.
"Exactly."
Aria stared at him for several seconds.
Then she laughed quietly.
"That sounds impossible."
Ikechukwu chuckled beside her.
"My sister…"
Aria glanced at him.
"Yes?"
The old man leaned slightly toward the fire.
"When big men gather…"
He tapped his staff lightly.
"…storm dey follow."
Aria sighed.
"That's what I'm worried about."
Lucien looked toward the dark forest.
"There's another reason Magnus wants that council."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What reason?"
Lucien looked back at Aria's glowing wrist.
"To push the bond."
The word made the air feel colder again.
Aria shook her head immediately.
"No."
Lucien continued calmly.
"If he convinces the council the bond is destiny…"
Aria's voice sharpened.
"I said no."
Kael looked at her carefully.
Lucien nodded slowly.
"I know."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Then we're done talking about it."
The fire crackled softly.
For a moment no one spoke.
Then a distant howl echoed through the forest again.
Aria looked toward the dark trees.
"That guy really needs a hobby."
Kael smirked slightly.
Lucien's voice turned serious again.
"Three nights."
Aria nodded slowly.
"Three nights."
She looked up at the moon again.
Then she muttered quietly.
"Whatever this destiny thing is…"
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"…it better be ready for me too."