Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 73

The chill of the night settled over the camp as Cassian paced the perimeter, his unease growing with each passing hour. The victory against Magnus had left a void of uncertainty, and Anica's cryptic warnings only added to his frustration. He glanced toward the healer's quarters, where Aurora had retired after their conversation, her exhaustion clear.

Nathan approached from the treeline, his expression serious. "The scouts are back. No movement from the Lycan King's forces so far, but there's something... odd."

Cassian frowned. "Define 'odd.""

"They found traces of something near the old western ruins-old magic, similar to the crystal." Nathan hesitated, his voice dropping lower. "And there were tracks. Not Lycans, but something bigger. Something we haven't seen before." Cassian's jaw tightened. "Show me."

The western ruins loomed in eerie silence, their crumbling stone walls overgrown with vines and moss. Cassian, Nathan, and a small group of warriors moved cautiously through the shadows, their weapons at the ready.

"This place hasn't been touched in years," Nathan murmured, his eyes scanning the overgrown courtyard.

"Until now," Cassian replied, his voice low.

large and irregular to have been made by wolves. He touched the edge of one with his fingers, the faint residue of something cold and unnatural sending a shiver up his arm. "What

grimly. "The Lycan King isn't just building an army. He's waking something

sat near the central fire, her thoughts restless. Anica joined her, their golden eyes glinting in the

about him," they said, their tone

them. "He doesn't stop.

Anica replied. "Not with

but you never say what it is. If

moment, their expression unreadable. "Fair enough." They leaned closer, their voice dropping to a murmur. "The Lycan King isn't just looking to take territory. He's looking to break the bond between the Moon Goddess

anchor to something older than the bond itself-something the Lycan King intends to use to rewrite the

taking control of the balance," Anica said simply. "No more fated mates. No more Luna or Alpha bonds. Only power, wielded by

clothes damp with dew and his

he said, though his voice lacked its

you," she countered, stepping closer. "But we both know

his exhaustion evident as he ran a hand through his hair. "The western ruins are worse than we thought. If the Lycan King's next move is tied to