Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter

85

The camp was unnervingly quiet in the hours following the retreat. Wolves moved about with subdued urgency, their eyes downcast as they tended to the wounded and reinforced the defenses. The once-tight unity that defined the pack seemed to falter, a sense of unease

creeping into the air like an unseen specter.

Aurora sat at Cassian's bedside, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The healers had patched his wounds, but his recovery would take time. He stirred, his lashes fluttering as his eyes opened to find her watching him.

"You look worse than I feel," he murmured, his voice weak but tinged with a faint smile.

Aurora exhaled sharply, her relief momentarily overshadowing her worry. "You scared me."

his wince betrayed his words. "What about

"But they're afraid,

hardened. "Then we have to show them there's

near the central fire. The flames flickered weakly, mirroring

"And the Lycan

added. "The

"Then we need to find a way

every time you draw on its power, you're

Anica said firmly. "But you need to understand the cost. If you keep pushing the way you did today, the Pact will

her breath catching. "What do you

Pact is a bond," Anica explained. "When it's strained, it pulls strength