The scent of smoke lingered long after the fire had been put out. Burned foliage. Scorched fur. Blood.The remains of the rogue camp still smoldered, the scent of scorched fur and blood clinging to the wind. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed since the ambush. Not from fear—but fury.
Aria stood over the battlefield, heart pounding. The ambush had gone according to plan—her plan—and the damage inflicted on Ronan's scouting party was undeniable. Broken bodies lay twisted in the underbrush, signs of their retreat smeared across the dirt in blood and soot.
"They knew," Kael muttered beside her. "They knew we were coming."
Aria nodded once, scanning the charred wreckage. This wasn't just a warning. It was a trap—and they'd barely escaped it.
Behind them, Toben barked out orders, gathering their injured. Three warriors were down. Two hadn't made it back.
Aria's fists clenched at her sides. Her map. Her plan. Her memories of his pack paths… they'd used them against her.
"It's not your fault," Kael said, watching her carefully.
She didn't sign anything back. Guilt burned hotter than the fire still crackling beneath their feet.
Kael approached her, his wolf form slowly fading back into his human one. His eyes locked with hers. "You saved lives today."
But Aria didn't smile. Her chest was tight with something cold and unsettling.
"I made them bleed," she signed slowly.
"And you regret it?"
She shook her head.
Kael studied her, then turned to where the others were gathering the injured. "Then remember this feeling. You'll need it."
Later that night, the pack sat in gripping silence around the longhouse fire. The air was thick with tension and smoke. Toben's shoulder was bandaged. Lina nursed a shallow gash across her cheek. They had won—but at a cost.
"Ronan will strike harder now," Toben said. "He'll come for her."
"He already is," Kael replied, voice low. "He's been watching her."
Aria didn't flinch. She'd felt his eyes. She'd seen the dark wolf silhouette in the trees during their moon run. He wasn't hiding. He wanted her to know he was there.
"I'm not afraid," she signed. Her gaze burned like flint striking steel.
Lina gave a small, tight smile. "Good. Because we're not done."
That night, Aria couldn't sleep. Her thoughts circled like vultures, feasting on doubts and memories. She stepped out into the cool night air, walking the perimeter of the camp.
Kael found her near the watchtower.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"You did good, Aria."
She met his gaze. Did I?
Kael didn't look away. "You're changing. Growing sharper, stronger. But this isn't just about strength. It's about who you become while fighting him."
Her jaw clenched. And if I become like him?
Kael stepped closer. "Then I'll stop you."
For a moment, there was silence. Then she gave him a small, tired smile. It wasn't a threat, it was a promise. And one she trusted him to keep.
The next morning, messengers arrived from neighboring packs. News of Ronan's brutality had spread beyond their borders. Packs were nervous. Some feared Kael's rebellion. Others whispered about the silent girl with the snow-white wolf.
Kael gathered his inner circle. Maps were planned out. Plans drafted.
"We strike again," Kael said. "But smarter. Cleaner. We don't let Ronan dictate our pace."
He looked to Aria.
"You're leading the next operation."
She stiffened. Why me?
"Because they already fear you. Let's give them a reason to follow."
Aria didn't argue. She simply nodded and stepped forward, pointing to the map. Her fingers traced the valley Ronan often used to send in supplies. The terrain was rocky, narrow perfect for an ambush.
Kael watched her with something like awe. She wasn't a survivor anymore. She was becoming a leader.
That night, Aria stood on the ridge overlooking the valley they'd target next. The wind tugged at her cloak, howling through the rocks below.
She closed her eyes and remembered the girl she used to be—silent, trembling, used, discarded.
And then she opened them again.
She was none of those things anymore.
Not tonight.
Not ever again.