The Council was waiting.
Raine stood at the center of the circular stone chamber, high above the mountain's base. Shadows flickered on the walls from dozens of torches. Council members—eleven in total—watched her from carved thrones, each draped in the colors of their territory. None spoke at first.
Then one stood. Lady Theros. Alpha of the Eastern Cliffs. Her silver hair was bound in braids, and her eyes gleamed like moonlight.
"You walk in bearing the mark of flame," she said. "Yet none of us summoned you."
"I didn't come for permission," Raine replied. "I came to warn you."
A low murmur buzzed across the room. Xavier stood behind her, silent, but ready to pounce if things went sideways.
"Warn us?" Alpha Brax of the Northern Front sneered. "You bring a cursed power, raise a forgotten army, and kill a beast sacred to our lore. You should beg for mercy, not offer warnings."
Raine stepped forward. "The Hollowfang wasn't sacred—it was a weapon planted to keep the Forgotten under control. And it wasn't the only one. There are others, buried deep, waiting to be triggered."
"You lie," Theros said, though there was doubt in her voice.
"Do I?" Raine raised her hand, palm glowing with ember-fire. "Then explain this."
A ripple passed through the chamber as the air thickened, ancient symbols glowing faintly beneath their feet. Some of the council members gasped.
"She activated the stone," Brax whispered. "The sigil of the First Flame…"
"It recognizes her," Theros murmured.
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the hallway.
A young wolf burst into the chamber, bloodied and panting.
"The Southern border!" he shouted. "It's been breached! The mistwalkers—they've returned!"
Gasps followed. The mistwalkers were nothing but legend—phantom wolves with no soul, servants of the old god that had once tried to wipe out the spirit bloodlines.
Theros turned to Raine. "Did you summon them?"
"No," Raine said grimly. "But they're after me. After the ember."
The room erupted in chaos. Shouting. Accusations. Fear.
Xavier stepped forward, voice like thunder. "Enough!"
Everyone stilled.
"She's the only one fighting for the truth," he said. "You sit here playing politics while something darker moves in the shadows. Choose your pride, or choose survival."
Brax bared his teeth. "You'd trust a girl born from ruin?"
Maelin entered then, flanked by a dozen Hidden Wolves. "Then call me a traitor. But I'd rather follow fire than fall to silence."
Raine lifted her chin. "We need to unite. Not under me—under purpose. Or we all burn."
Theros looked at the others. No one moved.
Then slowly, the Alpha of the Eastern Cliffs stepped down from her throne and knelt.
"For the Flame."
One by one, others followed.
Only Brax remained standing.
"This is madness," he spat. "You're inviting destruction."
Raine met his eyes. "Destruction is already coming. I'm just making sure we survive it."