We waited in silence, just me and Aries, curled up against each other—his arms steady, his warmth grounding. It felt like hours, but it was only ten minutes before the door creaked open and they all walked in.
Lucy. Robin. Julian. Rose. Lily.
It was time.
Time to hear what they’d found. Time to face whatever hope or risk they brought with them.
Aries helped me sit upright against the pillows. His hand hovered at my back like he was scared I’d fall apart again.
“Alright,” he said, his voice firm but tired. “Now that everyone’s here, let’s hear it. Robin?”
Robin stepped forward, eyes flickering to me, then to Lucy.
“Well, Alpha… Elegida,” he began. “Back at the Banished camp, there was a woman—she wasn’t a witch, but she was good with spells. I remembered something she always said, an
