_Dorian's POV_
The moment Marcus left, I went inside the packhouse and gathered my weapons. Silver blades, tranquilizer darts, smoke bombs, guns, and an earpiece for communication. Each item was a piece of the plan forming in my mind.
I didn’t let myself rest. There was no time for that. My hands moved quickly, checking everything twice. The weight of war pressed on my shoulders, but I refused to crumble.
Some hours later, we were on the move.
The vehicles rolled down the dirt road quietly. We had put the headlights off. We travelled in silence. Everyone was focused. No one spoke unless necessary. Tension hung in the air like thick fog.
When we finally reached Shadow Valley, I stepped out of the SUV and looked around.
The valley was exactly how I remembered it—dark, eerie, and silent
