Xander
The clearing was a mess of blood and broken bodies, the aftermath of the battle stark against the quiet forest. I took a moment to catch my breath, shifting back into my human form as my men followed suit. The metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy scent of the woods.
Nala approached me, her face and hands smeared with blood, her expression hard but steady. Our eyes met, and in that moment, we didn’t need words. The bond between us said everything—relief, pride, and a shared understanding of what we’d just survived.
Raya stood a short distance away, her eyes darting nervously as warriors shifted back to their human forms and got dressed.
After pulling on my clothes, I strode toward the rogue wolf. He sat on the ground, his hands bound in silver chain
