The sky was still painted with the muted gray of dawn when Aria found herself standing in front of the weapons hall, fingers clenched tightly around the cold metal of the doorknob. The world around her was quiet, holding its breath, as though waiting to see what she'd do next.
She pushed the door open.
Inside, Kael stood with Toben and Lina, their faces partially lit by the flickering oil lamps overhead. Maps were spread across the long oak table, pins and markers stabbed deep into parchment like daggers.
Kael looked up. "You're early."
Aria offered a small nod. Her body still ached from the last ambush, but her mind was sharper than ever.
Toben grunted, flipping over one of the marked maps. "We've had reports of another patrol gone missing. Same spot. Same tactics. Ronan's wolves are learning. Fast."
Lina crossed her arms, her expression tight. "They're not just reacting,they're anticipating."
