Chapter 217 TRAJAN Its a celebration thats starting to feel very far away , somehow due to the feeling of tension coiling around the packhouse .


    Wolves stand in groups , their voices hushed , eyes darting nervously toward the forest .


    I pace by the window , my stomach tied .


    Its too quiet .


    That kind of quiet that signals trouble .


    Dane steps into the clearing , pale face drawn tight .


    His hand opens , disclosing a piece of bark with strange , glowing marks etched into it .


    We got a problem , he says ; the tone urgent as hell .


    But before he has a chance to exin himself , I am bursting through the packhouse door , my heart beating with an irregr rhythm , words bursting from my lips well in advance of the possibility of a rational mind actually preventing them from happening .


    Its toote , I whisper , shaking .


    Theyre already here .


    The room falls silent , and all eyes whip to me .


    Aurora elbows her way through the parted crowd , a mask of fear and determination across her face .


    What do you mean , theyre already here ? she asks , her voice Chapter 217 my mind .


    The Forgotten , I spoke low and quietly .


    It has waited for such a thing , and it now …es to us .


    The eyes of Aurora narrowed on the question of who .


    Who were they , and what would they do ? 2/6 I swallow hard , the weight of the truth heavy inside me .


    The Forgotten were exiled a very long time ago , I begin .


    In Kaels time .


    They felt this grove was to be used , wielded .


    To control life , not to help it .


    The room seems to tilt ; whispers spread as the pack exchanges uneasy nces .


    They saw the grove as a weapon , I continue .


    And when Kael and the rest wouldnt side with their beliefs , they exiled them .


    No one ever heard of them again .


    Many thought they were murdered .


    Auroras eyes narrow .


    But theyre not , she says .


    I shake my head .


    No.


    They went into hiding , just waiting for the day that the groves powers were restored .


    And now that it is back .


    They think it should be theirs , Dane concludes grimly .


    Auroras gaze flicks down to Eira , who still shivers as she sits at the hearth .


    Her eyes dart nervously and widely about the room , but she says nothing .


    Eira , Aurora says softly , falling to one knee beside her , you did know this , didnt you ? That was why you acted so uneasy ever since the grove was fixed .


    Chapter 217 the words to describe it .


    3/6 Aurora reaches out andys aforting touch on her arm .


    You need to tell us everything .


    We cant protect the pack if we dont know what we are fighting against .


    Eira stammers , her voice shaking , before she finally says , The Forgotten werent just exiled .


    They made a pact , an oath to return when the groves power was at its peak .


    I didnt believe it was anything more than words .


    And then I found the marks within the forest and felt their presence .


    Theyreing to take what they believe belongs to them .


    The weight of her words hangs heavy within the room , and the pack listens in tense silence , their fear palpable .


    Dane steps forward , his face unreadable .


    Where did you see the marks ? In the western forest , Eira says .


    Near the old riverbed .


    Dane nods , clenching his jaw .


    Ill go , he says .


    We need to know how close they are .


    Ill go with you , I say before I can stop myself .


    Dane narrows his eyes , staring at me ominously .


    You dont have to .


    I know , I respond .


    But I want to .


    Aurora gets up between the two of us ; her tone allows for no argument .


    Be careful .


    Both of you .


    We do not know what they Chapter 217 Dane nods in acquiescence as we leave the packhouse , the responsibility for pack safety weighing our shoulders down .


    4/6 The forest feels different now : darker , colder .


    The normal night sounds are gone ; instead , an ufortable silenceps around us .


    We hurry onward but cautiously , our senses high .


    As we are deep within , something unnatural grows in strength .


    Atst , when we reach the riverbed .


    I see them , the signs Eira described carved into the trees , their twisted lines glowing faintly .


    Dane steps closer , his hand back brushing against the bark .


    Theyre alive , he whispers .


    I shiver as it catches my eye , a pulsating sheen filling the symbols , and is suddenly so unnatural it feels wrong .


    What does that mean ? I dont know , Dane replies .


    But they arent just warnings .


    They are iming thisnd .


    We go further inside the forest .


    Whatever is unnatural bes heavy .


    We find it eventually , an abandoned campsite .


    The firepit is cold , but everywhere are the signs of recent upation .


    Bones etched with runes lie scattered on the ground , their surfaces gleaming in the moonlight .


    A map pinned to a tree marks Broken Ridge , the lines leading straight to the grove .


    Chapter 217 Dane stoops and picks up one of the bones .


    His face has gone hard .


    And theyre nning something big .


    .


    The thought sends a shiver down my spine .


    We need to get back , I say .


    Now .


    5/6 Dane nods , and we wheel toward the packhouse , our movements swift and urgent .


    As we reach the clearing , I see it , a thick unnatural fog creeping through the trees , shrouding the territory in a heavy veil .


    My breath catches in my throat .


    Its toote , I whisper , the words weighted with dread .


    Theyre already here .


    Dane stiffens beside me , his hand going instinctively to the top of his de .


    The fog presses forward , unnatural in its movements , curling around the trees like sentient branches .


    We gotta get word to others , he says with all emphasis on his quietened tone , then nods as the weight weighs on his stance .


    My head nodded ; but my feet wouldnt rise a single movement , the knowledge that we hadnt waited for backup seemed to press down on me hard enough I felt ice pour through me .


    Dane , I said in just over a whisper , I think you hear them , Dane turned to me , his face deadly serious .


    Its not about the fog The air grows colder and sharper .


    A faint sound rises from Chapter 217 my spine .


    Theyre in there , I whisper .


    6/6 Dane grasps my arm and tugs backward .


    Cant take them alone .


    Lets go .


    We turn and run , the earth watery and unstable beneath our feet as the fog closes in .


    My heart pounds in my chest , every beat louder than thest .


    We burst into the packhouse , and the tension is instantaneous .


    Wolves turn to us , their faces pale with concern .


    Aurora is the first to reach us , her eyes scanning our features .


    What is it ? she asks her voice tight with urgency .


    The fog , Dane says , his breathing rapid .


    Its not natural .


    They are using it to advance .


    The packhouse erupts in chaos : growling , murmurs , wolves shuffling frantically and scurrying about .


    One sharp gesture by Aurora quiets them .


    Prepare for defense , she says , her voice slicing through the panic .


    No one leaves the territory until we know what were dealing with .