The next few days were a blur. The pack had dealt with the enemy wolves, but the tension in the air hadn't dissipated. If anything, it had intensified. Aria could feel it in the way the pack members looked at her now—with fear, awe, and suspicion.
The Shadow Alpha was no better. His usual coldness had shifted into something darker, something more guarded.
"Stay away from the pack," he ordered one evening, his voice flat. "They don't trust you."
Aria bit back the sharp retort that rose in her throat. She didn't care if they trusted her or not. What terrified her more was the power she had unleashed, and the way the alpha was looking at her now—like she was something to be feared.
"I didn't ask for this," she said softly, though her words lacked the force they once had. She wasn't sure what she had meant by "this" anymore. The bond, the power, the curse—it was all becoming too overwhelming.
The alpha's gaze softened for the briefest of moments. "Neither did I."
Before she could respond, the air around them shifted. There was a low rumble, the earth beneath their feet shaking once more. The distant growl of wolves echoed in the distance, but this time, it was different. This time, the pack wasn't the only one at risk.
"Get inside," the alpha ordered, his voice urgent. "There's more coming."