ARIA POV
I spat out Alpha Darius's blood, the bitter taste making me gag. Nothing happened—no visions, no insights, nothing.
"It didn't work," I said, wiping my mouth as howls echoed through the forest.
"We need to move," Kael ordered, pulling me up. "Now!"
We ran through the dark trees, the pack hunters close behind us. My mother was too weak to keep up, so Lucien carried her. Jaxon and Mira brought up the back, making sure no one fell behind.
"This way," a voice whispered from the darkness.
Elder Malin emerged between two ancient trees, waving us toward a path I'd never seen before. We followed him without question—there was no time to argue.
The narrow path led to a small stone structure half-buried in the hillside. It looked like it had been there for hundreds of years.
"In," the Elder ordered, pushing open a heavy wooden door.
Once we were all inside, he sealed the opening with strange symbols drawn in glowing blue ash.
