Located in the southern quadrant of Barduff Castle, the Whitedawn Embassy stood as a symbol of peace between the packs, with its carved spires and pale stone walls. However, the atmosphere surrounding it was brittle with anxiety this morning.
Behind their helms, guards whispered. Courtiers stopped walking and gazed. A large group of people had assembled and were gazing at the embassy's front entrance's hefty wooden door.
A sigil burned into its surface, dark and jagged and pulsing faintly red.
a twisted crescent with fang-like markings on either side. Despite the fact that no hand had carved it, fresh blood oozed from its edges.
Amelia and two elite guards accompanied Leah, who arrived in silence. Behind her, her silver cloak swept across the stone floor. Her breath caught as she came to a cold stop at the sigil.
They had been alerted to this by Serafina's raven, which had left clues that resembled the Hollow Alpha's footprints. And now her house had been engraved with one.
Leah ordered, "Clean the area."
Luna Evelyn of Whitedawn emerged from the embassy's grand corridor as the guards dispersed the crowd. Her normally calm and collected face was tense with controlled terror. She had attempted to clean the mark, which is why her white robes were tinged with ash. It had failed.
She walked up to Leah and said in a low voice, "I told them not to touch it." It responds to hostility. burns more brilliantly.
Leah gave a serious nod. It's a statement. Only a few days ago, Tailwind's raven had the same mark.
Evelyn tensed her shoulders. "Then it has started."
Together, they entered the sanctuary behind the embassy, where colorful glass let in sunlight. Evelyn turned by herself and took Leah's hands.
Evelyn started, her voice trembling a little, "My grandmother told me stories… before the last great purge." She recalled the night that similar symbols appeared—on doors, on trees, and even on the skin of marked wolves—even though she was a puppy at the time and hardly old enough to shift.
Leah paid close attention.
It indicates that the Hollow Alpha has selected his targets, she said. Those to corrupt as well as those to kill. Weeks later, the purge started. Those who disregarded the warnings... disappeared. Evelyn took a deep breath. "My family barely made it through it."
Leah gripped harder. "Then we can't ignore them right now."
Evelyn's face grew serious. It's not the mark that scares me the most. It's because it showed up here, in Barduff. That indicates that the darkness was allowed to enter.
Leah took a step back and looked at the tall glass window that looked out over the castle grounds. Memories of Serafina's dreams, Gisele's warnings, and Amelia's unexpected sensitivity to moonlight raced through her head.
She muttered, "The enemy no longer waits at the gates." "They enter our hallways."
In the distance, a bell tolled.
Leah firmly stated, "We need to call the next council sooner." The Flame Pact will meet under guard this time. Nobody outside of our circle is supposed to be aware of the time or location.
Evelyn gave a nod. "What if we find out who the traitor is?"
Leah's eyes hardened in silent rage.
"We mark them back after that."