75

75

I stood at the edge of the sacred cave, the air thick with anticipation and the distant rumble of thunder echoing in my ears. Adrian was beside me, his eyes filled with worry, searching my face as if trying to read my thoughts. The weight of what was coming hung heavy between us, a looming shadow that threatened to engulf everything we cared about.

“Are you ready for what’s ahead?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but I could hear the tremor underneath. I knew he was trying to mask his fear, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface.

I took a deep breath, looking out into the darkness of the cave, the shadows dancing as the light flickered from the torches. “I am,” I assured him, though uncertainty lingered in my heart. I had to be strong, for both of us. I had come too far to back down now. “We have to face Marcus and his pack. It’s time to end this.”

Adrian’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer, his expression turning serious. “Annalise, I—” He hesitated, searching for