CHAPTER 62

I walked back and forth in our group's meeting room, my footsteps making sounds in the quiet and worried atmosphere. We had sent a message to the important people, but the waiting—long and hard—just kept going.

Then, the door opened. I jumped, my thoughts scattered. Xander rushed in, his face marked by urgency. “Aurora,” he gasped, trying to catch his breath, “there's trouble. A group of rogue werewolves has been seen near the southern border.”

Before I could fully absorb what he said, Asher followed, his normally steady demeanor visibly shaken. “That's not all,” he added, voice tight. “Our mystics have detected strange energy fluctuations. They think it might be connected to those unknown creatures we encountered.”

I felt the weight of leadership settle heavily on my shoulders. We were facing threats from multiple directions, and the council's support was still uncertain. “We need to decide our next move,” I said, looking at Xander. “Do we wait for the council's response, or take imm