The forest suddenly felt smaller.
No one moved.
Every wolf in the clearing could hear it — the faint echo of laughter fading into the trees.
The voice of Magnus.
Watching.
Waiting.
Beside the tree, Aria stared at the words carved into the bark.
You cannot hide forever.
Her chest tightened.
"He's close," she whispered.
Next to her, Alpha Kael's eyes scanned the dark forest.
His voice was cold.
"I know."
Several warriors shifted uneasily.
One of them growled low in his throat.
"Alpha, should we search the area?"
Kael thought for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
The warrior frowned.
"But—"
"He wants us to look."
Everyone turned toward Kael.
Aria looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Kael gestured toward the tree.
"This message wasn't meant to scare us."
He pointed toward the forest.
"It was meant to pull us in."
The realization sent a chill down Aria's spine.
"A trap."
Kael nodded once.
"Yes."
Behind them, Ikechukwu slowly stepped closer to the carved tree.
He studied the writing carefully.
Then he sighed.
"Hmm."
Kael glanced at him.
"What?"
The old man tapped his staff against the ground.
"In Nigeria we say something about hunters like Magnus."
Kael rubbed his forehead.
"Please don't make this long."
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"When the hunter cannot catch the deer…"
He paused.
"…he makes the deer come to him."
Aria crossed her arms.
"That's exactly what Kael just said."
"Yes."
Ikechukwu nodded calmly.
"But mine sounded wiser."
Kael rolled his eyes.
Aria almost laughed, but the tension in the air quickly returned.
The wind rustled through the branches.
Kael suddenly raised a hand.
"Quiet."
Everyone froze.
The forest had gone silent again.
Too silent.
Aria felt the mark on her wrist grow warm.
Not painful.
Just… alert.
Like it could sense something.
She frowned.
"He's still here."
Kael looked at her.
"You can feel him?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her eyes moved toward the deeper part of the forest.
"There."
Several warriors turned in that direction.
But there was nothing.
Just trees.
Shadows.
And darkness.
Then—
A slow clap echoed through the woods.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
From between two large trees, a tall figure stepped into the light.
Dark coat.
Calm smile.
Red eyes that glowed faintly in the shade.
Magnus.
The warriors immediately moved into defensive positions.
Kael stepped forward.
His voice was deadly.
"You're getting bold."
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
"Am I?"
He looked around the group calmly.
"I simply came to see how training was going."
Aria glared at him.
"You carved my name into a tree."
Magnus smiled.
"Yes."
"Why?"
His eyes locked onto her glowing wrist.
"So you would know I'm watching."
Kael's patience was disappearing.
"You're standing inside my territory."
Magnus shrugged.
"And yet here I am."
The wolves around them growled loudly.
Magnus seemed amused.
He looked at Aria again.
"You've grown stronger."
Aria's voice hardened.
"And you're still obsessed."
Magnus chuckled.
"Not obsessed."
He stepped slightly closer.
"Interested."
Kael immediately moved between them.
Magnus raised an eyebrow.
"Oh relax, Alpha."
His voice dropped slightly.
"If I wanted to take her today…"
He looked at Aria again.
"…I would."
The warriors tensed.
Kael's wolf pushed forward beneath his skin.
"Try it."
Magnus studied him for a moment.
Then he smiled slowly.
"No."
Aria frowned.
"No?"
Magnus shook his head.
"That would ruin the game."
"The game?" she repeated.
Magnus gestured toward the forest.
"You are learning your powers."
He looked pleased.
"And I am watching."
Aria's anger grew.
"You think this is entertainment?"
Magnus's red eyes darkened slightly.
"No."
His voice became softer.
"This is preparation."
Kael's voice turned cold again.
"For what?"
Magnus looked directly at Aria.
"For the moment she realizes something important."
Aria crossed her arms.
"And what is that?"
Magnus's smile returned.
"That she cannot hide behind you forever, Alpha."
The wind picked up suddenly.
Leaves rustled across the ground.
Magnus slowly stepped backward into the shadows.
"Train harder, Moon Vessel."
His voice echoed softly.
"You're going to need it."
Then he disappeared into the forest once again.
Silence fell over the clearing.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"That man is going to start a war."
Aria looked down at her glowing wrist.
Her voice was quiet.
"I think…"
She swallowed.
"…the war already started."
Ikechukwu tapped his staff against the ground.
"Yes."
The old man's eyes remained fixed on the forest.
"And Magnus just made the first real move.