The cries of the wolves echo through the mansion, their pain thick in the air. The scent of sweat and sickness clings to everything, pressing down on Ace's chest like a weight.
Jun stands rigid beside him, his hands clenched into fists. Rey, still sitting, rubs a hand over his face, his breathing uneven.
Marsel and Elira move between the wolves, checking pulses, wiping sweat from trembling foreheads, whispering reassurances they can't promise to keep.
The doors creak open.
A gust of cold air sweeps through the room as a group of unfamiliar wolves step inside.
Ace tenses immediately, his senses sharpening, eyes snapping to the entrance. The warriors nearest to the door, weak as they are, react on instinct, low growls rumbling from their chests.
Then, he steps forward.
Rehan.
Tall, poised, confident.