Chapter 192: The First Omen

The peace lasted for exactly two days.

Bella had almost allowed herself to believe it was real.

That she could have this.

That White Moon had survived the worst of it.

But then—

The first body appeared.

The patrols found him just outside the eastern border.

A lone wolf.

Unmarked.

Unfamiliar.

His throat ripped open.

His chest carved with symbols Bella had never seen before.

And that was the first sign.

That the war wasn't over.

That something worse was waiting.

Dante stood beside her, his jaw tight, his hands curled into fists as he stared at the corpse.

"What is this?"

Sage knelt beside the body, her expression unreadable.

"It's a warning."

Bella exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.

"From who?"

Sage looked up, her golden eyes dark with something unreadable.

"Not who."

"What."

Bella's stomach twisted.

Because she had felt it, too.

This wasn't a rival pack.

Wasn't a rogue attack.

This was something else.

Something older.

Something hungry.

And whatever it was—

It was coming.