Chapter 217 TRAJAN Its a celebration thats starting to feel very far away , somehow due to the feeling of tension coiling around the packhouse .

Wolves stand in groups , their voices hushed , eyes darting nervously toward the forest .

I pace by the window , my stomach tied .

Its too quiet .

That kind of quiet that signals trouble .

Dane steps into the clearing , pale face drawn tight .

His hand opens , disclosing a piece of bark with strange , glowing marks etched into it .

We got a problem , he says ; the tone urgent as hell .

But before he has a chance to explain himself , I am bursting through the packhouse door , my heart beating with an irregular rhythm , words bursting from my lips well in advance of the possibility of a rational mind actually preventing them from happening .

Its too late , I whisper , shaking .

Theyre already here .

The room falls silent , and all eyes whip to me .

Aurora elbows her way through the parted crowd , a mask of fear and determination across her face .

What do you mean , theyre already here ? she asks , her voice Chapter 217 my mind .

The Forgotten , I spoke low and quietly .

It has waited for such a thing , and it now … comes to us .

The eyes of Aurora narrowed on the question of who .

Who were they , and what would they do ? 2/6 I swallow hard , the weight of the truth heavy inside me .

The Forgotten were exiled a very long time ago , I begin .

In Kaels time .

They felt this grove was to be used , wielded .

To control life , not to help it .

The room seems to tilt ; whispers spread as the pack exchanges uneasy glances .

They saw the grove as a weapon , I continue .

And when Kael and the rest wouldnt side with their beliefs , they exiled them .

No one ever heard of them again .

Many thought they were murdered .

Auroras eyes narrow .

But theyre not , she says .

I shake my head .

No.

They went into hiding , just waiting for the day that the groves powers were restored .

And now that it is back .

They think it should be theirs , Dane concludes grimly .

Auroras gaze flicks down to Eira , who still shivers as she sits at the hearth .

Her eyes dart nervously and widely about the room , but she says nothing .

Eira , Aurora says softly , falling to one knee beside her , you did know this , didnt you ? That was why you acted so uneasy ever since the grove was fixed .

Chapter 217 the words to describe it .

3/6 Aurora reaches out and lays a comforting touch on her arm .

You need to tell us everything .

We cant protect the pack if we dont know what we are fighting against .

Eira stammers , her voice shaking , before she finally says , The Forgotten werent just exiled .

They made a pact , an oath to return when the groves power was at its peak .

I didnt believe it was anything more than words .

And then I found the marks within the forest and felt their presence .

Theyre coming to take what they believe belongs to them .

The weight of her words hangs heavy within the room , and the pack listens in tense silence , their fear palpable .

Dane steps forward , his face unreadable .

Where did you see the marks ? In the western forest , Eira says .

Near the old riverbed .

Dane nods , clenching his jaw .

Ill go , he says .

We need to know how close they are .

Ill go with you , I say before I can stop myself .

Dane narrows his eyes , staring at me ominously .

You dont have to .

I know , I respond .

But I want to .

Aurora gets up between the two of us ; her tone allows for no argument .

Be careful .

Both of you .

We do not know what they Chapter 217 Dane nods in acquiescence as we leave the packhouse , the responsibility for pack safety weighing our shoulders down .

4/6 The forest feels different now : darker , colder .

The normal night sounds are gone ; instead , an uncomfortable silence laps around us .

We hurry onward but cautiously , our senses high .

As we are deep within , something unnatural grows in strength .

At last , when we reach the riverbed .

I see them , the signs Eira described carved into the trees , their twisted lines glowing faintly .

Dane steps closer , his hand back brushing against the bark .

Theyre alive , he whispers .

I shiver as it catches my eye , a pulsating sheen filling the symbols , and is suddenly so unnatural it feels wrong .

What does that mean ? I dont know , Dane replies .

But they arent just warnings .

They are claiming this land .

We go further inside the forest .

Whatever is unnatural becomes heavy .

We find it eventually , an abandoned campsite .

The firepit is cold , but everywhere are the signs of recent occupation .

Bones etched with runes lie scattered on the ground , their surfaces gleaming in the moonlight .

A map pinned to a tree marks Broken Ridge , the lines leading straight to the grove .

Chapter 217 Dane stoops and picks up one of the bones .

His face has gone hard .

And theyre planning something big .

.

The thought sends a shiver down my spine .

We need to get back , I say .

Now .

5/6 Dane nods , and we wheel toward the packhouse , our movements swift and urgent .

As we reach the clearing , I see it , a thick unnatural fog creeping through the trees , shrouding the territory in a heavy veil .

My breath catches in my throat .

Its too late , I whisper , the words weighted with dread .

Theyre already here .

Dane stiffens beside me , his hand going instinctively to the top of his blade .

The fog presses forward , unnatural in its movements , curling around the trees like sentient branches .

We gotta get word to others , he says with all emphasis on his quietened tone , then nods as the weight weighs on his stance .

My head nodded ; but my feet wouldnt rise a single movement , the knowledge that we hadnt waited for backup seemed to press down on me hard enough I felt ice pour through me .

Dane , I said in just over a whisper , I think you hear them , Dane turned to me , his face deadly serious .

Its not about the fog The air grows colder and sharper .

A faint sound rises from Chapter 217 my spine .

Theyre in there , I whisper .

6/6 Dane grasps my arm and tugs backward .

Cant take them alone .

Lets go .

We turn and run , the earth watery and unstable beneath our feet as the fog closes in .

My heart pounds in my chest , every beat louder than the last .

We burst into the packhouse , and the tension is instantaneous .

Wolves turn to us , their faces pale with concern .

Aurora is the first to reach us , her eyes scanning our features .

What is it ? she asks her voice tight with urgency .

The fog , Dane says , his breathing rapid .

Its not natural .

They are using it to advance .

The packhouse erupts in chaos : growling , murmurs , wolves shuffling frantically and scurrying about .

One sharp gesture by Aurora quiets them .

Prepare for defense , she says , her voice slicing through the panic .noveldrama

No one leaves the territory until we know what were dealing with .