The battle had stopped three hours ago.
Enemy forces pulled back. Regrouping somewhere in the dark. Planning their next move.
Students slept in shifts at their posts. Exhausted but alive. Medical teams worked through injuries. Caleb coordinated supplies. Celeste managed the chaos.
Everyone pretending we hadn't just burned through every reserve we had.
I couldn't sleep.
Too much adrenaline still flooding my system. Too much awareness of wolves waiting in the forest. Too much understanding that the consciousness network had saved us but also showed our hand.
Gideon knew what we could do now. And he'd plan accordingly.
The moon hung full overhead. Silver light making the battle damage look almost pretty. Almost peaceful.
It wasn't.
I stood on the observation deck. Same place Katheris had cornered us with warnings. Private enough that students couldn't see their Alpha looking like she might fall apart.
Footsteps behind me. I knew them without looking.
Darius.
