Chapter 21. Tracks of Betrayal

The sun rose pale and weak, like it wasn’t quite sure it wanted to face the day.

Aria lay on her mattress in the attic, eyes open, the silver crest still clutched tight in her hand. Her muscles ached from the long walk through the woods, but it wasn’t just physical. Her bones felt… shifted. Like something inside her had cracked and was still waiting to settle.

The moment her feet touched the cold floorboards, her wolf stirred again.

Not words. Just a feeling: Alert.

She dressed quickly, mind still fogged with fragments of the night before—visions of blood, fire, and that ancient voice. It had called her “Daughter of fire.” A warning or a title? She didn’t know. All she knew was that the dream had left more than memory behind.

She could feel things today.

The wind before it touched her cheek.

The breath of a student across the hall as they whispered.

The faint hum of someone’s phone vibrating three lockers down.

Her senses were st