SHADOW OF ELIAS

The name hit Olivia like a physical blow, her mind reeling from the shock. *Elias*. The man who had terrorized their pack, who had unleashed dark magic upon them, was supposed to be dead. They had seen him fall, felt the dark energy dissipate from the land. Yet here it was again—his name, echoing back from the shadows, whispered by unknown wolves who lingered just beyond their borders.

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of Marcus's words settling over them like a heavy fog.

Antonio was the first to break the silence, his jaw clenched tightly, his golden eyes narrowing with barely controlled fury. "That's impossible. Elias is dead. We ended him."

Marcus shifted uneasily, his eyes dropping to the floor before he responded. "I know, Alpha. But the scout was certain. He overheard several of the northern wolves speaking his name, as though he's still a part of their plans. Whether it's a misunderstanding or something more… we can't ignore it."