Eclipsar moved like fog beneath the undergrowth, his large paws soundless against the damp earth. Behind him, the remnants of the pack followed—three younger wolves, leaner and lighter, their ears twitching at every sound. The oldest limped slightly, his back leg still healing from the last clash with the Queen's Orcs—and—Onyx.

They had been walking for days. Not hunting. Searching.

Eclipsar's nose stayed low, his mind higher. He was looking for a mortal town—small, hidden, forgettable. Somewhere the pack could vanish into the world of men long enough to catch their breath. The Queen's eyes stretched far, and with Dezenym still in his sleep, they were leaderless in all but name.

He'd taken the name. But not the rest.

He didn't want to be Alpha.

He wanted to go back. Back to when Onyx was young and roamed the trees, laughing when she shouldn't. Back when Raven was their leader and not the enemy. Even just back enough when fire hadn't swallowed their sanctuary.

Back before him.

Eclipsar's lip curled as the memory surfaced again.

The orc. That stinking, snarling, one tusked beast who set fire to their den. Who carved out wolves like toys, like they were nothing. Who laughed while Onyx bled trying to hold the line.

He hadn't died that day.

Eclipsar had never forgiven himself for it.

The wind shifted.

Eclipsar's bright blue eyes shot up, scanning the horizon through the trees.

He froze.

A scent rode in with the breeze—burned ash and old blood.

Faint, but familiar. So wrong it made his hackles rise.

He turned sharply, snarling low to the others. Stay back.

The younger wolves dropped into the shadows without a sound. They trusted him. Trusted his nose, his rage, his judgment.

He moved alone now.

North by northeast, through the thickest bramble, eyes narrowed. The scent was growing sharper.

Eclipsar picked up speed.

And then—he saw them.

Two figures, stumbling through his woods like ghosts. A girl, young, elf or close enough. And the other...

Eclipsar's lip curled back.

Sith.

Lumbering like a drunk bear, mouth slack, face stupid with confusion.

But it was him. That same singular golden curved tusk. The same crooked scars from Onyx's blade.

Something in Eclipsar snapped.

He burst from the trees with a snarl that split the quiet like lightning, his body propelled by a rage he hadn't let loose since the fall. Claws slammed into Sith's chest, taking him down like prey. The orc didn't even fight back. Just flailed and whimpered beneath him.

Coward!

Eclipsar thought.

You burned us and now you whimper like a pup?

He pinned Sith down harder, jaws inches from his throat.

One bite. That's all it would take. One bite and justice would be done.

Sith wheezed, groaned, looked at him with confusion.

Not guilt.

Not fear.

Just dumb wonder.

Eclipsar's jaws opened, teeth aiming for the throat.

Then—a voice.

"Get OFF him!"