Chapter 16: The Choice of Forever

The bridge of trust we had built was strong, but the storm we faced was apocalyptic. Thorne, cornered and desperate, had fled to the heart of the corruption—the breached mine known as the Cradle of Decay. The Seer confirmed our worst fears: he wasn't just hiding; he was attempting a ritual to fully merge with the ancient evil, to become its vessel and wield its power to scour the land clean of both our packs. There was no more time for strategy, for cautious advances. This was the endgame....