The camp had changed. Guards were doubled. Lights stayed on through the night. Weapons were stacked near every tent entrance. Elena stood on a small hill overlooking the survivors, her arms crossed tightly. The tension in the air was heavy, like the calm before a brutal storm.
Inside the medical tent, Alina sat beside Aurora's crib, her hand gently resting on her daughter's chest as it rose and fell. She hadn't spoken much since the rescue. The image of Lyra handing over her baby haunted her every moment.
Kai stood in the entrance, silent. He wanted to speak, to hold her, to promise everything would be okay. But all he could do was stand by her, ready for whatever came next.
In another part of camp, Lyra sat alone, hands trembling. Her betrayal had stained her soul. She had believed she was doing the right thing, that the enemy would protect Aurora... not use her.
Ethan stepped into the tent, his face unreadable. "You need to speak to Alina," he said coldly.
"I can't," Lyra whispered. "I don't deserve to."
"She doesn't need your silence. She needs the truth."
Lyra wiped her tears and stood. "Then I'll give it to her. All of it."
Outside, Elena sharpened a blade as she addressed the gathered survivors. "The Reclaimer is coming. We don't wait for him this time. We strike first."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. This was no longer just survival. It was vengeance. It was protection.
Back in the tent, Alina finally looked up at Kai. "We have to fight," she whispered. "For her. For all of us."
He nodded. "Then let's end this."
And as the clouds rolled in over the horizon, the storm was no longer approaching. It had already begun.