Aria dropped to her knees as the mirror imploded with a final shriek, sending a gust of energy that rattled the bones of the temple. The fragments of the portal shimmered briefly before dissolving into ash, leaving behind only a scorched circle on the ground and the echo of Caleb's name in the air.
"No... no, no, no!" Her voice broke as she clawed at the ground, fingers trembling. "Caleb!"
Her wolf let out a primal wail that tore through the silence, a cry that shook the very foundation of the temple. Rowan, Elena, and Solene rushed forward. Rowan's hand reached for her shoulder, but Aria snarled, her wolf just beneath the surface, volatile and feral.
Elena's eyes brimmed with tears. "Where did he go? What just happened?"
"The mirror didn't destroy him," Solene said, kneeling beside Aria, her voice taut with urgency. "It transported him—but to where, I can't say. That wasn't normal magic. That was something... ancient."
