~Lucas POV~
The binding ritual's screw-up had our outer wards crumbling, letting Elias's scouts creep too close, and the estate was a hive of urgency. Annalyn gripped the focus stone, her pregnancy making her wince but her eyes fierce, while my wolf snarled, ready to tear into anything.
Calix twirled his knife, Matteo's tablet pinged with alerts, and Ezra's runes flickered, trying to patch the defenses. Mara and Russo stood warded, Mara's Visaya runes dim, Russo's smirk sharp. Kael, our chained traitor, watched silently, and the Moon Alpha's voice growled about holding the line. We had to shore up the borders before Elias's army hit.
"Wards are down to shit," I growled, checking the perimeter map. "We reinforce now—patrols, traps, everything."
Annalyn nodded, the stone pulsing. "I'll boost the wards with the stone. Ezra, can you sync?"
Ezra's runes glowed, his voice steady. "Yeah, but it'll take time. Lucas, get fighters on the borders."
