#Chapter 116: The Failed Mission

Aurora's POV The old smuggler's tunnels beneath Blood Moon territory smelled like my childhood nightmares. Damp earth. Rotting wood. That musty scent of secrets buried too long underground. Kane and I crept through the narrow passages like ghosts. Our footsteps were silent on the soft ground. These tunnels had been my escape routes during countless childhood punishments. Now they served a much more dangerous purpose. Kane's hand signals were sharp and precise as we navigated the underground maze. The infiltration was going perfectly. We'd timed our movements to exploit every blind spot in Raymond's paranoid surveillance network. "Exit point," Kane whispered. I peered through the concealed entrance into the courtyard. Empty. Moonlight painted everything silver and black. Exactly what we'd predicted. We emerged like shadows come to life. Kane provided overwatch while I sealed the entrance behind us. The pack house loomed ahead like some sleeping beast. This place had been my