Chapter 281

Thick tension filled the air in the council chamber. I leaned over, my body bending across the old map spread on the table, its edges worn with generations of use. The senior wolves were gathered around, their expressions varying from curiosity to outright fear. “This,” I said, tapping the circled area of the map, “was ours once. Part of our territory, where resources were most plentiful and our position was sound. We lost this in a state of weakness. I will not let that apply to us now.”

Warrick moved his head to the side next to me. “And what defines us, Dane? That we risked everything for something that may mean nothing anymore?”

“Risk?” I returned, a shade sharper than I’d intended. “The risk is in doing nothing. If another pack claims it, we lose not only the land but respect and security, too.”

Joclyn’s voice, composed and clear, parted the brewing storm in her words: “Respect is a matter not just of territory but of respect earned for our own and by how well we care for our own.”

I nodded, yet still didn’t budge an inch from that stare. “Securing the well-being of our pack for generations to come, and not just for today, means it’s all about securing for tomorrow.”

Piper turned a look over at Trajan, who finally spoke. “The idea has merit, but charging in without any plans? That is rash. We should be very cautious with our moves.”

“That’s why we’re here,” I said, indicating the room. “To firm up a plan, one that limits the risk and maximizes the chance of success.”

Warrick slouched back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “And what if the pack doesn’t go for it? What if this is just going to divide us even more?”

I exhaled hard, my words coming fast. “Then it is left to us to make them see why. This is not a dream of mine; this is our legacy.”

It was always that little voice behind my mind—Aurora’s voice—but I dismissed the thought and vowed I would see it through. It finally adjourned after hours of debate, with some wolves accepting to support the plan and others seeming dubious. As the room began to empty, I felt her gaze on my back, and Aurora approached me.

“You didn’t think to discuss this with me before the meeting?” Her tone was low, controlled, but I knew her well enough to hear the edge beneath it.

“This isn’t about us, Aurora,” I replied, turning to her. “It’s about the pack.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The pack includes me, Dane. I’m your Luna, or have you forgotten that?”

I let out a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair. “You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment. This is about securing our future.”

“My emotions?” Her voice rose, sharp with disbelief. “You’re the one letting ambition drive you. What good is this territory if it tears the pack apart?”

“That won’t happen,” I said firmly.

“Won’t it?” she countered, stepping closer. “Do you even hear yourself? You’re so focused on proving something that you’re ignoring the consequences.”

Before I could respond, Trajan stepped forward, his face a mask of neutrality, while the weight in his tone hung heavy. “Aurora’s right to be cautious, Dane. Expansion is a bold move, but boldness without preparation is reckless.”

I nodded toward the map still on the table. “That’s why we’re planning. Every move will be calculated. This isn’t a rash decision.”

“And yet,” Aurora said, crossing her arms, “you’ve already divided the pack. Some wolves trust you; others think this is about your ego.”

I clenched my jaw. “It’s about leadership. About showing strength. I won’t apologize for wanting what’s best for everyone.”

Trajan laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “No one questions your heart, Dane. But listen to the voices around you, even those that don’t shout in concert with you. Sometimes they see what you don’t.”

Later that night, needing to clear my head, I joined a patrol near the disputed territory. The forest was quiet, the moonlight casting long shadows over the trees. “Anything?” I asked the lead scout, his nose to the ground.

He hesitated before pointing into the trees at a faint trail leading deeper into the woods. “There’s been movement. Tracks—fresh ones. Not ours.”

I followed it, senses on high, until we came into a small clearing, and the smell hit me—foreign wolf, distinct and unfamiliar. The remains of a small campfire smoldered in the near center of the clearing, sending a curl of smoke out into the open air. Scratched-up ground surrounded it, like someone had run away in a rush.

“They’re scouting us,” I said quietly, but laced with undertones of urgency, my gaze meeting the faint path leading from the smoldering remains of the fire.

The scout nodded grimly, his nose twitching as he’d caught the scent once more. “Looks that way. It’s deliberate, too, like they’re testing how far they can go.”

I crouched near the fire, running my fingers over the disturbed earth. Whoever it was, they had moved with purpose. I stood, clenching my jaw and brushing my hands against my pants.

“This isn’t little curiosity,” I growled low, near to under my breath. “They’re measuring. They test boundaries. Want to know what we will put up with.”

The scout shifted, his eyes moving uneasily out into the shadowy woods. “You think it’s neighbors, another pack, or someone altogether different?”

The possibilities swirled through my head. “If it’s the neighboring pack, they’re being unusually bold. But if it’s someone else…” My voice trailed off as if the weight of the unknown could crush me where I stood.

He straightened, his stance more rigid. “What do we do? Should we rally more wolves, increase patrols?”

“We will have to double patrols along the borders,” I told him, allowing no room for dispute. “Every movement, every scent has to be documented. No one goes unaccounted for.”

The scout stuttered and furrowed his eyebrows. “Shouldn’t we say anything to the pack? They will want to know if there is some sort of threat to their safety, too.”

I turned to him, my eyes narrowing. “Not yet. We can’t cause panic if we don’t know what we’re fighting. And doing that will weaken us in our stance. We need to act with clarity.”

He nodded but still looked unconvinced. “And Aurora? Does she know?”

Something tugged tight within my chest at the mention of her name. “She will when the time arises,” I returned with a weightier voice than previously. “For now, let this be just between us.”

Once more the scout demurred; he looked from me to the smoldering campfire and finally blew out a loud breath and grumbled, “Roger that.”