Chapter 292

Dane

The moonlight was faint, filtered through the heavy canopy above, as I walked up and down in the clearing, my boots crunching into the fallen leaves. Around me, the most trusted wolves stood in a circle, reflecting his determination. I had left our quarters before Aurora returned from the council room. Tonight, I would free my land.

“This is our moment,” I began. “Orion believes they’ve cornered us, but they’ve underestimated our strength.”

I paused, my eyes scanning the faces of my loyal warriors. Some nodded, faces set with determination, while others looked doubtful.

“I have read all about the alphas who came before us,” I said, my voice low and personal. “Legends aren’t made while sitting around. They’re forged. This is our chance to ensure the pack’s safety.”

Trajan stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Dane, are you sure this is the way? Aurora…”

“Aurora doesn’t see the bigger picture,” I interrupted, my frustration evident. “She wants peace, but peace without strength is surrender.”

After a tense pause, one by one, the wolves gave their agreement. My shoulders relaxed slightly. This was the first step.

The ambush unfolded with a precision I hadn’t dared to hope for. My group moved silently through the shadows, their movements a choreographed dance of attack and retreat. As the rival pack emerged into the open clearing, I gave the signal.

Warriors sprang from the underbrush, snarls and yelps piercing the night. The element of surprise worked in their favor, forcing their opponents into disarray. I leaped at the largest wolf, my claws raking across its side as we grappled. The taste of victory was sharp in my mouth as my group pushed the rival pack back.

The dust settled. The clearing was ours. There was blood on the ground, but the wolves had scattered, retreating to the trees. I then turned to my group, still breathing hard. “You fought well. This is our land again.”

Cheers erupted, triumphant looks were exchanged, and my warriors slapped each other on the back. But the moment of celebration was short-lived.

Suddenly, Kaida appeared from the shadows like a phantom, her movements deliberate and smooth. My breath caught as my gaze locked onto hers. Her dark eyes were sharp, her lips curled in a smirk that made my pulse quicken.

“Impressive,” she said, her tone smooth as silk. “But did you really think it would end here?”

Before I could utter another word, with one swift motion, she raised a bow and shot an arrow. Immediately, a searing pain in my shoulder hit me like a bolt of lightning. Stunned, I stumbled forward, my vision blurring, reaching for the arrow impaled in my flesh. The warriors at my side quickly joined me, but Kaida was already fleeing, her laughter disappearing into the forest.

“She’s poisoned it,” one said with a grim expression, sniffing the arrow. My legs collapsed, sending me to the ground. My breathing was suddenly very shallow, the poison racing through my veins.

Frantic energy swirled in the room as the warriors laid me on their shoulders; my skin was ashen, my breathing shallow, as they raced back to the packhouse. We were back at the packhouse in no time, and they took me to my room.

Aurora arrived moments later and stood frozen for a moment, her eyes fixed on the poisoned arrow still embedded in my shoulder. The sharp scent of the toxin dug its claws into her senses, adding to the knot of fear in her chest.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Trajan, still panting from the long trek back, laid a hand on her shoulder. “We ambushed Orion’s pack and took back the territory. But Kaida… she shot him with a poisoned arrow before retreating.”

Aurora’s gaze darted to my face. My usual confidence was replaced with a pale vulnerability that made her stomach churn. She leaned over me, her fingers trembling as they hovered over the wound. “This… this poison… do we know what it is? How do we stop it?”

One of the wolves stepped forward, sniffing the air near my wound as I grunted in pain. His face darkened. “It’s not something we’ve encountered before. Whatever it is, it’s spreading fast.”

Aurora’s voice rose, her desperation evident. “Then find someone who knows! Search the archives! Call on the healers to do something!”

Trajan caught her arm with a firm, yet tender, hold. “Aurora, listen to me. This isn’t some ordinary poison. If she used it, then she most likely has the antidote.”

Aurora’s eyes widened in realization. “You’re saying we should go to her?”

The room was silent, the weight of his words settling over them like a shroud. I stirred weakly, my lips parting to speak. My voice was barely audible, yet it carried a trace of my stubbornness. “Don’t… give her… what she wants.”

Aurora’s jaw clenched as she knelt beside me. “So you can still talk. Should I just let you die?”

“Better… that… than her… winning.” The words labored their way out of me, but behind the haze of my condition, the defiance in my eyes burned bright.

Aurora’s throat tightened, her emotions threatening to spill over. “You’re such an idiot, Dane. You think your pride is worth your life?”

I gave the faintest hint of a smirk, though my eyes fluttered shut. “It’s… not pride… it’s survival.”

As Aurora turned back to the others, her voice was firm, though her hands shook. “If she’s the only one who can save him, then I’ll find her myself.”

The warriors exchanged uneasy glances, their faith in her wavering in the face of her determination. The silence was broken only by my labored breathing, and Aurora’s heart clenched.

“If you will not fight for yourself, Dane, then I will. Even if it means facing her again,” she whispered, her voice barely heard as tears pricked her eyes.