Chapter 302

The sun had barely cleared the horizon when a breathless Raven burst into the packhouse, his expression grave.

“Luna Aurora,” he began, his voice strained. “News from Orion’s pack.”

I straightened, my pulse quickening. “What is it?”

He paused, glancing at the council chamber. “They’ve issued an ultimatum. They’ll withdraw their forces only if Alpha Dane submits to Kaida’s demands.”

I clenched my fists, nearly breaking my palms. The morning’s warmth hadn’t reached the room, but I felt a surge of anger and helplessness. “That’s all? Have you heard more?”

The scout swallowed hard. “They’ve given us until dawn tomorrow. No response, and they’ll take what they want by force.”

I nodded and headed to the council chamber. The council was already assembled. Piper and Warrick sat at opposite ends of the table, tension etched on their faces, mirroring the atmosphere. Trajan and Evelyn stood by the map, his arms folded.

“What do you mean, an ultimatum?” Piper asked, after I relayed the scout’s message. “‘Submit to their terms’? That sounds like a trap.”

“It’s not a trap,” Evelyn said calmly but firmly. “It’s a show of dominance. They want us to surrender, simply.”

“And you think we should?” Warrick retorted incredulously, his disbelief evident.

“No,” Trajan said, his gaze unwavering. “But we must consider the consequences of refusal.”

I slapped the table, silencing their bickering. “Enough!” I said sharply. “We haven’t time for this. Dane is fighting for his life, and our entire pack is at stake.”

“Well, what do you propose?” Piper asked defensively. “You’ve been rather quiet on the subject of a plan.”

“We stand our ground,” I said firmly. “We’ve faced worse. Surrender now, and we’ll never regain our strength or dignity.”

Trajan stepped forward. “Aurora is right. Negotiation’s a gamble, but submission will destroy us. We need a strategic approach.”

The tension eased slightly, but uncertainty remained.

Later, I checked on Dane. He was pale, his breathing shallow.

“They want you to surrender,” I said, my voice trembling. “But I won’t let them take you from me.”

He squeezed my hand weakly. “Aurora, don’t let them break us.”

“I promise… I will try,” I said, but looking at Dane, my heart sank. I doubted he could hear me; his eyes were closed, and he was motionless.

I sighed and returned to the council room. Raven burst in again, his face ashen and slick with sweat. He panted, his wide eyes scanning the room, seeking reassurance.

“Luna!” he gasped, his voice desperate. “The rival pack’s forces are across our border! They’re moving into the packhouse!”

Silence fell, the weight of his words heavy in the room. Then, chaos erupted.

Trajan leaped to his feet, his chair scraping the floor. “Piper, get the younger werewolves to safety! Warrick, secure the eastern perimeter!” His voice cut through the rising panic.

Piper nodded, her jaw clenched. “On it!” She grabbed Warrick’s arm. “Everyone ready. No excuses!”

“Got it,” Warrick said, his voice steady despite the tension.

I remained still, Raven’s words echoing in my head. My body yearned for action, but a brief moment of responsibility weighed heavily upon me.

“Luna, your orders?” Evelyn’s voice broke through, her piercing gaze meeting mine.

I took a deep breath, quelling the panic.

“We’ll stop them,” I declared, my voice cutting through the noise. Silence fell again; all eyes were on me. “But we fight on our terms.”

“Do we even have terms anymore?” a council member muttered, but I ignored him.

Turning to Trajan, with Evelyn beside him, I said, “Gather the scouts who know the forest best. We’ll use the terrain. I want choke points identified, traps set, every advantage exploited.”

Trajan inclined his head. “Consider it done.”

“Evelyn,” I continued firmly, “coordinate the defensive lines. I need this pack ready for anything. If they reach the packhouse, they’ll regret it.”

Evelyn met my gaze; her determination spoke volumes. “We’re holding the line, Luna. Count on it.”

The council members dispersed. I turned to Raven. “How many did you see?”

“Too many,” he said, his voice cracking. “They’re armed and moving fast.”

I placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done well. Rest now. We’ll handle this.”

Exiting the council chamber into the night, the cold air was sharp and sobering. The distant stars remained unconcerned spectators to the brewing storm. One thought held firm in my mind as I joined the preparations: I would not let them ruin everything we’d built.