Chapter 303

The lookout point buzzed with frantic movement and panting. I ascended the hill, my heart hammering. Before me lay a terrifying sight: a tide of torch-lit armies surged across the forest floor, poised to sweep down the slope. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the wooden railing.

“We are running out of time,” I whispered.

“Aurora.”

Trajan’s deep voice startled me. Turning, I saw him standing tall, his expression grim but resolute.

“They’re not holding back,” he said, gesturing towards the advancing forces.

“No,” I replied, my voice hardening. “They’re not.”

Minutes later, the council met in the main hall, the tension palpable. The room erupted in a cacophony of clashing opinions. Trajan pounded his fist on the table, silencing the uproar.

I leaned forward, my voice firm yet controlled. “If we engage now, Dane’s sacrifice will be in vain. We must avoid bloodshed.”

“Bloodshed may be unavoidable,” Evelyn said from the corner, arms crossed. “But Luna has a point. We need to be strategic.”

Warrick scoffed, shaking his head. “Strategic doesn’t mean passive. They’re banking on our hesitation. Every second delays us, brings them closer to the packhouse.”

Frustrated, I threw up my hand. “Stop it!” The room fell silent.

“We won’t act rashly. Piper, Warrick, continue coordinating packhouse defenses. Trajan, you know what to do; arrange our frontline positions. I’ll send a messenger to delay them while we prepare.”

Trajan scowled. “What if they refuse?”

Aurora’s jaw tightened. “Then we meet them on our turf.”

The pack worked efficiently, the air growing cold. Piper and Warrick oversaw preparations; Trajan and Evelyn practiced defenses. Watching them, I stood by the fire, my gaze distant.

Trajan joined me. His voice was low. “You’re carrying too much.”

“I’m their Luna. If I don’t, who will?” I said, catching my breath.

“You aren’t alone,” he said.

I gazed at him, my resolve faltering momentarily. “Thanks, Trajan. For everything.”

Raven, whom I’d sent to meet them, rushed to me, deathly pale and sweating. He clutched a crumpled piece of parchment.

“Luna,” the scout said, his voice trembling. “This just arrived.”

I stepped forward, my heart pounding, took the note, and carefully smoothed the paper as the room fell silent. I cleared my throat and read aloud: “We will meet, but know this—only one pack will leave alive.”

The ensuing silence was heavy.

Trajan broke it. “Is it a warning or a declaration of war?”

“It’s both,” I said, my voice firm.

“They’re taunting us,” Evelyn growled, fists clenched. “Trying to break our resolve.”

“And it’s working,” Warrick muttered. “The pack is on edge. If we don’t act decisively, they’ll lose faith in us.”

I looked around the room. “We need calm. Panic will only benefit them.”

“What’s the plan, Luna?” Trajan asked, his tone even but urgent.

I examined the note again, thoughts racing. “We accept their meeting, but we dictate the terms. We’ll choose neutral ground, somewhere we know better than they do.”

“And if they refuse?” Piper asked.

“Then we’ll be ready,” I said. I nodded to Raven, who raced off with my message. Turning to Trajan, I instructed, “Reinforce every defensive line around the neutral ground. Trajan, prepare the warriors. Warrick, ensure the younger wolves are safe. Piper, work with Raven to monitor their movements.”

“Do you think they’ll honor the meeting?” Warrick asked skeptically.

My lips tightened. “I don’t know. But we have no choice.”

Trajan moved closer, his voice low. “Aurora, if this is a trap—”

“I know,” I said, meeting his gaze. “But if there’s any chance to protect the pack without further bloodshed, we must consider it.”

The warriors dispersed to prepare, while I remained on the hill, Dane’s form imprinted in my mind.