The howls echoed again through the mountains.
Closer now.
Aria could feel the vibration in her chest.
Two hundred wolves.
The number repeated in her mind like a warning.
Marcus slowly turned toward Kael.
"So… I'm just going to say it."
Kael looked at him.
"We can't fight that."
Rowan nodded immediately.
"Not head-on."
Lena crossed her arms.
"They'd crush us."
The yard had grown tense again. Several members of the Blackridge pack had stepped back outside after hearing the howls, their faces tight with worry.
Kael stood still, thinking.
His eyes drifted toward the dark forest where Kieran had disappeared.
Then he looked at Alder.
"You said Varkos doesn't negotiate."
Alder nodded.
"He conquers."
"And if he wins?"
Alder didn't sugarcoat it.
"He'll take your pack."
Marcus muttered,
"Fantastic."
Aria stepped forward slowly.
"What about me?"
Everyone looked at her.
Alder answered quietly.
"You'd become his weapon."
Aria's stomach twisted.
"I'm not letting that happen."
Cassian chuckled softly from his spot near the tree.
"That's the spirit."
Kael shot him a glare.
"You're still here."
Cassian shrugged.
"I told you. I'm watching."
Rowan rubbed his temples.
"Great. We've got a live audience for our destruction."
Marcus looked toward the house.
"We could evacuate the pack."
Kael shook his head immediately.
"And go where?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Anywhere but here."
Alder spoke calmly.
"Running won't work."
Marcus frowned.
"Why not?"
Alder looked at Aria.
"The tracker already has her scent."
Aria's chest tightened.
"So he can follow me anywhere."
"Yes."
Rowan groaned.
"Fantastic."
Lena spoke quietly.
"So hiding isn't an option."
"No," Alder confirmed.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Then we fight."
Marcus stared at him.
"With fifty wolves?"
Kael didn't respond.
Cassian tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Technically… you have more than fifty."
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Cassian gestured toward Alder.
"You have one First Wolf."
Alder didn't react.
Marcus crossed his arms.
"And?"
Cassian smiled slightly.
"And First Wolves aren't exactly weak."
Rowan looked at Alder.
"You could take on two hundred wolves?"
Alder answered calmly.
"No."
Marcus sighed.
"Well that was disappointing."
Alder continued.
"But I could kill their Alpha."
The yard went silent.
Kael frowned.
"That's suicide."
Alder's silver eyes remained calm.
"Not necessarily."
Aria stepped forward.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
"I'm not letting someone die because of me."
Alder studied her quietly.
"That's noble."
"But pointless."
Her eyes flashed.
"I mean it."
Kael stepped closer to her.
"No one is dying tonight."
Marcus muttered,
"Hopefully."
The howls echoed again in the distance.
Closer.
The pack members behind them were growing restless.
They could hear it too.
Fear was spreading.
Rowan looked at Kael.
"We have to tell them."
Kael nodded.
"Soon."
But Aria's mind was racing.
Two hundred wolves.
An Alpha who destroys packs.
A tracker who can follow her scent anywhere.
Running wouldn't work.
Fighting seemed impossible.
Her wolf stirred inside her again.
Lead.
Aria frowned slightly.
"Lead how?"
You are Luna.
Her chest tightened.
"I don't even know how to use this power."
You will.
Alder suddenly looked at her carefully.
"What is it?"
Aria blinked.
"Nothing."
But Alder's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You felt something."
Cassian grinned.
"Oh I like where this is going."
Kael looked between them.
"Explain."
Aria hesitated.
Then she said quietly,
"My wolf thinks I should lead."
Marcus blinked.
"…lead what?"
Aria looked toward the forest.
"The wolves."
Rowan frowned.
"Which wolves?"
She swallowed.
"All of them."
Silence spread again.
Marcus stared.
"You mean the enemy wolves?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"That's what my wolf said."
Cassian laughed loudly.
"Oh that would be incredible."
Kael's voice was serious.
"Aria."
She looked at him.
"What if it's possible?"
Marcus raised both hands.
"Okay, hold on."
He pointed toward the forest.
"You want to walk up to two hundred hostile wolves and say 'hey guys, follow me instead'?"
Aria shrugged weakly.
"When you say it like that…"
Lena actually looked thoughtful.
"It might not be impossible."
Everyone turned to her.
Rowan blinked.
"You're serious?"
Lena nodded slowly.
"Those rogues submitted to her earlier."
Marcus frowned.
"That was like… ten wolves."
Alder spoke quietly.
"Power grows with confidence."
Aria looked at him.
"You think I could do it."
Alder answered honestly.
"I think you might."
Cassian leaned forward slightly.
"Oh please try. I want to see that."
Kael looked conflicted.
"If it fails…"
Aria finished the sentence.
"Then we fight."
Kael stared at her.
"That's a huge risk."
"So is waiting for them to arrive."
The howls sounded again.
Much closer now.
Aria could feel them through the ground.
They were moving fast.
Marcus sighed.
"Well."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"This is insane."
Lena nodded.
"Completely insane."
Cassian grinned.
"I vote yes."
Kael looked at Aria again.
"Are you sure about this?"
Her heart pounded.
"No."
"But I think it's our only chance."
Kael was silent for a long moment.
Then he finally nodded.
"Alright."
Marcus blinked.
"Wait, really?"
Kael looked toward the forest.
"They're coming either way."
Then he looked back at Aria.
"If you're going to try this…"
His voice turned serious.
"…we do it before they reach the pack house."
Aria swallowed.
"You want me to meet them?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Rowan groaned loudly.
"This is the worst plan we've ever had."
Cassian clapped once.
"Oh this is going to be spectacular."
But at that exact moment—
Alder suddenly turned toward the forest.
His silver eyes sharpened.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What?"
Alder's voice was low.
"They're faster than I thought."
The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.
Then—
A single massive howl tore through the night.
Closer than all the others.
Much closer.
Cassian's smile widened slowly.
"Well…"
He looked toward the forest.
"…the Alpha just arrived." 🐺