LOGINKai's POVMorning arrived quietly, I stood in the courtyard watching the teams gather for drills. Rylan and Kira appeared first, their steps already more controlled than they had been a week earlier. Fen, Liv, and Tor arrived next and took their places without prompting, Malrick stepped out from the hall carrying a cup of tea; his lined face held a faint look of approval.Then Sylvie passed me without speaking, the same as always but this time I noticed details I had overlooked before, how her stride eased slightly when she neared Malrick and her gaze, usually distant, met his for a brief second, shoulders loosening when he gave her a quick nod.“Focus,” Malrick called to Rylan, who had shifted his boot and scraped a stone. “That noise travels, you might as well blow a trumpet.”Rylan muttered under his breath but corrected his footing.I left the wall and walked to where Aria filled water skins she worked steadily, eyes scanning the group even while her hands moved.“You keep watchin
Sylvie's POVLight footsteps approached from behind—Liv."You should rest," I said, keeping my eyes on the map."So should you," she replied."Rest comes after."Liv stepped beside me and studied the markings in the dim lamplight. Her face appeared softer in that glow, yet her gaze held steady. "The prisoner. Do you believe we can bring him out?""We will attempt it." I met her eyes briefly. "Attempting and succeeding remain separate matters.""I understand." She hesitated. "Fen believes the cage sits close enough to the supply tents that a single diversion could serve both goals.""Fen focuses on possibilities that succeed and overlooks those that collapse." I straightened, rolling tension from my shoulders. "That is my responsibility, his role is to report what stands before him, not what he hopes to see."Liv nodded. "Tor insists on returning tomorrow even if only to observe and verify the delivery schedule.""No.""He claims—""I know his arguments. He insists he can move unseen,
Kai's POVI stood at the wall overlooking the cellar tunnel entrance, fingers pressed against cold stone. Below, Fen, Liv, and Tor had just disappeared into the darkness. Three shadows swallowed by a greater shadow. No dramatic farewells. No promises. Sylvie had checked their gear one final time, nodded once, and stepped back.“They will return,” Malrick said from beside me. His voice carried certainty rather than comfort.“They have never done this alone,” I replied. “Without you or Sylvie to guide them.”“She has been guiding them for three days. Now they guide themselves.” He paused. “That is how training works, Alpha. You release them and trust them.”Aria’s voice drifted up from the hall below. “The map is ready. Elara is bringing the latest supply estimates.”I turned from the wall. “We will be there shortly.”Malrick followed me down the narrow stairs. His movements were slower than usual; the old wound in his side troubling him more than he admitted. A large oak table held ou
Aria's POVToday pale light filtered through the smoke-blackened windows, and the atmosphere had shifted.Bren sat propped up in his cot. His eyes, though clouded with exhaustion, were open and aware. He accepted the cup of water from my hand with a slow but steady grip. His voice emerged as a rough rasp. "How long have I been out?""Three days," I answered. "You gave us all a scare, Bren."He glanced down at his bandaged arm, then at the edge of black moss poultice visible beneath the linen. "This is not yarrow.""No," I said. "It is something else, we only learned about it recently."Bren nodded once in understanding and eased himself back against the pillow. He was far from healed, but he was still here, breathing and conscious.I stood and surveyed the rest of the room, of the twelve wounded from the initial assault, eight now showed steady signs of improvement. Two remained critical but stable. The other two we had lost during the first night; their bodies had already been laid t
Malrick’s POVDawn arrived grey and cold over the courtyard. Frost edged the air. I leaned against the stone wall and watched the gathered wolves. They stood in two loose groups, eyeing each other with open suspicion.On one side were Kai’s trusted fighters: Rylan, still resentful about being left out of last night’s scout; Elara, arms crossed, gaze fixed on Sylvie with steady distrust; and several seasoned warriors, their bodies scarred from recent battles, their patience thinned by hunger and constant threat.On the other side stood Sylvie’s new trainees: Fen, Liv, and Tor. They kept a slight distance, carrying the focused calm of the night mission. All three looked toward Sylvie, who stood beside me coiling a length of rope with steady hands. She paid no attention to the stares.Kai walked into the open space between the groups. “Today we train as one unit. The strike on the supply camp demands perfect coordination: infiltration, diversion, ignition, retreat.”A murmur rose from hi
Sylvie’s POVThe darkness beyond the wall carried sounds and shadows I had learned to interpret over eleven years. I stood at the cellar tunnel entrance with Fen, Liv, and Tor. “Breathe slowly,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Listen with more than your ears and feel the air on your skin, taste the wind it carries information.”They nodded. Fen remained calm. Liv stayed perfectly still. Tor’s eyes moved quickly, already noting details.“Single file,” I continued. “Fen, you take rear guard and watch our backs step exactly where I step… If I freeze, freeze…If I drop, drop. No questions until we reach safety.”I moved out first and blended into the shadows under the pines. The night air held damp earth and faint woodsmoke from an enemy fire. I waited, counting heartbeats until the others followed.We advanced quietly. I chose soft mulch between roots and moss-covered stones. I glanced back. Liv stepped with natural care. Fen moved deliberately Tor caught a root once, grunted softly, then







