Chapter 20: Unexpected Attack

The Summit was supposed to end the next day. One more night, then we could all go home. I was exhausted. Ready to return to Crescent Ridge and normal pack life.

But peace wasn’t meant to last.

I was packing my things when alarms blared through the building. Emergency sirens. The kind that meant real danger.

Maya burst through the door. “Rogues. A huge group is attacking the eastern perimeter.”

“How many?” I was already moving, grabbing weapons.

“At least fifty. Maybe more.” Her face was pale. “They’re organised. Coordinated. This isn’t random.”

Dax appeared behind her. “All Alphas are being called to defend. This is neutral ground. An attack here is an attack on everyone.”

We rushed downstairs. The main hall was in chaos. Alphas shouting orders. Warriors are preparing for battle. The scent of fear and adrenaline thickens in the air.

Elder Marcus stood at the centre, projecting calm authority. “Listen up. We have approximately sixty rogues attacking from three sides. They’re trying to breach the main building. All combat-trained wolves to the perimeter. Now.”

I joined the stream of warriors heading outside. The night was dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. But I could hear them. Howls and snarls from the forest surrounding us.

“Stay together,” I told Maya and Dax. “Don’t get separated.”

We reached the eastern perimeter where the attack was heaviest. Rogues poured from the trees, wild and vicious. No strategy, just pure aggression.

But something felt wrong. Too coordinated for random rogues. Too focused.

“This is a distraction,” I realised suddenly. “They want us all out here fighting.”

“Distraction from what?” Dax asked, taking down a rogue that got too close.

Then I knew. Ice ran through my veins. “The Council chambers. The evidence against Seraphina. They’re after the files.”

I shifted direction, running back toward the building. Maya and Dax followed without question.

“Where are you going?” Kaden appeared, blocking my path. Blood covered his arms from fighting.

“Back inside. This attack is a cover for something else.”

Understanding flashed in his eyes. “I’m coming with you.”

“No. You’re needed here.”

“So are you. But if you’re right, stopping whatever’s happening inside matters more.” He was already moving. “We go together or not at all.”

No time to argue. We raced back into the building. The halls were empty. Everyone was outside fighting. Perfect for whoever planned this.

The Council chambers were on the third floor. We took the stairs fast. My wounds from the fight with Victor ached but I ignored them.

The chamber doors were open. Inside, two figures dressed in black were rifling through files. They froze when we entered.

“Step away from those documents,” I commanded, letting my Alpha power fill the room.

They didn’t step away. Instead, they attacked.

They were fast. Professional. Not regular rogues but trained fighters. Assassins.

Kaden took one. I took the other. The fight was brutal. My opponent knew exactly where to strike to cause maximum damage. Every move was calculated. Deadly.

I shifted partially, using claws and enhanced strength. Caught his arm and twisted hard. Heard bones crack. He howled but didn’t stop. Grabbed a knife from his belt and slashed at my face.

I dodged. Barely. The blade caught my shoulder instead. Pain exploded but I used it. Let it fuel my anger.

Silver light erupted from me. Brighter than ever before. The assassin flew backwards, hitting the wall hard. He didn’t get up.

Kaden had his opponent pinned, breathing hard. “You good?”

“Fine.” Blood ran down my arm but I’d live. “We need to question them. Find out who sent them.”

But before we could, both assassins bit down on something. Foam appeared at their mouths. Within seconds, they were dead.

“Poison capsules,” Kaden said grimly. “They were ready to die rather than talk.”

I searched the bodies, finding nothing useful. No identification. No pack marks. Nothing.

“Check what they were after.” I moved to the files they’d been searching.

Kaden sorted through the scattered papers. “It’s all the evidence from Seraphina’s case. The recordings. The security footage. Witness statements.”

“Did they take anything?”

“Doesn’t look like it. We interrupted them in time.” He gathered the papers carefully. “But someone wanted this evidence destroyed badly enough to stage an entire rogue attack as cover.”

“Seraphina has allies. People who don’t want her crimes exposed because it might lead back to them.” I looked at the dead assassins. “We need to tell the Council. Increase security on these files.”

We headed back downstairs. The fighting outside had ended. Dead rogues littered the grounds. Some Summit wolves were injured but none critically.

Elder Marcus was coordinating the cleanup. His face was grim when he saw us covered in blood.

“What happened?”

We explained about the assassins. About the attempt to steal evidence. He listened with growing anger.

“This goes deeper than we thought. Seraphina isn’t working alone. She has powerful backing.” He gestured to the guards. “Triple security on all evidence. No one gets near those files without Council authorisation.”

“Do you know who her allies might be?” I asked.

“Suspicions. No proof yet.” Elder Marcus looked tired. Old. “But we’ll find them. This attack crossed too many lines. The Council won’t rest until everyone involved is brought to justice.”

Healers rushed to treat the wounded. My shoulder needed stitches. Kaden had a deep gash across his ribs. We sat side by side while being patched up.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For letting me help. For trusting me to have your back.”

“You proved yourself tonight. Fought well. Made good decisions.” I met his eyes. “That’s the Kaden I used to know. The one I fell in love with.”

“Used to,” he noted sadly.

“People change. You changed. I changed.” I looked at my bandaged shoulder. “I don’t know if we can go back to what we were. Too much has happened.”

“I don’t want to go back. That version of us was built on secrets and fear.” His voice was earnest. “I want something new. Something honest. Even if it takes years to build.”

“Years?” The timeline surprised me.

“However long it takes. I’m not giving up on us, Aria. But I’m also not rushing you. Not pressuring you. You need time to heal. To trust again. I’ll wait.” He stood carefully. “As long as it takes.”

He walked away before I could respond. Leaving me with complicated feelings and no easy answers.

“He’s trying,” Maya said, appearing beside me. “Really trying.”

“I know. That’s what scares me.” I touched my mother’s pendant. “What if I forgive him and he disappoints me again?”

“What if you don’t forgive him and spend your life wondering what might have been?” Maya sat beside me. “I’m not saying trust him immediately. But maybe don’t close the door completely. See what he does. How he changes.”

“When did you become wise about relationships?”

“When I watched my best friend’s heart break and decided no one should go through that without learning from it.” She smiled. “Plus, I might have met someone.”

“What? Who?”

“One of Alpha Catherine’s warriors. His name is James. He’s funny and kind and we’ve been talking all week.” Her face glowed with happiness. “Nothing serious yet. But maybe something.”

“That’s wonderful.” I hugged her. “You deserve happiness, Maya.”

“So do you. Whether that’s with Kaden or someone else or just yourself. You deserve to be happy.”

The Summit ended the next morning. Alphas departed for their territories. Saying goodbyes. Making final arrangements.

Elder Marcus pulled me aside before I left. “The Council has decided. You’ll continue investigating Victor Kane’s territory. But we’re also assigning you to investigate three other packs. Looking for connections to Seraphina’s allies.”

“That’s a lot of work.”

“You’ve proven you’re capable. Smart. Brave. We need Alphas like you.” He handed me files. “These are your assignments. Take your time. Be thorough. And be careful.”

I accepted the responsibility. It was huge. Intimidating. But also exactly what I wanted. A chance to make real change. To protect wolves who couldn’t protect themselves.

Kaden found me as I was loading our vehicle. “Safe travels back to Crescent Ridge.”

“You too. Back to Shadowpine.”

“Aria.” He hesitated. “I meant what I said. About waiting. About earning your trust back. I know it won’t be easy or fast. But I’m committed.”

“We’ll see.” I couldn’t give him more than that. Not yet.

He nodded, accepting it. “That’s fair. More than fair.”

The drive home was long. But as we crossed into Crescent Ridge territory, I felt peace. This was home now. These wolves were my family. This life I’d built was real.

Whatever happened with Kaden, whatever investigations lay ahead, whatever challenges came next, I could handle it.

Because I wasn’t that broken girl anymore.

I was Alpha Aria Silvermoon.

And I was just getting started.