The siege

Chapter 16– The Siege

The first war horn sounded before dawn.Its deep, haunting cry rolled across the territory like thunder, pulling every wolf from sleep.

Lia sat upright instantly.

Her heart already racing.

For a brief second, she didn't know why.

Then the second horn sounded.

Followed by a third.

And she knew.

The enemy had arrived.

The estate exploded into chaos.

Warriors rushed through the halls.

Orders echoed from every direction.

Weapons were gathered.

Patrols mobilized.

Outside, wolves were already shifting.

Growls and howls filled the morning air.

Lia quickly threw on a jacket and hurried into the hallway.

The moment she opened her bedroom door, Ethan nearly crashed into her.

"Mom!"

"What happened?"

His face was pale.

"The eastern wall."

Lia's stomach tightened.

"What about it?"

"They broke through."

Fear stabbed through her chest.

Downstairs, the main hall was packed.

Guards moved constantly.

Maps covered the large council table.

Ryan stood near the entrance giving instructions while several warriors reported enemy positions.

At the center he stood,

Calm.

Focused.

Dangerously calm.

Which usually meant things were far worse than they looked.

"The southern defenses are holding," one warrior reported.

"For now," another added.

Liam nodded once.

"Continue reinforcing the eastern flank."

The warrior immediately left.

Lia moved toward him.

"Tell me what's happening."

Liam's eyes met hers.

For a second, the Alpha disappeared.

Only the man remained.

"We're surrounded."

Her blood ran cold.

"How many?"

"Too many."

Before she could respond, Elena suddenly entered the room.

And immediately everyone noticed something was wrong.

She looked pale.

Disturbed.

Afraid.

Lia rushed toward her daughter.

"Elena?"

The girl looked up slowly.

"They're everywhere."

The room went silent.

"I can feel them," Elena whispered.

"Hundreds."

Liam exchanged a glance with Victor.

That wasn't normal.

Not even for Elena.

Then she said something that made everyone freeze.

"They aren't coming for the territory."

Liam frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Elena swallowed.

"They're coming for us."

The words settled heavily over the room.

No one spoke.

No one needed to.

Because everyone already knew she was right.

Far beyond the territory walls, Alpha Magnus stood atop a rocky ridge overlooking the valley.

His army stretched endlessly behind him.

Thousands of wolves.

Thousands of warriors.

A force powerful enough to crush most territories in a single day.

Beside him stood Kaiden.

His silver eyes remained fixed on the distant estate.

Watching.

Thinking.

Magnus smiled.

"Today changes everything."

Kaiden didn't answer.

Something about this war felt wrong.

The more he learned about the twins—

The less he believed his father's version of the story.

"Once we have them," Magnus continued, "every territory will kneel."

Kaiden's jaw tightened slightly.

Children,His father was talking about children.

For the first time in his life

Doubt appeared.

Back at the estate, Liam stood before the assembled warriors.

Silence fell instantly.

Every eye turned toward him.

Every wolf listened.

Liam's voice carried across the courtyard.

"They think fear will break us."

The crowd remained silent.

Listening.

"They think numbers will defeat us."

Several warriors growled.

"They think this territory belongs to them."

Now the growls became louder.

Angrier.

Liam's eyes swept across every face.

"This is our home."

A roar erupted.

"Our families live here."

The roar grew louder.

"We do not surrender."

The entire territory exploded into cheers.

Howls filled the air.

Power rolled through the crowd like a wave.

Lia watched from nearby.

And despite everything—

She couldn't stop the surge of pride.

This was why wolves followed Liam.

Not because they feared him.

Because they believed in him.

The moment ended abruptly when a massive explosion shook the eastern side of the territory.

The ground trembled.

Several wolves stumbled.

Dust rose into the sky.

"They're attacking!"

Chaos erupted instantly.

Warriors rushed toward the walls.

Orders echoed everywhere.

The battle had begun.

Liam turned immediately.

"Ryan!"

"Already moving."

"Victor!"

The older Alpha nodded.

Then Liam's gaze found Ethan and Elena.

His expression hardened.

"You stay here."

Ethan groaned.

"No."

"Ethan."

"No."

The courtyard fell silent.

Nobody argued with Liam.

Nobody.

Yet Ethan stood his ground.

"They're attacking our home."

"Yes."

"I can fight."

"No."

Frustration flashed across Ethan's face.

"I'm not a child anymore."

The words struck deeper than he intended.

Because they were true.

For a moment, Liam simply looked at him.

Then quietly said,

"That's exactly what scares me."

The answer caught Ethan off guard.

So did the pain in Liam's eyes.

Liam stepped closer.

Lowering his voice.

"I know how strong you are."

Ethan remained silent.

"I know what you can become."

A pause.

"But you're my son."

The words hit harder than any Alpha command.

"And I would rather lose this battle than lose you."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Ethan's anger vanished instantly.

Because Liam wasn't speaking as an Alpha.

He was speaking as a father.

For several seconds neither moved.

Then Ethan nodded once.

Reluctantly.

"Fine."

Liam exhaled quietly.

Relieved.

Unfortunately…

The agreement lasted less than an hour.

The battle worsened.

Reports arrived constantly.

More attacks.

More casualties.

More breaches.

And then came the report that changed everything.

A badly injured warrior staggered into the estate.

Covered in blood.

Barely standing.

"The eastern line..."

He collapsed.

Several wolves rushed forward.

Liam caught him before he hit the floor.

"What happened?"

The warrior struggled to breathe.

"They broke through."

Fear swept through the room.

"The eastern line has fallen."

Outside, war consumed the territory.

Smoke rose above the forest.

Howls echoed everywhere.

The sound of battle never stopped.

And standing near an upstairs window—

Watching it all,

Ethan made a decision.

A terrible decision.

A dangerous decision.

His family needed him.

His territory needed him.

And despite his promise..

He wasn't staying behind.As another explosion shook the estate, Ethan quietly opened the window.

Far below, warriors were fighting for their lives.

He looked back once.

Toward the people he loved.

His mother.

His father.

His sister.

Then he jumped.

And ran straight toward the battlefield.