ログインKael's POVThe rationing began on day five of the siege. Half portions for everyone, including me. By day ten, we cut to a third. Warriors grew gaunt, their strength visibly diminishing with each passing sunrise."Three more fires last night," Mira reported, exhaustion written all over her face. "Storage facilities. All our grain reserves are gone. We have maybe two weeks of food left, and that is if we cut rations further.""How much further can we cut without making warriors too weak to fight?" I asked."We are already past that point," Luna said bluntly. She had lost weight, her uniform hanging loose. "Half our fighters can barely lift their weapons. If the Council attacks now, we cannot hold.""They know," Dante said from his position near the map. "That is why they wait. Why waste warriors storming walls when starvation does the work for them?""Then we break out tonight," I decided. "Before we are too weak to try.""Where?" Elena asked. "We have scouted every section of their li
Aria's POVI woke to the sound of warning bells, their frantic rhythm sending chills to my spine. Kael was already moving, pulling on armor with speed."What is happening?" I asked, reaching for my weapons."Council forces," he said grimly. "Multiple fronts. They are surrounding us."By the time we reached the walls, dawn revealed the nightmare. Council wolves ringed Nightshade's territory in a loose circle, too far for arrows but close enough to be counted. Hundreds of them, more than we had faced in any previous battle."They are not attacking," Luna observed, scanning the forces. "Just positioning. Sealing us in.""Classic siege tactics," Dante said, appearing beside us. "Cut off supplies, wait for starvation and desperation. They learned from Garrett's failed supply raids. If they cannot starve us through guerrilla attacks, they will do it through containment.""How long can we last?" Kael asked."With current reserves? Maybe six weeks if we ration strictly," Mira reported, having
Kael's POVThe Council's three-day deadline hung over us like an executioner's blade. Two days had passed with no consensus among the remaining allied packs. Some demanded we accept the terms. Others insisted we fight to the last breath.I stood in the war room reviewing defensive positions when Luna rushed into the room, her face pale."Garrett escaped," she said without preamble.My blood ran cold. "How? He was in maximum security. Triple guard.""Someone drugged the guards and left his cell unlocked." Luna threw a report on the table. "Happened during the night shift change. By the time anyone noticed, he was gone.""Silas," I said, realization dawning. "Before we caught him, he must have arranged Garrett's escape as insurance.""Or someone else helped," Dante said, entering with his ever-present guards. "Silas was not the only Council sympathizer. Just the one we caught.""Meaning there could be others," I said grimly."Always." Dante moved to the map. "But that is not the immedia
Aria's POVThe false supply location was an abandoned warehouse two miles east of the compound, isolated enough to catch a thief without risking the real shipment. Kael, Dante, Elena, and I hid in the shadows, watching the empty building as midnight approached."If no one comes, we wasted an entire night," Elena whispered."If someone comes, we catch a traitor," I countered quietly. "Worth the risk."Movement at the warehouse entrance made us all tense. A figure approached, moving fast, clearly familiar with avoiding detection.My heart sank as moonlight revealed the face.Silas.Kael's most trusted advisor, his father's former Beta, a wolf who had served Nightshade for decades. And now, clearly, the spy who had been sabotaging us from within."No," Kael breathed beside me, the word barely audible.We watched as Silas entered the warehouse, searched the empty interior, and cursed when he found nothing. He pulled out a communication device, speaking into it rapidly."The shipment is no
Kael's POV"We cannot send aid to Stormborn," Silas said flatly. "We barely defended ourselves three days ago. Our warriors are still recovering.""Then Freya's pack dies," Luna said, her voice harsh. "And the Council picks off the next weakest ally. Then the next. Until only Nightshade remains.""Better Nightshade survives than all of us falling together," Silas countered.The war room erupted into arguments, each voice louder than the last. Through it all, I watched Aria's face and saw the same impossible choice reflected there that I felt."We vote," I said, cutting through the noise. "Those in favor of sending reinforcements to Stormborn?"Three hands rose. Aria's, Luna's, and Elena's."Those against?"Eight hands rose, including Silas and most of the senior warriors.Democracy had spoken. Stormborn would face the Council alone."No," Aria said, standing. "We cannot let them die.""Democracy has decided," Silas said. "You cannot overturn it because you dislike the result.""Then d
Aria's POVThe emergency council meeting convened three days after our victory, and already the cracks in our alliance showed like fault lines in stone."Riverside lost eighteen warriors defending Nightshade," Marcus said, his voice tight with barely controlled anger. "Eighteen wolves who will never return home. And for what? So democracy could survive another week?""Those warriors died protecting all of us," I countered from my position beside Kael. "The Council attacked Nightshade because we led the rebellion. They would have come for Riverside next.""Maybe. Maybe not." Marcus stood, his imposing frame dominating the room. "But we will never know because we committed to your war instead of protecting our own interests.""This is everyone's war," Kael said calmly, though I felt his frustration through the bond. "The Council wants to crush all reform. Divided, we fall one by one. United, we have a chance.""Your unity cost me eighteen lives," Marcus shot back. "How many more before







