Mag-log inGarrett's POV The Great Hall was packed. Every senior alpha was here. Not just the confederation leadership….but the older generation. The elders who'd been pack leaders for decades. The ones who'd seen territorial wars, pack politics, and strategic negotiations before confederation even existed. Sarah stood at the front, presenting the Northridge operation to the full council. Thirty-two fighters, twenty-eight captures, zero casualties, full intelligence gathered. The older pack members listened with expressions ranging from impressed to calculating. "The question now is how fast we move," Sarah said. "Southfield is larger. We estimate seventy-five fighters, but with morale already breaking from Northridge, that number could drop significantly." "What about Kieran's response?" asked one of the territorial elder who'd been leading the northern packs for thirty years. "Unpredictable," I said. "He might consolidate or escalate. We need to stay ahead of whatever he decides." The ol
Garrett's POVI was in the command center with Tamara, and Lucas. Four screens showing real-time surveillance feeds from the Northridge territory. The warehouse appeared empty and silent on every feed…..exactly as predicted."Sarah's team in position?" Tamara asked."Confirmed," Lucas said, reading from the comm. "All four perimeter squads report ready. Thirty-two fighters standing by waiting for your signal."I checked the timeline on my tactical tablet. We'd trained seventy hours for this moment. Every fighter knew their role. Every position was marked. "Give the signal," I said.Lucas transmitted. "Go."On screen, nothing happened for exactly twelve seconds. Then movement……wolves flowing through the darkness with practiced precision. Sarah's team was moving."They're ahead of schedule," Tamara said."Good," I said. "Means they're confident."The warehouse lights blazed on at 8:45 am ……exactly on time. Elena's team had cut the power as planned. Confusion spread through the Sovereig
Garrett's POVShe looked back to the map"Three bases," Tamara said, studying the map. "Coordinating multiple attack points simultaneously.""Exactly," I said, pointing to the marked locations. "Northridge territory, Westfield territory, and the southern industrial zone.""How confident is Sarah about these locations?" Tamara asked."Ninety percent," I said. "She has pack members who've seen Sovereignty Movement activity. Multiple sightings at each location over the past two weeks."Tamara leaned closer to the map. "What about defenses?""That's where it gets interesting," I said. "They're not expecting organized opposition. Kieran thinks the confederation is falling apart. He's confident, which means he's not fortifying.""That gives us an advantage," Tamara said."A significant one," I agreed. "But it won't last long. Once we move, he'll understand the situation has changed."She pulled up a chair and sat down, her mind already shifting into tactical mode. The exhaustion hadn't comp
Garrett's POVThe meeting ended at 7:15 a.m.Everyone filed out quickly……the alphas had work to do, operations to coordinate, territories to secure. Lucas left after staying with us for a bit to meet with Tyler . I stayed behind to review the tactical maps.That's when I noticed Tamara was still sitting at the table.She hadn't moved. She was staring at nothing, her hands folded in front of her. The exhaustion radiating off her was almost physical. Dark circles under her eyes. Tension in her shoulders. The weight of everything we'd decided was pressing down on her visibly.I stopped what I was doing and walked over to her."Hey," I said quietly.She looked up, and I saw it clearly then….the moment before she put the mask back on. Before she became the Council member, person holding everything together. Just for a second, I saw how depleted she actually was."Hi," she said, her voice small.I didn't ask if she was okay. That was a stupid question. Instead, I sat down next to her and p
Tamara's POVThe Council chambers were packed at 6 a.m.Every confederation alpha was here. Seven in total. Plus Garrett, Lucas, me, and the other Council members. The air was tense……everyone knew this was urgent, but no one knew why yet.Garrett called the meeting to order."Thank you all for coming on short notice," he said. "We have a critical situation. Last night, Lucas met with Kieran, the Sovereignty Movement's leader. What he learned changes everything."He gestured to Lucas.Lucas stood. "Kieran didn't order that attack on Ashford as a defensive measure. He ordered it as strategy. Specifically, to send a message.""What message?" asked Sarah, alpha of the Northridge pack."That anyone considering joining confederation will die," Lucas said. "David Rivers was seventeen. He was going to be a teacher. His family was considering joining us. So Kieran killed him intentionally."The room exploded."That's an execution," someone said."Of his own pack member," another voice said."H
Tamara's POVLucas showed up at the Council chambers.I was still there, reviewing defense strategies with Garrett. We both looked up when he walked in. He looked exhausted……the kind of exhausted that comes from having a conversation that broke something in you."Lucas," I said immediately. "Where have you been?""I went to find Kieran," he said, pulling up a chair.The room went very still."Kieran," Garrett repeated. "The Sovereignty Movement leader.""The one coordinating the attack," Lucas said. "Yes.""Alone?" I asked."Yes," Lucas said."Lucas," Garrett said. "That was incredibly dangerous.""It was necessary," Lucas said. He looked at me. "I needed to understand why. I needed to know if there was any way to reach him.""And?" I asked, though I could already read the answer in his face."There isn't," Lucas said. "Kieran isn't scared. He isn't confused. He's committed. He ordered the attack on Ashford Pack intentionally. He killed David intentionally.""Wait," Garrett said. "Kil







