The Gathering Storm

Rose's POV

The morning of the twentieth day since I'd arrived at the River Wolves' fortress, I woke with the hum louder than ever. It pulsed through my veins like a warning. Something was coming.

I dressed quickly and went to the great hall. The usual morning bustle was absent. Wolves stood in small groups, their voices low. Their faces tight with worry.

Lyra found me first. "Rose. There's been another attack."

My blood ran cold. "Where?"

"Northern border. Same as before." Her voice was strained. "More wolves this time. Five dead. Seven wounded."

I ran to the infirmary.

---

Rose's POV

The infirmary was chaos. Healers rushed between cots. Wolves lay bleeding, their bodies covered in the same black-edged wounds. The smell of blood and herbs filled the air.

Aiden was there, his face stone. Gunnar stood beside him, his good eye blazing.

"Rose." Aiden's voice was tight. "We need you."

I didn't hesitate. I walked to the nearest wounded wolf. Placed my hands on his chest. The silver light rose, pulsing from my palms. The black edges receded. The flesh began to close.

I moved to the next wolf. And the next. And the next.

By the time I was done, my hands were shaking. The hum was exhausted. I'd healed all seven wolves. But the cost was high.

Aiden was staring at me. "You saved them all."

"I did what I could."

"That's more than anyone else could do." His voice was full of something I didn't recognize. Wonder. Gratitude. "You're getting stronger."

"I'm getting tired."

"Then rest." He guided me to a chair. "You've done enough."

I sat down heavily. My body ached. My mind was spinning.

"The Shadow Wolves are escalating," I said. "They're attacking more wolves. Killing more."

"I know." Aiden's face was grim. "We need to strike back. Before they strike again."

"How?"

"We need to find their base. Their stronghold. And we need to destroy it." He met my eyes. "And we need you to help us."

"Me?"

"Your power. The healing. The connection to the Old Moon. You're the only one who can stand against them." He crouched in front of me. "Will you help us, Rose?"

I looked at him. At the weight in his eyes. The hope.

"Yes," I said. "I'll do whatever it takes."

---

Edwin's POV

I found Rose in the infirmary. She was sitting in a chair, her face pale, her hands still faintly silver.

"Rose." I sat beside her. "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"I'm tired. But I'm okay."

"You saved seven wolves. That's incredible."

"I just did what I had to do." She looked at me. "The Shadow Wolves are attacking again. Aiden wants to find their base. Destroy it."

"And you're going with them?"

"Yes."

I felt something twist in my chest. "Then I'm coming too."

"You don't have to—"

"I know I don't have to. But I want to." I met her eyes. "I'm not letting you face this alone."

She was quiet for a moment. Then she reached over, squeezing my hand.

"Okay," she said. "Together."

"Together."

---

Rose's POV

That afternoon, Aiden called a war council. The elders gathered in the great hall. Maps were spread across the table.

"The Shadow Wolves are attacking from the north," Aiden said. "We need to find their base and destroy it."

"How do we find it?" Gunnar asked.

"Scouts. Tracking. And Rose." Aiden looked at me. "Your connection to the Old Moon might help us sense their presence."

"How?" I asked.

"The Shadow Wolves feed on Old Moon power. They're drawn to it. If we go north, you might be able to sense them."

I nodded slowly. "I'll try."

"We leave tomorrow," Aiden said. "Gunnar will lead a group of warriors. I'll go with Rose. Edwin, you'll stay here."

"No," I said.

Everyone looked at me.

"Edwin comes with us." I met Aiden's eyes. "I trust him. I need him with me."

Aiden's jaw tightened. But he nodded. "Fine. Edwin comes."

I could feel the tension in the room. The weight of what we were about to do.

This was it. The beginning of the end.

---

Rose's POV

That night, I couldn't sleep. The hum was too loud. Too restless.

I walked to the river. Sat on my rock. Watched the water move past.

Footsteps behind me. I didn't need to turn around.

"You should be resting," Aiden said.

"So should you."

He sat beside me. "I've been thinking. About tomorrow. About what we're about to do."

"What about it?"

"Promise me something. If things go wrong. If the Shadow Wolves are too strong. Promise me you'll run."

"Run?"

"If you get hurt. If you're in danger. Promise me you'll save yourself."

I looked at him. At the worry in his eyes. The fear he was trying to hide.

"I can't promise that," I said. "I can't promise I'll run."

"Rose—"

"I've been running my whole life. Running from the past. Running from my pain. I'm done running." I met his eyes. "If I'm going to die, I'm going to die fighting."

He was quiet for a long moment. Then he reached over, touching my cheek.

"I don't want to lose you," he said. His voice was barely a whisper.

"You won't. I'm not going anywhere."

He leaned closer. I could feel his breath on my face. The hum screamed in my veins.

"I care about you, Rose. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time."

"I care about you too."

We stayed like that for a moment. His hand on my cheek. His eyes on mine.

Then he pulled away. "We should rest. Tomorrow will be a long day."

"Okay."

I walked back to my room. My heart was racing. The hum was singing.

Something had shifted between us. Something real.

I didn't know what it meant. But I knew one thing.

I was ready for whatever came.

---

Rose's POV

Dawn came cold and gray. I dressed in my warmest clothes. Strapped a knife to my belt. Felt the hum pulse beneath my skin.

Ready.

I met the others in the courtyard. Aiden. Gunnar. Edwin. Lyra. And a dozen other wolves I'd come to know.

"We move north," Aiden said. "Stay close. Stay alert. Watch each other's backs."

We set out. The forest was quiet. The ground was cold. The hum pulsed in my chest, leading me forward.

"Can you feel them?" Edwin asked.

"Yes." I closed my eyes. "They're close. North of here. Maybe a day's walk."

"Then that's where we're going." Aiden's voice was hard. "We find them. We stop them. No matter the cost."

We walked in silence. The hum grew louder with each step.

The Shadow Wolves were waiting.

And I was ready to face them.