LOGIN“Good. How many settlements are we clearing?”
“Five. Western, northern, and three scattered homesteads. About four hundred wolves in total. Half civilians, half fighters.”“Timeline?”“If it goes smoothly, two days. If there’s real pushback…” Theron shrugged. “Could stretch to three.”“We don’t have three smooth days,” I said. “Seraphine’s deadline hits in four. I want ev“Good. How many settlements are we clearing?”“Five. Western, northern, and three scattered homesteads. About four hundred wolves in total. Half civilians, half fighters.”“Timeline?”“If it goes smoothly, two days. If there’s real pushback…” Theron shrugged. “Could stretch to three.”“We don’t have three smooth days,” I said. “Seraphine’s deadline hits in four. I want every wolf behind these walls by the end of day three. That gives us one full day to get ready before she moves.”“And if she moves early?”“Then we adjust.” I kept walking. “But I don’t think she will. She gave us a week on purpose. She’ll wait the full seven days just to show she’s the one in control.”“You’re betting a lot on how her head works.”“I’m betting on her ego,” I correc
We walked down to the courtyard together.The moment the crowd spotted us, the noise dropped. Heads turned. Eyes followed every step we took.Petra stood at the front, chin high, shoulders squared.“Luna Sophia,” she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “We’re here to talk about the evacuation order.”“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said. “The order stands.”“That’s unacceptable.” She waved a hand at the wolves behind her. “These are people’s homes. Their lives. You can’t just rip them away.”“Yes, I can.” I cut her off cleanly. “And I am. Evacuation starts tomorrow. Anyone who refuses gets removed by force.”Shocked murmurs swept through the crowd.“You
Theron studied me for a long moment.“To me? No, you’re still my Luna,” he paused. “But to others… this alternative approach is going to stir up resistance. People are already on edge. Push too hard and—”“And what?” I gestured at the half-built walls. “They’ll leave? Let them. Anyone not committed to surviving can walk. We’re better off without them.”“That’s cold, Luna.”“That’s realistic.” I turned to face him fully. “The version of me that cared about being liked died in the Black Realm. All that’s left is the one who cares about results. If that makes me cold, fine. As long as it keeps people breathing.”He watched me in silence.“I can work with cold,” he said at last. “Just… re
“Aldric sent word this morning,” Kael said. “Seraphine’s gathering forces somewhere shielded by heavy magic. He couldn’t pinpoint the location. But he confirmed the non-wolf allies. He mentioned… things. Creatures he wouldn’t name.”“Helpful,” I muttered.“He’s bound by oaths. You know how it is.”I waved it off. “What matters is that she has reinforcements we can’t see or count. So we plan for the worst.”Martin let out a low breath. “Not exactly encouraging.”“Realistic,” I said. “Right now, realistic is all we’ve got.”I leaned over the map, eyes tracing the lines of Black River and the scattered settlements around it. The strategy formed slowly, heavy and bitter on my tongue.&
Kael’s voice stayed flat.“She wants you to abdicate as Luna. Step down. Submit yourself to her for… judgment.”“Judgment,” I repeated.“Her word, not mine.” He took one step closer. The familiar scent of pine and smoke followed him, wrapping around me like it always did. “She says you destroyed centuries of her work. That you’re responsible for countless deaths and the instability tearing through wolf-kind. She wants you to answer for your crimes against the future.”“By letting her kill me,” I finished.“She didn’t say the word ‘kill.’ But yeah. That’s what she means.”I let the silence sit for a second.Seraphine wanted me to trade my life for the kingdom’s safety. My death for peace.“And if I refuse?”Kael’s jaw tightened. “Then she comes at us with everything she’s got. She’s be
I could still turn back.Lock the door again.Return to bed and let the gray reclaim me.I need you to be there when I get back.Alaric’s voice—real or imagined—whispers through my memory.I unlock the door.Turn the handle.Step out into the corridor.Erica is there.Of course she is.Slumped against the wall across from my door, asleep while sitting up.Her face is swollen from crying.Dark circles shadow her eyes.My daughter.Who lost her sight saving everyone.Who has been sitting outside my door for three days, begging me to acknowledge she exists.Guilt crashes through me.I ha
Sleep hit me like a brick wall. No dreams, just black nothing while my body tried to patch itself together.Then the nightmares
"Answer the damn question." Kael's voice cut through the room like ice cracking. Not a request. A straight command. The scout, chained tight and sweating buckets, finally broke."Drake. My name's Drake." "Why were you spying on us?" "Orders." "From who?" Drake's eyes flicked everywhere, huntin
The walls teemed with warriors when we surfaced, sunlight just breaking full.Three hundred of us lined up against four hundred incoming, plus whatever nightmare Drake spilled about in his last breaths.Everyone is locked in position now. Weapons are sharp and ready. Moonbane charms hummed softly a
Ten minutes later, the war room filled up fast. Drake's words lingered like smoke.Kael and Marcus recapped everything: dawn attack, four hundred enemies, Seraphine in charge, and that nightmare beast."Everybody get the main points?" I asked, eyeing tense faces.Nods. No meltdowns yet."Building-s







