Thirteen

Axton

Earlier, Elias and I sat in the van and I drove through the desolate desert, the headlights cutting through the pitch-black night like a knife, illuminating the endless expanse of sand and rock.

Our eyes scanned the landscape for any signs of trouble. Ever since I killed Blake's son, I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not even for a second because Xavier was going to gloat about it. So tonight was one of the many nights I sacrificed sleep to guard the border.

Elias sat beside me, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "We need to recruit more warriors, Axton," he broke the silence. "Our pack is no longer safe. The threats are growing, and we can't afford to be outnumbered."

"Recruit more soldiers? We can't just bring in anyone. We need strong fighters, not children or weak omegas. Building a stronger fortress is the key, not diluting our ranks with the feeble."

Elias's brow furrowed and he jerked his chin in agreement. "I understand your concerns, but our enemies are closing