#9 Gathering Allies

Daeira POV

The sun’s setting slow and golden across the tops of my new town. Lanterns are glowing in the windows, laughter floats through the streets, and for the first time since I was thirteen, I feel whole.

Safe.

Alive.

Home.

Tarin appears beside me as I stand watching families settle into their homes.

“Are there any other rogue packs around here?” I ask without looking away.

She nods, braiding a piece of her hair back as she watches the horizon. “Two that I know of. About a thousand wolves each. Never had any trouble with them, they’ve lived quietly on their own. But I imagine they’d jump at a real home.”

I smile. “Let’s reach out.”

She’s already halfway down the stairs to grab messengers before I can say anything else.

"Good instincts," Lunaryn hums. "Strong Alpha move. Build the allies before the storm gets bigger."

"The storm’s already here," I murmur.

And just as the words leave my lips… I feel it.

A pulse in the wards.

Like a slap.

Then another. Harder.

I whirl, my eyes narrowing.

Across the field, where the magical barrier glows faintly between the trees, they’re back.

The original ten.

Only now? They’re leading hundreds.

Fuck.

They’re lined up in ranks, like something out of a damn war novel. Most are wolves, some already partially shifted. But the ten from earlier? They’re at the front, and their hands are glowing with dark magic.

"They brought sorcerers," Lunaryn growls. "Old magic. Dirty magic."

I don’t wait.

I shift into a full sprint toward the wards, and my soldiers, my five hundred loyal warriors, fall in beside me like a fucking tidal wave of muscle and fury.

We skid to a stop just inside the glowing line.

The first magical blast hits the wards with a BOOM like thunder, sparking against the silver with a sizzle of violent red. They’re slamming their fists, throwing curses, trying to overload the barrier. It ripples, and shudders.

But it holds.

"Daeira," Lunaryn says in my head. "You need to pour your magic into the wards. Anchor them. Make them yours."

I plant my boots in the dirt. Lift my arms. And close my eyes. My fingers tingle as I open the channels inside me.

Magic surges, silver and cold and wild, pure Moonlight born in blood and prophecy. It shoots down my arms, out through my hands, and lashes into the wards like ribbons of lightning. The shield blazes, a dome of molten silver that expands with every breath I give it.

Behind me, gasps. Awe. Silence. But I keep going. Feeding it. Owning it. These wards are mine now.

They hammer them for hours. Wave after wave. Howling and snarling, magic flying. One of them even tries a blood ritual, I feel it. Sick and vile. But my magic doesn’t break.

And neither do I. Finally...finally...they stop. The sorcerers look like they’ve been drained dry. The army wavers. The ten exchange words, frustrated. Then, like cowards, they turn. And vanish into the woods.

My body trembles, slick with sweat and power drunk exhaustion, but I don’t fall. “Patrols stay,” I command, voice firm but raspy. “The rest, back to the barracks. You did good.”

The soldiers raise fists to hearts in silent salute. Twenty peel off to begin their rotations. The rest file away like shadows, heads high. I walk back to the keep slowly, feeling the weight of every choice, every life, every soul under my protection.

But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I eat whatever’s left on the kitchen counter, some kind of roasted root veggie sandwich Velwyn must’ve magicked up. Then I shower slowly, washing ash and sweat from my skin until I feel like myself again.

I barely make it into pajamas before a knock hits the door.

“Come in,” I say, toweling my hair. Tarin walks in, smiling, and behind her, a young wolf girl with wide brown eyes and messy braids.

“Message just came in,” Tarin says. “Small rogue pack, about two thousand strong. Heard about the Seralyn rise.”

The girl steps forward, nervous but smiling. “They said they’d love to join you. They’ll arrive at dawn.”

I blink, stunned. “That’s incredible. Please, get her a room. Food. Whatever she needs.”

The girl looks ready to cry. “Thank you, Alpha.” Tarin guides her out, and I finally collapse into bed.

"They’re coming," Lunaryn whispers softly.

"Good," I whisper back. "We’ll be ready."

And with that, I close my eyes, warm and safe.

The wards hum quietly in the distance, strong as ever.

And I sleep.

Peacefully.

Kade Bloodhowl POV

I watch from the shadows as Roach kneels on the marble floor of my parents’ private chamber.

He’s filthy. Mud caked boots. Blood on his collar. His cloak’s half burned from ward backlash. And even he looks shaken, which is rare as hell.

“She’s secured the Seralyn Keep,” he says, his voice calm but low. “The wards are old... ancient. But she’s strengthened them. Reinforced with pure lunar magic. I brought ten sorcerers. They couldn’t even dent it.”

Danika growls, a low, inhuman noise that reverberates through the floor. “Impossible!” she hisses, hurling a crystal glass across the room. It shatters, embedding into the stone wall.

Marik slams both fists onto the table. “You failed!” he roars. “You were supposed to kill her before she settled. Now she’s locked down and gathering allies!!”

“She stood at the center of the ward field,” Roach cuts in, unbothered. “Poured her magic directly into the barrier. Strengthened it herself. The ten were nearly drained to death. We left before it rebounded and killed someone.”

Danika screams and throws another goblet. Marik’s pacing, veins popping at his neck.

And me? I fucking laugh.

“Took you long enough to realize you’re not invincible,” I say, strolling in with a smirk. “She’s stronger than both of you. Together.”

They both snap their heads toward me. Danika’s eyes burn. Marik’s lips peel back from his teeth. “You dare mock us!”

“Mock you?” I interrupt, leaning against the wall. “I’m relieved. I’m tired of pretending you’re competent. You’re playing checkers while she’s launching empires.”

They stare, furious, but I keep going.

“How about this...why don’t we rally the packs against her? Hype it up. Paint her like a rogue threat. If we apply enough pressure, even her magical bubble won’t hold.”

Danika narrows her eyes. “She’ll fold eventually,” she murmurs. “She has to.”

Marik nods, lips twisting. “We’ll reach out to the Council. Make them see reason.”

I scoff, crossing my arms. “We own the Council. Don’t act like we don’t.”

Their silence confirms it. They nod. Plans begin to form.

And I? I lean back, trying to ignore the twisting in my gut.

"You should have protected her," Garian whispers inside me for the first time in days.

I freeze. "You’re still silent, I see," I murmur bitterly. "No," he says. "Just tired of screaming where I’m not heard."

He goes quiet again. And for the first time in weeks, I feel guilty instead of just angry. I shake the feeling off. I don’t follow my parents’ orders, but I don’t walk away either.

And I definitely don’t tell them how badly I want to hunt her down. Not to kill her. Not to drag her back. Just... to see her.

But I don’t move. And that choice?

Will haunt me.

POV Shift: Mystery Warrior

I’d only gone to the upper levels to grab a report. I wasn’t supposed to hear it. But I did. Every damn word. The assassin. The failed attack. The rallying cry against the White Wolf. The Council's corruption. Their plan to crush her.

The girl they’d called a servant. An omega. Now an Alpha with a city, soldiers and lunar magic. And all I can think is....I’m done fighting for tyrants.

I slip out before anyone sees me. Quiet. Clean. Back in the barracks, I spread the word. “She’s alive. She’s taken back Seralyn. The White Wolf’s risen.”

They stare and blink. “She has a keep. A warded town. Hundreds behind her already.”

Someone whispers, “What do we do?”

I don’t hesitate. “I’m leaving at dawn. I’m pledging loyalty to her. Any wolf who wants to come… follow me.”

The words catch like wildfire. By moonrise, it’s all anyone can talk about. By dawn?

Thousands are waiting in the forest. No speeches. No arguments. No fear. Just quiet, unified purpose.

I nod once. And we shift.

Five thousand paws hit the earth in perfect silence.

And together, we run toward the only Alpha who’s earned our blood and loyalty.