Chapter 200

Danielle’s POV The tunnels for the next couple of hours no longer feel like refuge. For now, it feels like responsibility.Every breath I take carries weight now, the pack’s safety, Rhett’s absence, and the unbearable emptiness where my son should be.Kaelen’s nursery smells faintly of lavender and milk when I walk past it. That I never leave it anymore.His blanket is wrapped around my shoulders, my body curled beside the empty crib like proximity alone might bring him back.Silence fills the room when I walk in, no sleepy cries as usual. No tiny heartbeat fluttering against mine.This time, my wolf stirs beneath my skin the moment consciousness returns, and for a second something feels wrong.My hearing sharpens before I even turn. Footsteps echo through stone corridors two levels below, hurried, uneven.Running towards the Nursery. A knock slams against the nursery door.“Luna!”I’m already moving when William bursts inside. His breathing is heavy, his eyes sharp with urgency.“Th

Chapter 201

Rhett’s POVA DAY AFTER THE OUTNUMBERING IN THE WOODS.Cold nights in the woods hide many fears. Tonight, it hides mine. I had been lucky the day before, maneuvering my way out of the camp of the enemies. After being outnumbered. All thanks to Rex and the others who came back. Excluding Devon, who up until now is no where to be found.The rest of my wolves left, move without sound through the dead forest bordering rogue territory after they’d somehow retreated a while ago, shadows slipping between trees older than most packs alive. Leaves crunching softly beneath our booths.And right now, no one speaks. I mean they don’t need to. Every wolf behind me feels the same thing burning through the bond. Rex walks at my right flank, half-shifted, eyes glowing faintly red in the darkness. Three elite warriors left trail us, handpicked fighters who know silence better than glory.Two nights. Two nights since my son was taken. Two nights since Danielle’s scream still echoes inside my skull.

Chapter 202

Rhett’s POV The air feels different when you bring an enemy inside your territory. Like the walls themselves know betrayal walks among us.Elara does not even struggle when we drag her through the reinforced woods towards our temporary command outpost. Silver restraints bind her wrists, etched chains dulling her wolf completely, yet she walks upright, completely calm and composed. As if unafraid.That alone irritates me more than resistance ever could. Warriors step aside as we pass, I hear most of them snarl when she walks past. And the others bow instinctively.News travels fast, because I’m sure they already know who she is. They know what she helped steal.Rex opens the tent curtains ahead and I gesture for her to go inside. When she does, I order her. “Sit.”Elara turns slowly, studying me instead.“You should have just taken me home,” she says lightly and my jaw tightens.“You don’t have a place here.” I growl in her face. But her smile deepens.“No. But grief smells the same e

Chapter 203

Danielle’s POVBACK IN THE TUNNELSWar as expected always has a sound. And tonight… the tunnels are too quiet for the chaos we have slowly grown accustomed to.I stand at the central overlook, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching warriors rotate through patrol formations below after fighting off the wolves that had invaded the tunnels a couple of days ago. Torches burn steadily along the carved stone walls, their light flickering across tired faces.Rhett has been gone three nights now. Three endless nights since he left to bring our son home.The mate bond now visible to me hums faintly in my chest, alive and steady but distant enough to remind me how alone command feels.Behind me, Wiiam approaches. And I hear him before he speaks now. Everything feels louder as usual.“My Luna,” he says carefully, “southern patrol reports are clear again.”And my wolf shifts uneasily beneath my skin. I exhale slowly. “Increase rotation intervals.”William frowns. “We already doubled—”“Tr

Chapter 204

Rhett’s POVThe air right now as we head in the direction given by Elara, smells wrong.I crouch at the ridge overlooking the camp ahead. Every muscle in my body coiling tight beneath my skin. In front of us, torchlight burns across reinforced barricades carved into abandoned quarry land. Concrete ruins merge with forest shadows, forming a fortress built for defense not even survival.Whoever it is planned this carefully, too carefully at that.Beside me, Rex lowers his voice. “Perimeter wolves rotating every two minutes. Heavy presence near the eastern structure? They're good.”“I know!” I snap, because I already know, I can clearly see them.I look down to find them assembling as if training for more battles ahead. Thirty… maybe forty wolves. Elite fighters.Guarding something precious. My son.The thought alone nearly tears control from my grip and instantly Kaelen’s scent drifts faintly through the night air.Fear spikes so violently through me my claws punch halfway through my p

Chapter 205

Rhett's POVKaelen shifts in my arms, small fingers clutching the front of my torn shirt as George circles us now.Behind us, Rex steps closer, blood streaking his jaw. “Alpha… we need to move. Reinforcements are coming from the west ridge.”But I don’t move. Because George is still here staring at me waiting for the first strike.I look over to Rex who I trust now more than anyone and I hand Kaelen carefully to him.“Take him,” I say.Rex hesitates. “But Alpha we have to go—-”“I need to finish this,” I growl, “Run along with the others”“Fine!” he says with a nod and takes Kaelen securely. My son whimpers softly as he’s pulled away, tiny hand reaching toward me that It nearly breaks my resolve.“I’m coming back,” I promise him quietly.Then I turn, but George is gone. But I can still smell him from the distance.The inner compound lies deeper underground, stone corridors carved into old quarry walls. Torchlight flickers unevenly, shadows stretching long like claws along the rock.Th