The Alpha's Regret The Enemy's Claim
"Yes. And I'm asking you to fight with me."
She looked at me, then at the others. I could see the hope flickering in their eyes, fragile but real.
"Alright," she said. "We'll fight with you."
I nodded, a surge of warmth spreading through my chest. "Thank you."
---
We made camp in the ravine, the rogue wolves joining us around the fire. They shared what little food they had, and we shared what we knew about the fortress.
The woman's name was Mara. She had been leading the group for years, hiding from the Council's patrols, surviving on whatever they could find.