The air was thick with anticipation as the pack gathered around the central courtyard of the packhouse. The tension that had been simmering for days now felt like a heavy weight pressing down on all of us. The rogues were growing bolder, their movements unpredictable, and despite all of our preparations, I knew that we were far from ready for what was coming.
But we didn’t have a choice. The fight was coming to us whether we were ready or not.
I stood at the front of the gathering, my eyes scanning the familiar faces of my pack—my family. Every pair of eyes was locked on me, waiting for direction, for assurance that we would make it through whatever was coming. But in truth, I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Ethan stood to my right, his expression calm but his eyes sharp, ever watchful
