Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of violence.
The packhouse was alive with tension. The warriors were assembling outside, gearing up for the battle that we all knew was coming. My heart pounded in sync with the steady thrum of footsteps echoing through the hallways. We had prepared for this moment, but now that it was here, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on my chest.
Beside me, Carter stood tall, his face set in determination. I had never seen him like this before. His usual warmth was tempered by the cold steel of resolve. He was ready, as much as any of us, but I could still see the worry in his eyes—the same worry that clawed at my insides.
The mate bond between us pulsed, a comforting presence amid the chaos. But there was no denying the fear that gripped
