CHAPTER 5
1008 Words
The Howl Before the Storm
The wind howled through IceClaw like a warning.
It wasn’t just the weather; though the skies churned in an iron-gray rage, thunder rumbling low and long like a predator's growl. It was something deeper. A pulse in the earth. A quiet shifting. The kind of tension that made wolves look over their shoulders.
Crystal stood on one of the watchtowers, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Below, warriors moved in restless patterns, double-checking weapons, reinforcing the gates, sharpening blades with more force than necessary. Everyone could feel it. The storm inside the air, the one between packs, and the one inside her heart; they were all colliding.
A knock on the wood behind her pulled her from the thought.
Logan.
“Derek’s called for all warriors to gather at the West wall,” he said, voice low and tense. “Something’s coming.”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
He lingered for a heartbeat longer, then turned. She hesitated, watching him go. His shoulders were stiff with tension, and though he said nothing else, she could feel the heat of his glance before he disappeared down the steps.
She followed.
---------
By the time Crystal reached the West wall, the skies had darkened further. Snow spiraled in from the cliffs, fat and fast. Beth stood at the front with Elder Mara, giving orders in clipped tones. Derek emerged from the war room, his expression unreadable but purposeful.
“Scouts just returned,” he said, voice carrying over the wind. “SilverMoon is moving.”
A ripple passed through the gathered warriors.
Crystal moved closer. “How far?”
“They were spotted near the old ridge line. Twenty strong. Marching fast.” He looked at her. “Lucien’s with them.”
The name landed like thunder.
Logan growled low under his breath. “That bastard isn’t wasting time.”
Beth stepped forward. “Are we sure this is an attack? Could be posturing.”
Derek shook his head. “Too precise. Too quiet. They’re not making a show. They’re making a move.”
Crystal’s stomach twisted. “Then we confront him.”
Derek studied her. “We intercept. But we don’t strike first. Not unless we’re provoked.”
Beth nodded. “Then let’s not waste time.”
Crystal rode beside her father, her hood up, fingers gripping the reins so tightly her knuckles whitened. Logan was just ahead, riding with the Beta and two other warriors. Beth kept close to her side. The snow thickened the deeper they rode into the forest, muffling sound, masking shapes.
Even the wolves moved quieter than usual.
She kept looking left. And right. As though Nathan might step out from behind a tree, teasing her for looking so grim. But he didn’t.
"You're distracted," Beth said quietly.
Crystal didn’t look at her. “Do you know where Nathan is?”
Beth frowned. “I assumed he was in the south ridge patrol group.”
“No. He wasn’t there yesterday. I checked.”
Beth hesitated. “Maybe Derek reassigned him.”
“Maybe,” Crystal echoed, but her chest was already tightening again.
A sharp whistle cut through the air behind them, and they all turned as a rider galloped up the trail, his dark cloak flaring behind him. Nathan.
“Thought I missed all the fun?” he said, a crooked grin tugging at his lips as he reined in beside Crystal.
“Where the hell were you?”
Nathan shrugged, reins loose in his hands. “Derek sent me to the eastern border to scout. We got reports of movement near the river pass.”
Crystal’s eyes narrowed. “You were gone for days.”
“It was supposed to be a quick check, but there were signs of a rogue pack. I couldn’t risk leaving it unverified.”
Her jaw clenched. “And you didn’t think to send word?”
He just gave her that familiar smirk. “Didn’t think you’d miss me that much.”
Ugghhh… annoying bugger
They found Lucien by the edge of the northern clearing.
SilverMoon warriors stood in a tight formation behind him;silent, unmoving, faces hard as stone. The sight of their emblem, stitched bright silver against navy cloaks, was enough to make Crystal’s pulse throb. The last time she had seen Lucien, he’d been smiling in the great hall, drinking wine with a hand on her shoulder and poison in his words.
Now he looked like the storm made flesh.
“Derek,” Lucien said, voice loud, clear, and slick with mock politeness. “Fancy meeting you here.”
Derek stayed still. “Turn around. This is IceClaw land.”
Lucien laughed. “Is it? I must’ve lost my way.”
Crystal moved up beside her father, eyes locked on Lucien. She hated how calm he looked. How collected. As if he was the one in control of this moment.
“You’re marching armed warriors toward our border in silence,” Derek said. “Explain that.”
Lucien tilted his head, and the snow caught on his hair like silver threads. “I don’t owe you an explanation. But if you must know; we were tracking a rogue pack. Lost them near your ridgeline. My men are tired. We were hoping for a warm place to rest before turning back.”
Derek’s voice sharpened. “You’re not welcome here.”
Lucien smirked. “Is that how you treat old friends?”
“We’re not friends.”
Lucien’s eyes flicked to Crystal. Something shifted in his smile. “Pity. I always liked your daughter.”
Logan stiffened beside her.
“Touch her and I will end you,” Logan growled.
Lucien looked amused. “So much fire. Maybe that’s what you’ve been teaching her. Or maybe… she’s teaching you.”
Crystal stepped forward before Logan could lunge. “Say what you came to say, Lucien. Or leave.”
For a moment, something flickered in Lucien’s gaze. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t fear. It was something quieter.
Calculating.
- Writer
