Retreat
353 Words
Then he raised one hand.
“Fall back.”
The wolves behind him immediately obeyed.
Within seconds, they were retreating into the forest.
Magnus and Fenrir followed.
But before disappearing into the shadows, Vargan paused.
His red eyes met Aria’s one last time.
“You’re powerful,” he admitted.
“Far more than the last MoonBorn.”
His grin returned.
“But power without control…”
He gestured toward the cracked ground and shattered carts around them.
“…is a weapon waiting to be taken.”
Then he stepped into the darkness.
And vanished.
The forest fell quiet once more.
Slowly, the silver light around Aria faded.
The power draining from her body all at once.
Her knees buckled.
Kael caught her instantly.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“I’ve got you.”
Aria looked up at him, exhausted but still burning with anger.
“He killed the last MoonBorn.”
Kael nodded grimly.
“Yes.”
Her fists clenched weakly.
“Then we stop him.”
Across the clearing, Lyra approached with Torren and Darius.
Torren grinned.
“Well,” he said.
“Looks like we’ve officially got a war.”
Lyra studied Aria carefully.
“You just forced three Alpha packs to retreat.”
Darius added thoughtfully,
“That hasn’t happened in centuries.”
Kael looked down at Aria.
“Feeling any better about not being human?”
Aria managed a tired smirk.
“Ask me again after I get some sleep.”
Torren laughed.
“Fair.”
But Lyra’s voice turned serious.
“Vargan won’t stop now.”
She looked toward the dark forest.
“He’ll gather every pack loyal to him.”
Darius nodded.
“And when he returns…”
Torren finished the sentence with a grin.
“…he’ll bring an army.”
Aria straightened slowly, leaning on Kael.
Her eyes drifted up to the full moon shining above the trees.
“Then we’ll be ready.”
The wind moved through the forest like a warning.
The wolves of six Alpha packs had chosen their sides.
And the war for the balance of the world had truly begun.
- Writer
