CHAPTER 7 RETURN TO SILVERCREST
1277 Words
Dawn had barely touched the mountains when Aria left Shadowfang.
Kael rode beside her.
Behind them came Darius, Selene, Evelyne, and a group of Shadowfang warriors.
“You realize my people might not appreciate Shadowfang wolves appearing outside their homes?” Aria asked.
“They're protection.”
Aria glanced at the armed warriors behind them.
“They look like an army.”
Kael shrugged. “A protective army.”
Despite herself, Aria smiled.
Then she remembered where they were going.
Her people.
Hundreds of Silvercrest survivors.
Alive.
The thought still felt impossible.
After hours of traveling, Evelyne raised her hand.
“We leave the path here.”
They entered a dense forest until they reached what appeared to be a dead end.
Evelyne dismounted and pushed aside thick vines covering the mountain wall.
A narrow passage appeared.
They continued through it.
Then suddenly the mountains opened into a hidden valley.
Aria stopped.
Wooden houses stood beneath snow-covered trees.
Smoke rose from chimneys.
Children ran between buildings.
Silver banners hung from wooden posts.
And on those banners was a symbol Aria hadn't seen in six years.
Silvercrest.
Her pack.
“Mama…”
Evelyne squeezed her hand.
“Welcome home.”
Tears filled Aria's eyes.
A guard spotted them.
A horn sounded.
People rushed toward the entrance.
Several men shifted into wolves when they saw the Shadowfang warriors.
Then an older man emerged.
Gray hair.
Broad shoulders.
A scar across his face.
Aria's breath caught.
“Uncle Tomas?”
The man froze.
“Aria?”
She stepped forward.
His weapon fell into the snow.
“Little Aria?”
He rushed toward her.
Aria collapsed into his embrace.
“You're alive.”
“We thought you were gone.”
“I thought all of you were.”
Tomas pulled away.
Then he saw Evelyne.
“My Luna.”
Evelyne smiled through tears.
“Tomas.”
People gathered around Aria.
Some she remembered.
Others had been children when Silvercrest fell.
An elderly woman touched her face.
“You have Rowan's eyes.”
Aria finally cried.
She had spent six years believing she had no family.
Now they surrounded her.
Then someone shouted.
“Why is he here?”
Silence fell.
Aria turned.
Kael stood several yards away.
Tomas's expression hardened.
“Kael Draven.”
Kael inclined his head.
“Alpha Tomas.”
“I am not an Alpha.”
“You kept these people alive. That deserves respect.”
Tomas looked at Aria.
“Why did you bring him?”
Aria took a breath.
“Because Shadowfang didn't destroy Silvercrest.”
Murmurs erupted.
Tomas frowned.
“What?”
“It was Lucian Voss.”
“That isn't possible.”
“It is,” Evelyne said.
Everyone turned toward her.
“Lucian manipulated both packs.”
Kael stepped forward.
“My pack believed Silvercrest attacked our border settlements. We responded before discovering we'd been deceived.”
Tomas's eyes hardened.
“So Shadowfang still fought us.”
“Yes.”
“And people suffered.”
Kael didn't hide from the accusation.
“Yes.”
The crowd quieted.
“I cannot change what happened,” Kael said. “But Lucian is coming for Silvercrest again.”
Tomas stiffened.
“What?”
“We intercepted his plans,” Aria said. “He knows where the settlements are.”
Tomas looked alarmed.
“How many locations?”
“Several.”
“There are three main Silvercrest settlements.”
Aria's heart jumped.
“There are more?”
Before Tomas could answer, a horn sounded from beyond the mountains.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
His face went pale.
“What does that mean?” Aria asked.
“Warning.”
Another horn answered.
Closer.
Kael turned toward Darius.
“Check the forest.”
Darius disappeared with several warriors.
Families began moving toward the houses.
Minutes later, Darius returned.
“Alpha, wolves are approaching.”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
Aria's stomach tightened.
Lucian had found them.
Kael looked at Tomas.
“We can argue later. Right now, protect your people.”
Tomas hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Children and elders to the caves!”
The settlement erupted into motion.
Kael turned toward his warriors.
“Defensive positions. No one acts without my command.”
Aria stepped beside him.
“What do I do?”
“Stay with your mother.”
She glared at him.
“Try again.”
“Aria.”
“These are my people.”
“You're still recovering.”
“And I'm still standing.”
Kael stared at her.
Then sighed.
“I knew you'd say that.”
He handed her a weapon.
“Stay close.”
“I will.”
Silvercrest warriors formed one defensive line.
Shadowfang formed another.
Two packs that had hated each other for years now stood side by side.
Aria moved between them.
Tomas looked at her.
“You shouldn't be at the front.”
“My father would have been.”
“You aren't your father.”
“No.”
Aria looked toward the forest.
“I'm his daughter.”
Howls echoed through the valley.
Dark shapes appeared between the trees.
Lucian's wolves.
Dozens of them.
Kael stepped beside Aria.
Even with their weakened bond, his presence steadied her.
“I thought you didn't need my protection,” he murmured.
Aria looked at him.
“I think we protect each other.”
Something softened in his eyes.
Then a voice echoed from the forest.
“ARIA!”
Lucian emerged between his wolves.
“Come with me,” he called, “and everyone here remains safe.”
Kael's body tensed.
Aria stepped forward.
“I won't go anywhere with you.”
Lucian smiled.
“You haven't heard my offer.”
Two wolves dragged a young man forward.
His hands were bound.
Aria didn't recognize him.
Tomas did.
“Elias!”
“Father!”
Tomas moved forward.
Aria stopped him.
Lucian placed a hand on Elias's shoulder.
“One person for an entire village.”
His gaze settled on Aria.
“You come with me. He returns to his father.”
Kael caught Aria's hand.
“Don't.”
“If I can save him—”
“Lucian doesn't want peace.”
Aria knew he was right.
Then an idea came to her.
She turned to Tomas.
“Do you trust me?”
He stared at her.
“Yes.”
She looked at Kael.
“And you?”
His answer was immediate.
“With my life.”
Her heart tightened.
“Then follow my lead.”
Aria stepped beyond the defensive line.
Lucian smiled.
“Good girl.”
“I'll come.”
“Aria!” Evelyne shouted.
Aria ignored her.
“But release Elias first.”
Lucian considered her.
Then nodded.
“Release him.”
Elias ran.
He passed Aria and headed toward his father.
Aria watched Lucian carefully.
His hand moved.
A signal.
“NOW!” she shouted.
Kael shifted instantly.
Shadowfang and Silvercrest surged forward together.
Aria transformed into her silver wolf.
For the first time in years, the two packs fought on the same side.
Aria rushed toward Lucian.
Instead of retreating, he smiled.
He reached inside his coat.
Another vial appeared.
But this one contained silver liquid.
Kael saw it.
“ARIA!”
Lucian threw it.
Silver smoke exploded across the snow.
Aria tried to retreat.
Too late.
The world vanished around her.
Someone grabbed her.
She struggled, but her strength disappeared.
“Kael!”
She heard his roar somewhere beyond the smoke.
Then darkness swallowed her.
When the air finally cleared, Kael rushed toward the place where Aria had stood.
She was gone.
Something had been written across the snow.
Four words.
COME FIND YOUR MATE.
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