Chapter 19:
The scent of war was in the air. It was a cold, metallic odor, carried on the crisp wind that promised the first signs of the spring thaw. The Riverbend Pack had stopped scouting and started deploying. Elias and Lyra knew the attack was less than twelve hours away.
The atmosphere in the war room was tense, filled with the low murmurs of commanders reviewing maps one last time. Marcus and Finn were already outside, overseeing the deployment of the Bog Trap forces and the mobilization of Lyra's northern mobile units.
Elias and Lyra stood alone before the largest map of the territory, each tracing lines of attack and defense with a finger. Lyra was focused on the North-Eastern Ridge the Cold Stream's location.
"Elara planned this diversion well," Lyra said quietly, her voice d
