Chapter 22: No more uploading
Dawn painted the palace in gold as Elara descended to the courtyard. Fifty wolves waited below. Not an army—not by the standards of what they might face. But as Elara looked at their faces, she saw something more valuable than numbers. She saw conviction. These weren't soldiers following orders. These were believers, ready to die for the hope she represented. Sera stood at the front of the Autumn Creek contingent—twelve wolves strong, their copper hair marking them as kin. She caught Elara's eye and nodded once. Ready. Bran of Misty Peaks had insisted on coming despite his age. "I've waited eighty years for this," he'd said when Elara tried to protest. "You're not leaving me behind now." Ten of his packmates flanked him, their grey cloaks snapping in the morning wind. The rest came fr
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