Chapter 124

I could feel the weight of the moment settle over me as I made my rounds, checking in with each group, offering words of encouragement and reassurance. The pack responded with nods, quiet affirmations, and a determination that filled me with pride. They were afraid—who wouldn’t be? But they were also resolute, committed to defending their home and each other with everything they had.

As the night deepened, I gathered the pack around the fire, a final moment of unity before we faced the storm. The flames crackled, casting warm, dancing light across the faces of my wolves. I saw the faces of the young and the old, the seasoned fighters and the newcomers, each of them ready to stand beside me. Mara stood with her Cedar Hollow wolves, her gaze steady, while Rhea and the Ashfire warriors positioned themselves nearby, their expressions reflecting the same resolve.

“This is our night,” I began, my voice carrying over the fire.

“Tonight, we stand together as one. Tomorrow, we face an enemy who believes he can break us, who thinks he can shatter the bonds we’ve built. But he doesn’t know us. He doesn’t understand the strength that comes from loyalty, from unity.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, wolves exchanging nods and glances of shared purpose. I felt a surge of gratitude for each of them, for their courage, their trust. Silas might come with a force, with numbers, but we had something far greater: each other.

Dante stepped forward, his voice calm and filled with conviction.

“We’ve trained, we’ve fought, and we’ve prepared. But tomorrow, remember what binds us. Each of you fights not only for yourself, but for the wolves beside you, for the pack that is your family. Let that be your strength.”