CHAPTER 47

The night air felt cool on my skin as I stood at the edge of our territory, looking into the dark trees beyond. The usual forest noises were strangely absent, as if the whole world was waiting in quiet for the storm we all knew would be breaking loose. The moon was absolutely massive in the sky, throwing these really long shadows all over the place and giving everything a gentle, silvery glow.

I couldn't shake off what had gone down in the last couple of hours. It was just playing on repeat in my head. The urgent howls that had woken me, Xander reading Ryder's ominous message, the frantic preparations, and finally, the pack meeting we had just concluded. The energy of our pack bond still thrummed through my veins, a reminder of the strength we possessed when united.

But even with that strength, doubts filled my mind. Were we truly ready for what was coming? Could we stand against Ryder and his rogues? The responsibility of being a leader seemed more burdensome than ever, and I started