Chapter 6: Pack Meeting 

 Ethan’s POV

The air in the meeting hall was stifling, tension hanging heavy over the pack. I stood at the head of the room, scanning the faces of my pack members—my family. Tonight, their usual confidence was overshadowed by worry. They sensed it in me, the weight of the unknown, and it rippled through them like a current. I had called this meeting to address our growing concerns, but now, standing before them, I felt the pressure of leadership like never before.

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “We’ve got a problem,” I began, keeping my voice steady. “And it’s worse than I initially thought.”

A murmur spread through the room. The pack was restless and uncertain, and I couldn’t blame them. The illness affecting the wildlife had been growing worse by the day, and now it was starting to affect my pack members, too. The realization was a punch to the gut. We were supposed to be stronger than this—invincible. But something was targeting us, and it wasn’t just a physical threat; it was something deeper, something sinister.

“For the past few weeks, many of you have noticed strange behaviour in the forest’s wildlife,” I continued. “It started small—a few sick animals, odd patterns. But now it’s spreading. It’s not just affecting the animals anymore. Some of our own are showing symptoms.”

Sienna, our pack’s healer, nodded in agreement. She was sitting next to Marcus, my Beta, her expression grim. “I’ve treated several of our pack members. It starts off subtle—lethargy, irritability—but it’s getting worse. Whatever this is, it’s not something I’ve seen before.”

Marcus leaned forward, his expression darkening. “Are you saying this illness can take down our pack members, too?”

I met his eyes, and I didn’t sugarcoat it. “It already has. Two of our warriors collapsed during patrol last night. Their healing is slower than it should be. Whatever’s causing this… it’s not normal.”

The room fell silent. I could see the fear in their eyes, the uncertainty. We were werewolves—stronger, faster, and resistant to almost any disease known to man. The idea that something could weaken us was unthinkable, and it made my blood boil. Whoever was behind this had made a powerful enemy.

“It’s not just the illness,” I said, shifting the focus. “There’s more. Patrols have reported sightings—figures lurking in the woods, shadows that vanish before they can get close. This isn’t a coincidence. We’re being watched.”

I didn’t need to say it aloud, but everyone in the room knew what I was implying: Dominic Kane. That snake of an Alpha had been circling us like a vulture, waiting for any sign of weakness. He’d pushed the boundaries of his territory for months, and now he was making his move.

Sienna’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Do you think Kane is behind this? Could he be the one responsible for spreading the illness?”

I clenched my fists, the thought of Kane’s smug face flashing in my mind. “I can’t prove it, but it fit. He’s always been ambitious, always looking for an advantage. This feels like him—poisoning us from the inside before launching an attack.”

“We should hit him first,” Marcus said, his voice rising with anger. “We can’t just sit back and wait for him to strike. If Kane is behind this, we need to take him out before he does more damage.”

I glanced at Marcus, appreciating his loyalty and drive to protect the pack, but this was bigger than a straightforward fight. Kane was calculating, and he’d been laying the groundwork for this for a while. Going after him without proof would make us look like the aggressors, and that’s exactly what he wanted, and I wouldn't be giving him that satisfaction. 

“No,” I said firmly, cutting through the rising tension. “Not yet. We need more information before we make our move. If we attack without evidence, we’ll be seen as the ones starting a war. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

Marcus backed down, though I could see the frustration simmering in his eyes. He was a fighter, through and through, but he also knew to trust my judgment. The pack was on edge, ready to fight, but this wasn’t just about flexing our strength. It was about outsmarting our enemy.

I turned to Sienna. “Keep working on a cure for the illness. We need to understand what we’re dealing with if we’re going to stop it. And some of you might know Lila, the human. She is a veterinarian, and she is also helping to take care of the animals in the forest that are also affected by this illness"

The mention of Lila’s name brought a shift in the room. I’d been careful about how much I involved her, but everyone knew I’d been spending more time at her clinic, searching for answers. There were whispers among the pack, questions I hadn’t answered yet—even to myself.

Marcus voiced what everyone was thinking. “Do you think Lila’s… involved? Could she be connected to all of this?”

I hesitated, the unspoken truth hanging between us. Since meeting Lila, I’d felt an undeniable pull toward her, one I couldn’t explain. It was more than just attraction. It was deeper, more primal. She was important, but I didn’t know why. Not yet. 

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice low. “But I can feel it. There’s something about her… something we need to figure out.”

More like something I need to figure out. 

Sienna’s gaze was thoughtful, almost knowing. “Maybe she’s the key to breaking this illness. If she’s connected to the Silverwood bloodline, her presence here might not be a coincidence.”

Before I could respond, the door to the meeting room burst open, and one of the patrol wolves rushed in, out of breath and wide-eyed. “Alpha, you need to see this.”

He handed me a folded piece of paper, and my stomach twisted as I recognized the seal. It was from Kane. I unfolded it, my eyes scanning the bold, mocking words.

“What does it say?” Marcus asked, tension thick in his voice.

I read the message aloud, each word grating against my nerves. “**Your pack is weakening, Blackwood. The illness is only the beginning. Prepare for war.**”

The room erupted in growls, the pack’s collective fury rising like a tide. Kane was taunting us, goading us into making a move. He wanted us off balance, driven by anger instead of strategy. 

I crumpled the note in my hand, my jaw tight. “Get the warriors ready,” I ordered, my voice calm despite the fire burning inside me. “Kane thinks he’s got the upper hand, but he has no idea who he’s dealing with.”

As the pack mobilized, my mind was already racing through possibilities. Kane’s declaration was bold, but it was also a challenge. He wanted a war, and he was betting on my pack, being too weak to stand against him.

But I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. I had too much to protect—my pack, my territory, and Lila. If Kane knew about her, knows about how protective I am when it comes to her. He will surely want to go after her , if he was coming for her, then he’d made the biggest mistake of his life.

The battle lines were drawn, and I would do whatever it takes to keep my pack and Lila safe. Dominic Kane had no idea what was coming for him.