“Patrol teams double up tonight. No one moves alone. No one leaves the compound without a partner.” I scan the room. “Questions?”
Silence. Not the tense silence of dissent—the focused silence of wolves preparing for war.
“Get some rest. We strike at first light.”
They disperse without argument. No question of command now, no fracture lines.
Nova stands by the window, watching night shadows slowly take over the yard. Her profile cuts sharply against the glass, all angles and intent.
“You ready for this?”
She turns, that violet gaze steady on mine. “He thinks I’m still his key. His puppet.” A cold smile crosses her face. “He won’t see me coming as a weapon.”
Her certainty isn’t bravado. It’s a promise.
And that’s exactly how we want it.
Chapter 34
Dane
Imove through the main lodge, past clusters of wolves who look up but don’t meet my eyes. The fire in the hearth burns low, crackling occasionally as someone shifts a log with the iron poker. No one speaks above a murmur. No one needs to.
Ben stands with Kari near the far wall, bent over the patrol rotation chart. His finger traces the boundary lines, voice pitched low as he explains the weak points. “Third watch rotation needs reinforcement here,” he says, tapping a section. “And we’ll need two scouts on the eastern ridge to cover Harper’s supply team when they return from Silverwood.” He pauses, adds under his breath so low only my Alpha hearing can make out, “At least she’s coordinating from here this time,not riding with them.” The relief in his voice is barely there, but unmistakable.
When Harper walks past them toward the supply table, Ben’s eyes flick up, track her movement, then return to the map. Not a word. Just that momentary break in focus that tells me everything.
I watch Harper kneel beside Mateo and two younger wolves, her hands steady as she checks their packs. She removes a knife from one bag, replaces it with something smaller, sleeker. “This will serve you better,” she says. “Less weight, same damage.” The young warrior nods, soaking in her calm like it might protect him tomorrow.
Across the room, Callum hunches over the terrain map spread across the table. His shoulders bunch with tension as he marks potential ambush points in red. Lyanna stands at his side, close enough that their sleeves almost touch. Almost.
“The southeastern ridge will be vulnerable,” she says, voice clipped. “The ground remembers old magic there.”
“We covered it,” Callum replies without looking up.
“Not adequately.”
Callum’s jaw tightens. He redraws the line, pressing harder with the marker. They don’t look at each other, but I can smell the charge between them.
Kari finishes with Ben and moves to inventory weapons. Her movements are precise, economical. She tucks three extra blades into her belt, testing their weight and balance. Once, just once, her gaze slides to where Rafe stands in the shadows near the back door. Their eyes meet. Hold for one breath. Two. Then break away like it never happened.
Rafe says nothing. Just watches the room with that unreadable stillness that makes some of my wolves nervous. But I know a warrior when I see one—and in the days since he showed up, he’s proven himself in ways that matter. Neverquestioning orders, never hesitating when the pack needed him. His attention shifts to me, a brief acknowledgment. I nod once. We understand what’s coming without speaking it aloud.
Nova works alone at the far end of the room, grinding herbs into a fine powder. The air around her still smells faintly singed from the ritual. Her fingers move quickly, methodically. She catches me watching but doesn’t break rhythm.
I circle the room once more, checking ammunition, confirming routes, answering questions with single-word responses. My wolves are tense but focused. The younger ones try to hide their fear. The veterans don’t bother. They know fear keeps you sharp.
When the clock strikes midnight, I straighten. “Get rest. We leave at dawn.”
They move without argument, gathering their gear. Ben pauses at the door, throwing one last look at Harper as she helps Mateo adjust his pack strap. Callum brushes past Lyanna, their shoulders finally touching. She stiffens but says nothing.
One by one, they file out. Nova is the last to leave, sealing her herbal mixture into small pouches. She stops at the threshold and turns to face me. No words. Just that violet gaze steady on mine, a silent recognition of what waits for us beyond the trees.
Then she’s gone.
I stand alone in the lodge. The fire pops once, sending up a shower of sparks. The maps remain open, marked with our plans, our hopes, and our desperate strategy.
They’re ready. Well, as ready as they can be.
