Chapter 328: Chapter 328

“They want you to surrender,” I said, my voice shaking. “But I won’t let them take you away from me.”

He squeezed my hand weakly. “Aurora, don’t let them break us.”

“I promise… I will try,” I said, but I looked at Dane and my heart fell. I doubt he could still hear me, his eyes were shut and he wasn’t moving.

I sighed and walked back to the council rooms, soon after, Raven bursted in again, his face gray and slick with sweat. He panted for breath, his great eyes rolling as if scanning the room for

some reassurance.

“Luna!” he gasped, his voice shaking with desperation. “The rival pack’s forces they’re across our border! They are moving into the packhouse!

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking into every heart present. A moment later, chaos erupted.

Trajan shot to his feet, his chair screeching across the floor. “Piper, organize the younger werewolves, get them to safety! Warrick, secure the eastern perimeter!” His voice was sharp, slicing through the mounting panic.

Piper nodded, her jaw tight. “On it!” She grabbed Warrick by the arm. “We need everybody ready now. No excuses!

“Got it,” Warrick said, his voice even against the tension.

I didn’t move. My chest constricted as the words of Raven replayed in my head. Every fiber in my body screamed for action, but for one

brief moment, I felt the weight of responsibility.

“Luna, what are your orders?” Evelyn’s voice brought me back, her piercing gaze locking with mine.

I took a deep breath and pushed the panic down.

“We’ll stop them,” I declared, my voice cutting through the noise. Again, the room fell silent and all eyes were on me. “But we fight on our terms.”

“Do we have terms anymore?” some council member mumbled under his breath, and I ignored that.

Turning to Trajan, Evelyn stood by him, I added, “Gather the scouts who know the forest best. We’ll use the terrain to our advantage. I want choke points identified, traps set, and every possible advantage exploited.”

Trajan inclined his head. “Consider it done.”

“Evelyn,” I continued, my tone firm, “Co–ordinate the defensive lines. I need this pack ready for anything. If they reach the packhouse, they’ll regret it.”

Evelyn met my eyes, and the determination that shone in them said it all: “We’re holding the line, Luna. Count on it.”

The council members vanished to attend to their duties. I turned to Raven who’d brought the bad news. “How many did you see?”

“Too many,” he said in a cracking voice. “They’re armed and moving fast.“.

I put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “You have done well. Rest for now. We’ll take care of

this.”

Exiting the council chamber into night, the chill sliced across my face sobering and sharp. The stars above remained as distant, unconcerned spectators to the tempest raging around us.

One thought fastened me in my mind as I went to join the preparations:

I am not going to let them ruin everything we have built.