Chapter 309: Aurora
A loud knock shattered the early morning silence as I was getting dressed. Rowanโs urgent voice reached me.
โLuna! Open the door!โ
I swung the door open to find Rowan, his chest heaving as if heโd run the length of the packhouse. He held a crumpled paper, his face pale.
โWhat is it?โ I asked, steadying him by grasping his arm.
โItโs Orion,โ Rowan gasped. โTheyโre moving now. Itโs happening.โ
I snatched the paper and quickly read the map and scrawled notes. This was more than mere intentions; it was a clear plan to breach our borders by sunrise.
โCall the council,โ I snapped. โGet them ready. Weโll deal with this now.โ
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Thick air filled the council room. All eyes turned to me, standing at the head of the table, the weight of leadership heavy on my shoulders.
โOrionโs forces are mobilizing,โ I announced, meeting each gaze. โWe donโt have time to waste. If we donโt act now, theyโll breach our borders before dawn.โ
Trajan spoke first, his voice measured. โWe should intercept them, laying traps along their main routes. We know this terrain better than they do.โ Evelyn leaned forward, her eyes ablaze.
โWhy not strike first? Hit them hard before they regroup.โ
โBecause they outnumber us,โ I said firmly. โA head-on attack would be a massacre.โ
Warrick folded his arms, his tone disbelieving. โAnd waiting for them to strike is any better?โ
I didnโt flinch. โWe donโt wait; we prepare. Trajan will oversee the traps. Piper and Warrick, youโll guard the packhouse and keep our people safe. Nobody gets left alone.โ
The air remained thick.
โSurviving isnโt about pride,โ I said softly. โItโs about being smarter, not just stronger.โ
The door creaked open, and Dane entered.
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His presence commanded attention, even in his weakened state. โAnd whatโs survival without strength?โ
The room fell silent.
โDane,โ I said, barely concealing my shock. โWhere did you go? You should be resting.โ
โAnd you shouldnโt be making decisions without me,โ he replied, irritation lacing his voice.
โWe canโt take them directly; weโre too weak,โ I replied.
โWe have to stage it, somehow, force their backs against a wall where itโs in our favor,โ he said, his eyes squinting.
โAnd if they call your bluff? We canโt always run, Aurora, and the time has come to show them we will not be intimidated.โ
โThis isnโt about fear!โ My voice cracked under the emotional strain.
โIt does mean the protection of the pack,โ Trajan interjected, his voice level but firm. โDane, what Aurora is saying makes sense. Orionโs forces are too great for a direct attack. If we play this smart, we can weaken them without risking everything.โ
Daneโs jaw clenched, but he said nothing more. His silence spoke volumes.
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By the time the meeting concluded, I was pacing the packhouse perimeter; the cool morning air did nothing to quell the storm in my mind.
Dane fell into step beside me, his footsteps unhurried.
โYouโre taking a big risk,โ he said quietly.
โEverything about this is a risk,โ I replied, avoiding his gaze. โThis way, we can win without losing everything.โ
โAnd what if youโre wrong?โ
I turned to him, โAt least Iโll know I gave everything to protect this pack. Protect you.โ
He offered a fleeting smile. For a moment, the burden lightened.
Without a word, Raven raced forward, face white and heaving. โLuna,โ he choked out, thrusting a paper forward. โA message from Orion.โ
I unfolded it, my eyes falling upon the bold strokes: โYour move, Luna. Letโs see if you are as strong as you claim.โ
I handed him the paper, it trembling in my still-clenched fist.
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His face darkened; his hands trembled with contained wrath.
โHeโs playing games,โ Dane breathed quietly.
โThis is not a game,โ I countered sharply.
He met my gaze, frustration bubbling to the surface. โThen stop treating it like one. Fight him. End this.โ
โI will,โ I said, my voice steady. โBut Iโll do it my way.โ
Raven shifted, his gaze darting away. โThereโs more, Luna. Orionโs forces are closing in on the border. Theyโre baiting us.โ
Daneโs eyes flashed with anger. โAnd youโre still considering playing his game?โ
I turned to him, undeterred. โIt is not a game, Dane. Itโs strategy.โ
The tension hung heavy as the scout watched nervously. Finally, Dane exhaled, his shoulders slumping in reluctant acceptance.
โFine,โ he said. โBut donโt wait too long. He wonโt.โ
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I clutched the paper tightly as the sun rose, casting its light over the packhouse.
โYour move also, Orion,โ I whispered. โLetโs see if youโre as strong as you claim to be.โ