The mountain stronghold was alive with activity, warriors moving swiftly to prepare for the trek back to Crimson Fang. Tension crackled in the air as Isla paced the main hall, her silver eyes darting toward the entrance with every passing second. Draven stood nearby, his broad frame radiating restrained energy as he sharpened his blade, his amber eyes glinting with worry.
The heavy doors creaked open, and Alaric entered in a rush, his golden eyes blazing with urgency. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by grim determination.
“Scouts just returned,” Alaric announced, his voice cutting through the bustling noise. “Malrik’s forces are advancing on Crimson Fang faster than we anticipated.”
Isla’s breath caught in her chest. “How long do we have?”
“Days at most,” Alaric said, his tone clipped. “And it gets worse. He’s not just targeting the pack—he’s aiming to kill the young wolves. He wants to wipe out the next generation while we’re gone.”
A shocked murmur rippled through the room. Draven stood abruptly, his blade forgotten as his hands clenched into fists. “That coward,” he growled, his voice low and furious. “He’s too weak to face warriors, so he preys on pups?”
Eira stepped forward, her silver hair gleaming like cold fire. “If he thinks we’ll let him slaughter innocents, he’s a bigger fool than I thought.”
Kaelen’s face darkened, his golden eyes narrowing. “There’s no room for delay. We leave now and intercept him before he reaches the pack.”
Isla turned to Draven, her voice trembling but resolute. “We have to go back. We can’t let him touch them.”
Draven placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his gaze fierce but filled with reassurance. “We will stop him.”
As the warriors began assembling, the room buzzed with swift coordination. Eira took command of the vanguard, her sharp voice directing the wolves into formations. “No one breaks rank,” she said firmly. “Malrik thrives on chaos. We’ll give him none.”
Kaelen stood near Isla, his expression unreadable. “We’ll bring everything we have, Isla,” he said. “Malrik will regret threatening my daughter.”
The urgency in the room spurred everyone into action. Isla’s heart pounded as she gripped Draven’s arm. “What if we’re too late?”
“We won’t be,” Draven said, his voice low but unwavering. “We’ll protect everything you’ve built. I swear it.”
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