Katrina’s POV
Adolphus reached for the letter, but I snatched it from the shaman before he could open it. My pulse pounded in my ears as I unfolded the parchment, my eyes scanning the words hastily scribbled in ink.
My breath caught in my throat.
It was a letter from the Pack Doctor of the Crimson Pack, addressed to the shaman of the Indigo Pack. The message was brief but chilling:
The Alpha of the Crimson Pack has passed away suddenly. His so-called daughter, Cassandra, is set to marry Dorian, Prince of the Indigo Pack, tomorrow night.
My hands shook as I clutched the letter tighter. “No…”
Behind me, Adolphus let out a sharp exclamation of disbelief. “That can’t be.”
I turned to him, my voice barely a whisper. “Dorian is getting married… to Cassandra.”
Adolphus’s expression darkened. His fists clenched at his sides. “If that marriage happens, Dorian will solidify his power.”
The shaman nodded solemnly. “Once he is wed, his claim to the Alpha throne will be legitimate. There will be no way to challenge him, except through force.”
My mind raced. We had come so far, fought so hard, and now we were running out of time. “We need to stop this wedding,” I said, determination hardening my voice.
Adolphus nodded, his golden eyes burning with resolve. “We leave now.”
As we stepped out of the hut, the night air was thick with tension. The Indigo Pack warriors who had remained loyal to Adolphus were already assembling outside, their expressions grim yet ready for battle.
I glanced at Adolphus. “Do we have enough warriors to take them on?”
He exhaled sharply. “We don’t have a choice. We fight with what we have.”
The shaman placed a hand on my shoulder. “You have more power than you realize, Katrina.”
I nodded, gripping the ring on my finger. I wasn’t just fighting for myself anymore. I was fighting for the future of the pack, for justice, and for the truth that had been hidden for too long.
With one final glance at the moon overhead, we mounted our horses and rode into the night.