Lex stood there, and his confusion deepened as he struggled to grasp the situation.
Bryan's words tumbled out in a frantic pace, "I've been running from them all day, I was heading here but had to change course, so I wouldn't lead them right here." Bryan told Arianna whose eyes widened in alarm as she absorbed the gravity of the situation.
"Sound the alarm, we need to evacuate now! They'll surely call for reinforcements," Bryan urged, his tone hinting at an ominous feeling.
Without hesitation, Arianna sprinted off to mobilise the guards. The once-peaceful coven erupted into chaos as the news spread like wildfire. Lex watched in awe as the guards scrambled to respond, their footsteps echoing through the compound. The air was electric with tension, the atmosphere thick with fear.
Turning to Bryan , Lex demanded answers. "What's going on, Bryan?"
Bryan 's sigh was heavy with worry. "Those hunters who've been chasing you? They're the Venators, and they've been on my pack's tail for months. We need to get out of Stardom, now, before this place becomes a battleground." He explained to Lex who nodded in understanding.
As if on cue, the pack assembled with military precision, their faces set with determination. Bryan sought out Arianna - she used to be his mother's trusted beta and former maid. "Is everyone accounted for? The humans too?" he asked, his voice firm but laced with concern.
Arianna nodded with a resolute expression, "Yes, everyone is ready to move. We won't leave anyone behind."
Bryan nodded as he stood tall, his eyes scanning the crowd of werewolves before him.
Lex stood there and watched with interest, he had overheard the conversation between Bryan and Arianna. Were there truly ordinary humans among their pack? He wondered.
The hunters have found us," Bryan declared, his voice carrying across the clearing. "They'll be raiding this place soon. We must leave now and find a new sanctuary."
The pack erupted into a chorus of agreements, their voices echoing through the trees. But one werewolf, a young woman with a curious expression, stepped forward. "How will we all escape without being noticed?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
Bryan's smile grew, "Don't worry, I have all that under control. We are going to leave the same way we came." he said with confidence.
Cheerful screams erupted as everyone began to disperse.
As they got out into the woods, Lex's eyes widened in surprise. Before him lay a veritable armada of vehicles: three massive trucks, a semi-large truck that resembled an ammo tank, and two sleek black Sedans. His mouth agape, he turned to Bryan, who stood beside him with a self-satisfied smirk.
"Where in the world did you acquire all of these?" Lex asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Bryan's grin only grew, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's just say I have my ways," he replied, his voice low.
As the pack began to load into the vehicles, Lex couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer scale of their operation. Who was Bryan, really?
Lex and Bryan got into one of the Sedans, with Bryan taking the wheel. He revved the car engine to life and took the lead, the other vehicles trailing after him.
As they drove off, Lex turned to Bryan and asked, "I overheard your discussion with Arianna, and you mentioned something about humans. Are there humans in the pack as well?"
Bryan nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Yeah, that's right. The Moon Pack is a large and diverse one. We've got a mix of born werewolves and...others."
Lex's interest was piqued. "Others?"
Bryan hesitated, his grip on the wheel tightening. "Most of our pack members were turned, not born. We've lost a lot of good people in the attack – over two-thirds of our pack, to be exact."
Lex's eyes widened in shock. "That's...devastating."
Bryan's expression turned sombre. "It was a dark time. But we've rebuilt, and our pack is stronger because of it. As for the humans...well, they're an integral part of our pack now. They're raised among us, and when the time is right, they're turned."
Lex nodded, realisation dawned on him. "So, the pack is more than just werewolves. It's a community."
Bryan's gaze flicked towards him, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Exactly. And that's what makes us strong."
As they drove down the winding forest road, the trees seemed to close in around them, casting deep shadows that stretched and twisted in the fading light. Lex gazed out the window, the dense woods a blur, when suddenly—
A deafening explosion rocked the convoy, sending vehicles careening off the road. The semi-truck, which looked like an ammo tank, took a direct hit, its armour plating withstanding the blast. But the trucks and the second sedan weren't so lucky. They were riddled with bullets, their tires blown out.
"Get down!" Bryan yelled, as bullets whizzed past the windows of their sedan, shattering the glass into a thousand pieces.
Lex ducked, his heart racing, as Bryan floored it, speeding down a narrow dirt, as he expertly manoeuvred the vehicle to avoid a massive oak tree.
But it was too late. A rocket-propelled grenade slammed into the sedan's rear, sending it spinning out of control.
The world became a blur as the vehicle crashed through the underbrush, coming to a stop in a cloud of dust and debris. Lex's ears rang from the explosions, his head spinning. He stumbled out of the wreckage, taking in the chaos around him.
Pack members were scattered, some returning fire from behind the Ammo Tank, others tending to the wounded. Arianna sprinted towards them, her eyes blazing with fury.
"We've been ambushed!" she shouted above the din.
Bryan didn't hesitate, grabbing Lex's arm and pulling him deeper into the woods. "Stay close!" he yelled, as they dove behind a nearby thicket.
The air was thick with the stench of smoke, fuel, and blood. The sound of gunfire and explosions continued to echo through the forest, the pack fighting for their lives.