LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S / KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
Eden's eyes widen in awe as he reaches out to grasp the scepter. It's far too large for his small hands, but he holds it reverently.
"I will, Daddy," he says, his voice trembling slightly.
With no extra word, Jason turns and disappears down the corridor. Eden begins then to clutch the golden scepter to his chest, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination. I thus place a comforting hand on his shoulder, my heart aching at the weight of responsibility now resting on him.
"Come," I thereafter say softly, gently urging the future ruler of the South pack forward.
"We must hurry." I stress out.
Tina leads us through a maze of hidden passageways, the stone walls pressing in around us as we descend deeper into the bowels of the palace. The distant sounds of battle - howls, roars, and the clash of steel - echo faintly through the tunnels, sending a chill down my spine.
Finally, we emerge into the cool night air near the lake's edge. The moon hangs low and heavy in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the water's surface.
In the distance, I can perceive
In the distance, I can perceive the glow of fires and hear the faint sounds of battle from the direction of the palace. My heart clenches with worry for Jason and our pack, but I force myself to focus on the task at hand.
Tina quickly locates the hidden canoe and helps us load our meager supplies. As we prepare to push off from shore, she hesitates.
"My Luna," she says softly, "I should stay behind. The pack will need every able body to defend against the attack."
I nod, understanding her loyalty. "Be safe, Tina. And thank you for everything."
With a final bow, Tina disappears back into the shadows of the forest. I turn to Eden, who sits clutching the golden scepter, his small face pale in the moonlight.
"Ready, sweetheart?" I ask gently.
Eden nods bravely, though I can see the fear in his eyes. "Ready, Mommy," he says softly.
I push the canoe into the water and climb in carefully, making sure Eden is secure. As I begin to paddle, the sounds of battle grow fainter behind us. Eden's eyes are fixed on the shrinking shoreline, his knuckles white as he grips the scepter.
"Daddy will be okay, won't he?" he asks, his voice small and worried.
My heart aches at the uncertainty in his tone. I want to reassure him, to promise that everything will be fine, but I can't bring myself to lie.
"Your father is very strong and very brave," I say instead. "He'll do everything he can to protect our pack and come back to us."
Eden nods, seeming to accept this. We fall into silence as I continue to paddle.
We glide across the dark waters and I can't help but reflect on the tumultuous events that have led us to this moment. Just days ago, I was Doctor Lorry Springstone, living a quiet life in England. Now, I'm Kelly Thompson once again, fleeing for my life with the son I thought I'd lost forever.
The weight of the past six years hangs heavy between us. There's so much I want to say to Eden, so many explanations I owe him. But now is not the time. We need to focus on getting to safety.
As we near the far shore, a sudden movement in the water catches my eye. Something large is swimming towards us, leaving a V-shaped wake in the moonlit surface. My heart races as I realize it's far too big to be a fish.
"Eden," I whisper urgently, "stay very still."
The young prince nods, his eyes wide with fear as he spots the approaching shape in the water. I grip the paddle tightly, ready to defend us if necessary.
As the creature draws closer, I realize with a jolt of surprise that it's a wolf - a massive, silver-furred wolf cutting through the water with powerful strokes. For a moment, I tense, fearing it's one of the North Pack warriors who has spotted us. But then the wolf's familiar golden eyes meet mine, and relief washes over me.
"Jason," I breathe, hardly daring to believe it.
The wolf reaches our canoe and shifts mid-stroke, Jason's human form emerging from the water. He grasps the side of the boat, his eyes intense as he looks at us.
"Kelly, Eden," he says urgently. "Thank the Moon Goddess I caught up with you."
"Daddy!" Eden cries out, reaching for Jason with his free hand while still clutching the golden scepter.
Jason pulls himself into the canoe, water streaming from his body. He embraces Eden tightly, then turns to me with an intense gaze.
"The situation at the palace is worse than we feared," he says grimly. "Betty has aligned herself with a powerful dark witch. They're using magic to bolster the North Pack's forces. Our defenses are crumbling."
My heart sinks at his words. "What can we do?" I ask, dreading the answer.
Jason's jaw clenches. "We need to get Eden to safety. He's the future of our pack. But there's something else..." He hesitates, his eyes darting between Eden and me.
"What is it?" I prompt, sensing his unease.
"The witch Betty is working with - she's targeting Eden specifically," Jason says gravely. "She wants to use him in some kind of dark ritual to increase her power. That's why I had to come with you. We need to get him as far away as possible."
My blood runs cold at his words. I instinctively pull Eden closer, as if I could shield him from this new threat with my body alone.
"But what about our pack?" I ask, torn between our duty to our people and the need to protect our son.
Jason's face is a mask of anguish. "I've left my beta in charge of the defense. But Kelly... I fear the South Pack may fall tonight. Our only hope now is to keep Eden safe and eventually reclaim our land."
Eden looks up at us, his young face pale with fear but set with determination. "I won't let them take me," he says firmly.