The night air was cold, the kind of cold that seeped into Aria's bones despite her thick jacket. She stood at the window long after Lucien had disappeared into the shadows, her mind a whirlpool of questions. Trusting a vampire went against everything she believed, but his warning felt too specific, too urgent to ignore.
Her instincts screamed that something was brewing—something bigger than the centuries-old feud between wolves and vampires. But how could she act on information given by the enemy without exposing herself to her pack's wrath?
By dawn, the compound was alive with movement. The wolves prepared for battle, sharpening weapons, strapping on armor, and whispering prayers to the moon goddess for victory. The scent of adrenaline and resolve hung heavy in the air. Aria moved among them, her face a mask of focus, though her heart was anything but calm.
Elias approached her as she checked her gear, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said, forcing a smirk.
He didn't smile back. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, more curtly than she intended.
Elias frowned but didn't press further. "Roderick's called for a final briefing. Let's go."
The pack gathered in the central hall, where Alpha Roderick stood at the head of the room. His commanding presence filled the space, his voice steady and unwavering as he laid out the plan.
"The vampires have been targeting the outskirts of our territory," Roderick began. "Their attacks are calculated, meant to weaken us before they strike at the heart of Raven Hollow. But tonight, we take the fight to them. We've located one of their nests on the eastern ridge. It's small but significant—if we destroy it, we'll send a message they can't ignore."
The pack murmured in agreement, their loyalty to their leader unwavering.
Aria's stomach churned. If what Lucien had said was true, this wasn't just a routine strike—it was a trap. But how could she convince Roderick to change course without revealing her source?
"Alpha," she said, stepping forward. "Are we certain this nest is unguarded?"
Roderick's eyes flicked to her, his expression sharp. "Do you doubt our intelligence, Aria?"
"No," she said quickly. "But the vampires have been unpredictable lately. What if they're leading us into a trap?"
Roderick's jaw tightened. "We've considered that possibility. But we can't afford to hesitate. Every day we wait, they grow bolder."
"But—"
"That's enough," Roderick said, his tone final. "We move as planned."
Aria bit back her frustration, retreating to the edge of the room. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into disaster.
As the pack dispersed, Elias caught up to her, his expression tense. "What was that about?"
"Nothing," she said, avoiding his gaze.
"Don't lie to me," he said, his voice low. "You're hiding something, and it's going to get you killed."
She hesitated, the weight of his words pressing against her. She wanted to tell him, to share the burden that was tearing her apart. But if she did, he might turn on her—or worse, tell Roderick.
"I'm just being cautious," she said finally.
Elias didn't look convinced, but he let it go. "Just stick close to me tonight. Whatever's going on, we'll face it together."
The words were meant to reassure her, but they only made her feel worse.
---
Night fell, and the pack moved out under the cover of darkness. The eastern ridge loomed ahead, its jagged peaks silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The air was thick with tension, every wolf on edge as they approached the vampire nest.
Aria stayed near the back of the group, her senses heightened. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of nocturnal creatures absent. It was as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.
Roderick raised a hand, signaling the pack to stop. He gestured for Elias and two other wolves to scout ahead.
Aria watched them disappear into the trees, her heart pounding. Every instinct told her to run, to warn them of the danger she couldn't fully explain.
Moments later, a blood-curdling scream shattered the silence.
The pack sprang into action, racing toward the source of the sound. Aria followed, her heart in her throat. They emerged into a clearing, where chaos had erupted.
The vampires were waiting for them.
Dozens of them, their red eyes glowing in the darkness, their fangs bared. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the snarls of wolves and vampires locked in combat.
Aria drew her blade, her training taking over as she fought her way through the fray. But even as she fought, her mind raced. This was no ordinary nest—it was an ambush, just as Lucien had warned.
She spotted Elias in the thick of the battle, his movements fluid as he took down one vampire after another. But then a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, cloaked vampire with a predatory grin.
The vampire moved toward Elias with inhuman speed, his blade flashing in the moonlight.
"Elias!" Aria screamed, lunging forward.
She tackled him just as the vampire's blade slashed through the air, the tip grazing her shoulder instead of piercing his chest. The pain was sharp, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
The vampire turned on her, his eyes narrowing. "Foolish wolf," he hissed.
Aria snarled, raising her blade, but before she could strike, a blur of silver appeared beside her.
Lucien.
He moved with deadly precision, his sword slicing through the vampire's throat in one swift motion. The vampire crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Aria stared at Lucien, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your life," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos around them.
Elias staggered to his feet, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. "Aria… who is this?"
Before she could answer, more vampires closed in, forcing them to fight side by side. The battle was a blur of blood and steel, every moment a fight for survival.
When the dust finally settled, the clearing was littered with bodies. The pack had emerged victorious, but at a heavy cost—several wolves lay dead, and many more were wounded.
Roderick approached, his face a mask of fury. "Aria. Explain. Now."
She glanced at Lucien, her mind racing. She couldn't hide the truth any longer—not from Roderick, not from Elias, and certainly not from herself.
"This is Lucien," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "And he's the only reason we're still alive."
Roderick's eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous. "You brought a vampire into our pack's territory?"
"I didn't bring him," Aria said. "He came to warn us. And he was right—this was a trap."
Roderick's gaze shifted to Lucien, his expression unreadable. "You have five seconds to convince me not to kill you where you stand."
Lucien met his gaze without flinching. "If you want to survive what's coming, you're going to need me."
The tension in the air was palpable, every wolf waiting to see what Roderick would do.
Aria held her breath, her heart pounding. Whatever happened next, there was no turning back..