The sky above the Midnight Pack's territory was coloured red by the sunrise in the morning. Even so, the beauty didn't help ease the unease that was still there in the pack. Elara stood near the training grounds and watched the warriors fight and work on their skills. Even though it made her feel like she wasn't ready, she couldn't help but admire how disciplined they were.
Elara had always been able to stay alive by using her brains instead of her strength. But now that she was in danger from Kieran Nightstorm, her flaws were very clear.
"Thinking too much?" Sylas's voice woke her up from her dream.
She turned around and saw the beta coming up behind her. His usual smirk made his rough features look softer.
"I'm just watching," Elara said.
Sylas leaned against a nearby post and looked at her with his sharp eyes. "You're no longer just a bystander." You need to be ready for what's coming if you believe this prophecy.
Elara made a face. "And how do you think I should get ready?" Sylas, I'm not a warrior. "I'm not as strong or skilled as these wolves."
Sylas tilted his head and looked at her with a sly grin. "Being strong isn't just having muscles." You need to have the will, the plan, and the timing to win. "A little sparring wouldn't hurt, though," he said, pointing to the training grounds.
Elara wasn't sure what to do, but Sylas had already called one of the younger wolves over. Hey Damon, come here.
A long, eager wolf came up to me, and his excitement was clear.
"Elara, meet Daron." "With a smile, you'll help her get going," Sylas said.
"What?" Elara yelled, and her voice got a little higher.
Sylas gave a shrug. "There's no better way to learn than to do."
Damon was calm and persistent. Elara was shocked and quickly found herself on the ground, gasping for air. The young wolf moved quickly and accurately, but he held back enough that he didn't really hurt her.
Damon put out his hand and said, "You're too tense."
Elara moaned as she got up. "That's simple for you to say." "You were made for this."
"And you were made to survive," Sylas said as he watched from the sidelines. "Make do with what you have. Smarts, speed, and instincts. You only need to be smart when you fight.
Elara wiped her forehead with her hand and said "yes." She wasn't going to let them think she couldn't do it. She couldn't be a burden if she was going to be important to this plot.
At the same time, Ronan stood in the packhouse war room and looked at a map of their territory. Scouts had reported broken branches, the smell of intruders, and ash traces in certain areas, which were marked.
Ronan spoke to the group of warriors, "His scouts are testing us."
A grizzled wolf named Thorne, one of the elders, gave a serious nod. "Kieran has always been smart." He wants to find your weaknesses.
Ronan said, "Then we don't give him any." Make twice as many patrols. Make sure the borders are safe. Please bring anyone you find who is crossing into our land to me.
Ronan thought about Elara again as the warriors spread out. She was a wild card because she was not from the group and had ties to the enemy. Still, there was something about her that made him want to protect her, and he couldn't fight it.
In the late afternoon, Elara sat by the lake by herself. Her body hurt from training all day. The moonlight was reflected in the water, giving the land a silvery glow.
"You are having too much fun."
When she turned around, she saw Ronan coming towards her. Even though it was dark, his presence was strong.
Elara said in a low voice, "I don't have a choice." "I need to get stronger if I want to make it through this."
Ronan said in a steady voice, "You're stronger than you think."
When Elara looked at him, her amber eyes were full of doubt. "How are you sure?" "You don't really know me."
Ronan sat next to her and had just the tiniest smile on his face. "I know enough." You've come a long way in just a few days. Elara, you're not a warrior, but you have the heart of one. That's enough sometimes.
His words gave her a little hope, but she still had doubts. "Are you sure we can stop him?" Kevin is stronger than all of us. "He's cruel."
Ronan's face got darker. "Being strong isn't everything." Kieran will fail because he is too proud. He won't be able to break us as long as we stand together.
He told Elara something that made her afraid, which made it hard for her to believe him. "What if we can't just stand there together?"
Ronan turned his whole body around to face her, his blue eyes shining with determination. "Then we'll fight until the end." Elara, I promise that nothing bad will happen to you.
It seemed like his words, a promise, could be heard across the calm water. Elara felt a little safer for the first time, but she knew they still had a long way to go.
Someone knelt in front of the alpha in the dark halls of Kieran Nightstorm's fortress, which was not part of the Midnight Pack's territory.
The person said, "She's still with them."
Kieran's lips turned into a scary smile. "All right. Make her feel safe. We'll strike when the time is right.
His laughter could be heard throughout the room, a chilling reminder of the storm that was coming.