The curtains broke, and morning painted the room soft gold.


    I sat upon the edge of the bed and stared down at the map across myp. The indecision of the council ate at me Aurora. firm, as always, for waiting in a peaceful way yet every instinct in me was screaming the opposite: time was not of our essence.


    The door creaked as Trajan stepped in, his expression wary. “You’re up early,” he said, crossing his arms.


    “I couldn’t sleep,” I admitted, rolling up the map. “I’ve made my decision, Trajan. I’m going to scout the disputed territory myself.”


    い


    His brows furrowed. “Without the council’s approval? Aurora won’t like this.”


    “I’m not waiting for approval anymore,” I snapped, my voice harder than I intended. “This pack needs action, not endless debate.


    Trajan sighed but nodded. “Who are you taking?”


    “Only those I trust,” I said. “You in?”


    He paused, then gave a curt nod. “Always.”


    By mid morning, I had assembled a small group: Trajan, Warrick, and three others who had sworn loyalty without the least hesitation. The air was heavy with tension as we moved toward the disputed territory, the only sound the rustle of leaves underfoot.


    It was wide, open, its edges traced inrge juts of rocks. It was easy enough to see why both packs coveted thisnd: richnd, clear rivers only a few feet underground, wood so thick knotted. it was impossible to cut across.


    Yet with every step I took deeper inside this paradise, the tighter I felt something was pulled around my intestines. “Tracks,” Warrick whispered, squatting low. “Fresh.”


    Before I could get a word out, figures appeared from behind the trees. An army wearing bronze armors, they looked battle–hardened too, they were surrounding us in an instant.


    “Who dares trespass on ournd?” one voice asked, cold and wickedly clear.


    I stepped forward, my head up. “I’m Dane, Alpha of this pack. We have a right to this territory.”


    The armyughed and ady with golden armor stepped into. view. She was damn beautiful, her curves were so different even with the leather armor she wore, her long hair flowing like a river of midnight. Her sharp eyes calcting, her lips curling into a smirk.