Trajan stepped closer, his voice low and deliberate. “The rival pack’s wolves have breached our borders. Scouts spotted them less than a mile from here.”


    My stomach turned. “How many?


    “Too many forfort,” Trajan replied. “They’re testing our defenses, Aurora. This isn’t a full–blown attack yet. But they’re waiting for something.”


    “Waiting for me to break,” I muttered under my breath, to nobody in particr.


    Dane’s voice, though low and strained, managed to override tension. “Don’t let them. You. you can’t give them that


    satisfaction.”


    I turned to him, still straddling a painful line between despair and determination. “Dane, I just can’t lose you, “I whispered through a cracked voice.


    “You won’t,” he managed, his effort draining the color from


    him.


    Trajan cleared his throat, the urgency in his voice slicing through the moment. “Aurora, we need to act now. If they’re this close, we don’t have much time to decide our next move.”


    I nodded, hardening my jaw. “We won’t let them win,” I said firmly, turning to Trajan. “Rally the council. We need to prepare for whatever’sing.”


    As Trajan left, Dane’s eyes found andtched onto mine. “Aurora. promise me something.”


    “What?” I whispered.


    “Promise me you won’t lose yourself in this fight,” he whispered back.


    Tears spilled over as I leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead.


    “I promise,” I whispered, really not buying that one bit.


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