Rylan’s eyes narrowed as he locked onto one of the warriors of the Grimrose pack, a scarred silver wolf. With a snarl, he lunged, his powerful legs propelling him forward. The two wolves collided with a crash, their teeth snapping and claws raking. Rylan’s sheer strength and fury overwhelmed the Grimrose leader, and with a final, brutal bite, he ended the fight.
The remaining Grimrose wolves, seeing their leader fall, began to retreat. Rylan let out another howl, this time a victory cry. The Darkwood wolves took up the call, chasing the invaders from their territory. The battle was won, but it had come at a great cost.
As the pack began to celebrate their hard-fought victory, Rylan shifted back to his human form, his chest heaving with exertion.
Meanwhile, as the pack outside cheered their victory, Alara was left inside the pack house, mourning the loss of her son. While Rylan was out there, celebrating, her tears were falling nonstop. The Alpha didn't even look for them, he didn't even ask anyone where his family was—his son, his Luna.
He simply... didn't care.
The celebration of victory rang hollow in her ears, overshadowed by grief.
As Darkwood Pack celebrated their hard-fought victory, cheers, and laughter filling the air, I felt like an outsider in my home. The sounds of their joy were a cruel contrast to the heavy weight of grief that pressed down on my heart. I couldn’t bear to be there, amidst their revelry, while my son lay cold and lifeless.
Without hesitation, I made my decision. I needed answers, a sliver of hope—anything to save Aiden. While the others were busy celebrating with Rylan, I slipped away. Shifting into my wolf form, a sleek silver with piercing blue eyes, I gently placed Aiden’s body on my back. His frame felt unbearably light.
I moved swiftly through the forest, my paws barely making a sound on the forest floor. The journey to the neighboring town was a blur of trees and shadows. My mind focused solely on reaching the witch healer. Every step was a desperate plea, a prayer that there might still be a chance to bring Aiden back.
Arriving at the witch’s cottage, I shifted back to my human form, cradling Aiden in my arms as I knocked frantically on the door. An elderly woman with wise eyes opened it, her expression softening as she took in the sight before her.
“Please,” I begged, my voice trembling. “My son… I need your help.”