Chapter 28 THE EDGE OF WAR

Chapter 28 THE EDGE OF WAR
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The forest became a battlefield. Snarls ripped through the darkness as wolves crashed violently between the trees, claws tearing into dirt and bark alike. Anna stumbled backward just as two rogues collided beside her, one of Blood Moon’s warriors slamming the other into a pine hard enough to crack wood.

Tyler dropped to his knees coughing violently, blood streaking down his throat.

“Tyler!” Steve barked, fighting off another rogue before shoving his way toward him.

Chris had fully shifted. Anna’s breath caught every time she saw it.

His wolf towered over the others, enormous and silver-black skin gleamed beneath the moonlight, eyes glowing molten gold with pure Alpha fury. The sheer force radiating from him shook the clearing as he tore through Draven’s rogues with terrifying precision.

A rogue lunged toward Anna from the shadows. Before she could react, Chris’s wolf slammed into him midair with a snarl so violent it echoed through the mountains. The rogue hit the ground hard and didn’t get back up.

Chris immediately turned toward Anna afterward, checking her.

Even in the middle of battle, the mate bond pulsed hard with protectiveness. I’m okay, she pushed through the bond instinctively.

His wolf stared at her for one brief second before charging back into the fight. Anna’s pulse thundered painfully.

Another howl echoed through the forest. The remaining rogues retreated almost at once, disappearing into the darkness with unnatural coordination.

The battle ended as abruptly as it began.

Chris shifted back quickly, breathing hard as he scanned the tree line furiously.

“Cowards,” one warrior spat.

“No they're not,” Steve muttered darkly beside Tyler.

That word settled heavily across the clearing. Draven’s rogues didn’t fight like scattered savages. They fought like trained soldiers.

Chris helped Tyler to his feet roughly. “Can you walk?”

Tyler winced but nodded. “Yeah.”

Blood covered the younger wolf’s face, guilt written plainly across his expression.

“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “I should’ve listened.”

Chris’s jaw tightened. “What happened?”

Tyler swallowed hard before answering. “They ambushed us near the ridge. Draven knew exactly where we’d patrol.” His eyes darkened angrily. “There’s definitely someone feeding him information.”

Anna looked toward the dark woods uneasily. She could still feel Draven somehow. Like a stain lingering in the forest.

“What did he want with you?” she asked Tyler softly.

Tyler hesitated.

Then quietly admitted, “He kept asking questions about the pack.”

Chris stilled instantly. “What kind of questions?”

“About you. About patrol shifts. About the Luna.” Tyler glanced toward Anna nervously. “But mostly… he wanted to know if people trusted you.”

A dangerous silence followed because that answer mattered. Draven wasn’t just studying their territory anymore. He was studying their weaknesses, their divisions.

Steve rubbed exhaustion from his face. “We need to get back.”

No one argued. The return to Blood Moon territory felt heavier than before. Nobody celebrated surviving the ambush. Fear clung to the patrol like smoke.

By the time they reached camp, several anxious pack members rushed toward them searching desperately for loved ones. Relief spread quickly once they realized Tyler was alive.

But Anna noticed something else too. People were staring at Chris differently now.

Not with less loyalty but expectation.

As if they were waiting for him to finally become something harder. More ruthless. The realization unsettled her deeply.

Inside the council hall later that night, tension stretched across the room like a live wire.

Chris stood at the center table reviewing maps while Steve paced nearby.

“We can’t keep reacting,” Steve said sharply. “Draven’s controlling every move we make.”

“He wants us emotional,” Chris replied.

“... and He’s succeeding.”

Anna sat quietly near the fire listening while healers worked on Tyler’s injuries nearby. The younger wolf looked shaken in a way she hadn’t seen before.

Good, she thought bitterly. Now he understood what kind of monster they were facing.

“We should move the children south temporarily,” one elder suggested carefully.

Another immediately disagreed. “That would spread panic.”

“People are already panicking.”

Voices rose quickly afterward, arguments and accusations spread across the hall.

Anna pressed fingers against her temple as emotions crashed violently through the Luna bond again.

Suddenly, Chris slammed one hand against the council table.

The room fell silent instantly.

“We are not tearing ourselves apart before Draven even reaches our gates,” he said sharply.

No one dared interrupt. Chris took a slow breath before continuing more calmly.

“Tomorrow we strengthen border defenses and reorganize patrols. Nobody travels alone. Nobody acts without authorization.”

“And if Draven attacks again?” Tyler asked quietly from across the room.

Chris’s expression hardened. “Then we end this.”

The certainty in his voice sent chills through Anna, she believed him.

Chris was preparing himself mentally now. He was preparing to kill.

The meeting finally ended near midnight. One by one, wolves filtered quietly from the council hall until only Anna and Chris remained.

The exhaustion on his face hurt to look at.

“Chris… you need rest,” she said softly, placing her palm on his back leaning in closer to him.

Chris gave a humorless laugh. “I need about ten different miracles.”

Anna stood and crossed toward him slowly. “You saved Tyler tonight.”

“I almost got everyone trapped.”

“But you didn’t.”

Chris stared down at the maps bitterly. “Draven keeps staying three steps ahead of me.”

Anna touched his hand gently. The moment their skin met, tension eased slightly between them.

Chris closed his eyes briefly at the contact.

“You calm me down too easily,” he murmured tiredly.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

His lips twitched faintly. “It’s dangerous.”

Anna frowned. “Why?”

“Because if anything ever happened to you…” He opened his eyes slowly. “I don’t think I’d survive it.”

Her chest tightened painfully. “Chris…”

“I mean it.”

The raw honesty in his voice stole her breath. She stepped into him immediately, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Chris held her just as fiercely.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The fire crackled softly nearby while rain began tapping against the roof again.

Then quietly, Anna whispered against h
is chest:

“We’re going to survive this.”

Chris rested his chin against her hair nut he didn’t answer right away. That silence frightened her most of all