Chapter 76

Olivia's Point of View

The cafeteria hums with its usual morning rhythm, chatter, the scrape of trays, the clatter of dishes, the sharp hiss of the coffee machine. Sunlight filters through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across the tables. The smell of toast, eggs, and syrup hangs heavy in the air.

I sit with Liana, Ripley, Pacey, and Ian at our usual table near the back. Ripley is talking about the next training schedule, gesturing with his fork, while Liana teases Pacey about how he nearly tripped during combat drills yesterday. It is a normal morning, almost too normal after everything that has happened lately.

But as I sip my coffee, something nags at me. I glance towards the cafeteria doors, expecting to see Kael stride in with his easy grin and messy hair. He is usually early, always one of the first to arrive, but today… nothing.

“Has anyone seen Kael this morning?” I ask, setting my cup down.

Four pairs of eyes glance up from their food. Ripley shakes his head. “No, not since last night,” he says. “Maybe he just overslept?”

Pacey snorts. “Kael? The guy is usually up before dawn every day. He makes the rest of us look lazy.”

Liana hums softly, her expression thoughtful. “Maybe he went to talk to someone? A call from home, maybe?”

I nod my head slowly, but the unease coils tighter in my chest. Something feels off. I cannot say why, just a prickling along my skin that tells me something is not right.

Before I can say anything else, the cafeteria doors swing open.

Kael steps in.

The conversation at our table dies instantly. He looks… wrecked. His hair is a tangled mess, his clothes wrinkled and thrown on like he did not care what he grabbed. His usually sharp, confident posture is gone, he moves stiffly, like every step takes effort. His eyes are shadowed, red rimmed, and his jaw is tight as he makes his way towards us.

No one says a word as he approaches. The noise of the cafeteria fades to a distant hum.

He stops beside our table, his gaze flicking to each of us. For a second, his throat works like he is struggling to speak. Then, in a rough, hollow voice, he manages,

“Stonehowl.”

The single word drops heavy between us. My breath catches.

He swallows, his shoulders trembling slightly, and then forces out the rest. “My home pack, Stonehowl, was attacked last night.”

Silence. All around us, laughter and chatter continue, oblivious. But at our table, everything stills.

I can feel my pulse hammering in my chest. Liana’s hand flies to her mouth. Ripley straightens, his expression hardening as his eyes search Kael’s face for more information.

Kael does not elaborate. He just stands there, haunted, raw, lost in a way I have never seen him before.

The air feels heavier now, thick with dread.

And for the first time since Stormfang, I realize, whatever this is, it is not over. Not even close.

Kael’s words still echo in my mind, heavy and unreal. 'Stonehowl was attacked last night.'

He looks like he has not slept, his eyes are dull and red, his face pale, his lips pressed tight like he is barely holding himself together. My heart twists at the sight. Without thinking, I slide off my chair.

“Sit,” I tell him softly, guiding him towards my spot. He hesitates for a second before sinking down, his elbows resting on his knees, his head hanging low. He looks like the weight of the world just landed on his shoulders.

Liana gets to her feet, worry etched across her face. “I will get him something to drink,” she says quietly, already turning towards the drink station.

Ripley leans forward, his expression serious, his voice calm but low. “How bad was it?”

Kael’s jaw works as he stares at the table. For a moment, he does not answer, he just breathes, slow, and shaky. When he finally speaks, his voice is rough and uneven.

“They burned down a few buildings,” he says. “The training hall, a couple of homes near the east border. We lost some pack members…” His voice catches, and he looks away, blinking hard. “But most survived. The warriors got there in time to drive them off.”

A heavy silence settles over us. Even Pacey, usually the first to break tension with a joke, says nothing. Ian sits frozen, his food forgotten.

I can feel my pulse thudding in my chest. Images flash through my mind, smoke, flames, chaos. The memory of the attack on Stormfang feels suddenly too close, too recent.

Liana returns with a bottle of water and presses it into Kael’s hand. He murmurs a quiet thanks before taking a sip.

I take a deep breath, trying to think past the dread curling in my stomach. “We should go,” I say finally. “To Stonehowl. See if there is anything we can do to help.”

Kael lifts his head slightly, his eyes widening in surprise. Ripley’s gaze flicks to mine, thoughtful, but after a moment he nods his head in agreement.

“She is right,” he says firmly. “If Nightvein’s behind this again, we need to know. And Kael’s pack could probably use extra hands.”

Pacey nods his head. “I am in. No way we are letting another pack face this alone.”

“Same here,” Ian adds quietly.

Liana gives a small, determined smile. “Let’s pack and get on the road.”

Kael’s throat bobs as he swallows hard. “You don’t have to...”

“Yes, we do,” I interrupt gently. “You are not facing this alone, Kael.”

He looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the gratitude there, the flicker of relief in his exhausted eyes.

“Thank you,” he murmurs.

Ripley straightens, already shifting into leader mode. “Alright. Everyone grab what you need. We leave within the hour.”

As we all stand, the decision solidified between us, a quiet urgency fills the air.

I glance towards the window where sunlight still pours through, but it feels dimmer now, like the world outside has darkened again.

Stonehowl was attacked.

And we are going straight into the aftermath.