Chapter 28 Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Sabrina's POV

I didn't think about Garrick's words anymore. I had more important things to do. Kael gave me this task. I couldn't screw it up.

I walked quickly back to the cabin. Abigail was still sleeping. Little face buried in the pillow. I gently kissed her forehead. "Mommy's going out for a bit, baby." She hummed. Turned over. Kept sleeping.

I tucked her blanket in. Then went to find Teresa. She was in the cafeteria. Packing supplies.

"Sabrina!" She saw me. "We're ready."

"Who's coming with us?"

"Carl. John. And two new warriors."

"Enough."

We carried the supplies. Walked toward the wall. Carl and John were already there waiting.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready."

We opened the small gate. Walked out.

The refugees outside the wall saw us. First stunned. Then. Erupted.

"They're here!" "There's food!" "Thank God!"

Children cheered. Women cried. Men stood up. The crowd surged toward us.

"Back off!" Carl shouted. "Line up!"

The red-haired leader raised his hand. "Stop!" He shouted something in their language. The crowd stopped.

He walked toward me. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," I said. "I'm Sabrina."

"I'm Leo." He reached out his hand. I shook it. His hand was rough. Strong. But the way he shook hands... was particular. Not the direct show of strength like werewolves. But just the right amount of measure.

"I have good news," I said. Everyone looked at me. "The camp has decided to accept you."

The crowd erupted again. Cheering. Crying. Hugging. But I raised my hand. "However."

They quieted down.

"You'll have to stay outside the walls for now," I said. "Until you pass evaluation. We'll provide food. Water. Medical care. But you can't enter the walls. Understand?"

Something flashed in Leo's eyes. That expression was quick. So quick I almost thought it was an illusion. Dissatisfaction? Disappointment? Or... calculation?

He turned to his people. Said loudly: "The camp accepted us! Thank them for their mercy!"

"Thank you!" the crowd shouted in unison. "Thank you!"

I nodded. "Start distributing supplies."

Teresa and Carl started handing out bread, water, blankets. The rest stood guard.

Leo and I worked side by side. Setting up a large tent.

"Leo," I said. "Why did you come here?"

"We're migrating south," he said. Voice natural. Smooth. Like rehearsed. "The north... isn't safe anymore."

"Why?"

"Economy's getting worse," Leo said. "More and more humans invading our territory. Our traditional lands are disappearing." He paused. "And... relations between packs are getting tense too."

"Tense?"

"Yeah." Leo hammered a stake into the ground. "Resources are decreasing. But packs competing for resources are increasing. Many small packs in the north are migrating south."

"How many?"

"A lot," he said. "New refugee waves every month. Foxes. Bears. Deer. Even some wolf pack branches."

"That many?"

"The north is unlivable now," Leo said. "Tribal wars... almost out of control."

My hand stopped. "Tribal wars?"

"Yes." Leo's voice grew heavy. "Big packs fighting for territory. Small packs fighting to survive. No rules anymore. Only survival of the fittest."

He looked at me. Eyes very sincere. "That's why we had to run. We didn't want to get caught up in it."

Just then. I heard voices. Whispers. Not far away. Two men talking. My hearing was sharp now.

"...Stillwater Pack is recruiting mercenaries..." "...high pay..." "...the northern war is a chance to make money..."

My hand stopped. Stillwater Pack. Derek's Pack.

I turned to Leo. He was still hammering stakes. Expression focused. Like he heard nothing.

"Leo," I asked directly. "Are you really only migrating because of economic problems?"

He froze. Looked up. "What do you mean?"

"Tribal wars," I said. "What role did your pack play in them?"

Leo's face changed. He put down the hammer. Silent for a few seconds.

"I..." He sighed. "Okay. You're right."

He sat down. Looked at the ground. "Our pack was indeed caught up in the war. Our traditional business... was doing gambling with human territory. Casinos. Underground boxing. Those gray area things."

"And then?"

"Then Stillwater Pack and Ashland Pack... they took an interest in those businesses," Leo said. "They cut off our channels. Occupied our territory." His voice grew angry. "They plundered many of our people. Forced them to work for them."

"So you ran?"

"We had to run," Leo said. "Staying meant death."

I stared at him. His expression was pained. Real.

But... something was off.

He spoke too smoothly. Too complete. Like... like a prepared story.

"You weren't deliberately hiding this, were you?" I asked.

"No." Leo looked at me. Eyes very sincere. "I just... I know your camp is enemies with those two Packs. I was afraid you wouldn't accept us because of this. Afraid you'd think we'd bring trouble."

That explanation made sense.

Too much sense.

"Leo," I said. "The camp has deep hatred with those two Packs. If you're also their enemies... then we can be allies. Fight them together. We won't mind your refugee status."

Leo's eyes lit up.

"Really?" he said.

"Really."

"That's great!" He grabbed my hand. "Thank you! Thank you! This means so much to us!"

Then he paused. Like hesitating.

"Sabrina," he said. Voice became careful. "Since we're allies... can I... can I ask for some help?"

"What help?"

"Can you give us more supplies?" he said. "Food. Blankets. Our children... they haven't eaten their fill in days."

I looked at those children. They were indeed thin. Weak.

"Of course," I said. "I'll try to give you more supplies."

"And..." Leo hesitated again. "Some basic military equipment."

"Military equipment?"

"Like bullets," he said. "We have guns. But not enough bullets. If Stillwater's people catch up... if we need to protect the children..."

He looked at me. Eyes very earnest. "I know this is asking too much. But we really... really need it."

I thought about it. Giving refugees weapons... that was a risky decision.

"I'll report to Kael," I said. "Try to coordinate. But I can't guarantee anything."

"No problem!" Leo said immediately. "As long as you try! You've already helped us so much!"

His smile was bright. Grateful.

But behind that smile... I seemed to see something.

A flash of... smugness?

Garrick's words were affecting me.

Leo was just a leader fleeing with his people. He was smart. Good at talking. But that didn't mean he was lying to me.

I kept working. Helping them set up tents. Distributing supplies.

But there was a small voice in my heart.

Saying: Be careful.

Saying: He didn't tell the whole truth.

I pushed down that voice.

I looked toward the wall. On the watchtower. A black figure. Kael.

He stood there. Motionless. Was he watching me?

My heartbeat quickened. He was paying attention to me. He was making sure I was safe. He was... cared about me.

That thought made my cheeks heat up. I kept working. But kept stealing glances at that figure.

He stayed there. Watching over me.