Chapter twenty eight

The war council gathered in the largest building of the pack’s settlement, a circular hall built from thick logs and reinforced stone. The scent of burning wood filled the air, the warmth of the fire contrasting the tension simmering in the room.

Kai sat beside Anna, his body tense, his mind racing. Around them, Lucian, Kieran, Rhett, and the pack’s highest-ranking wolves stood in a semi-circle, their expressions unreadable. Mira stood near Lucian, her arms crossed, watching everything with sharp eyes.

The weight of the moment pressed against Kai’s chest.

This wasn’t just a meeting.

It was a declaration.

Orion had pushed too far.

Now, they were going to end him.

Lucian stood at the head of the table, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room. When he spoke, his voice was steady, unwavering.

“You all know why we’re here.”

A murmur of agreement passed through the gathered wolves.

Lucian continued. “Orion isn’t just a threat. He’s something we’ve never seen before. A Null Alpha capable of severing bonds, controlling minds, and building an army unlike any we’ve faced.”

Mira’s gaze flickered to Anna. “And now, we know he’s harvesting the bonds he steals.”

A ripple of unease spread through the room.

Kai clenched his fists. He had seen what Orion could do. Felt it.

And he had almost lost Anna because of it.

One of the older wolves, a broad-shouldered man with a streak of silver in his dark hair, spoke. “What’s his end goal? Power?”

Mira’s lips pressed into a thin line. “More than that. He’s creating something. We just don’t know what.”

Kai exhaled sharply. “Then we need to find out.”

Lucian nodded. “Agreed. But we need a plan.”

Kieran leaned against the table, his golden eyes thoughtful. “We know The Spire is destroyed. He’ll be on the move.”

Rhett smirked. “Which means we cut him off before he finds a new base.”

Mira nodded. “We have scouts tracking his movements. But he’s smart. He won’t stay in one place for long.”

Kai’s jaw tightened. “Then we force him out.”

Silence followed.

Then Lucian turned to him. “How?”

Kai swallowed hard. He had been thinking about this since they escaped. Orion’s biggest advantage was control. He thrived in the shadows, manipulating from a distance.

But if they turned the hunt on him…

“We make him desperate,” Kai said. “We take away what he’s been working toward. His stolen wolves. His power sources. We destroy everything he’s built.”

Lucian considered this, then nodded. “A systematic takedown.”

Mira smirked. “I like it.”

Rhett grinned. “We break all his toys before he even gets a chance to play.”

Kieran’s gaze darkened. “It’s risky.”

Kai met his eyes. “So is waiting for him to get stronger.”

Another beat of silence.

Then Lucian exhaled. “We start tonight.”

The plan was set.

While the war council continued strategizing, Kai stepped outside, needing air. The cool night breeze did little to ease the tension coiled in his chest.

He had never been part of something like this before—not really.

Fighting for survival was one thing.

Fighting for something bigger… that was new.

A familiar presence stepped beside him.

Lucian.

Kai didn’t look at him. “You really trust me to help lead this?”

Lucian’s voice was calm. “You’re the reason we’re fighting at all.”

Kai huffed. “That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.”

Lucian’s gaze was steady. “No one ever does. You just act.”

Kai exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s weird.”

Lucian arched a brow. “What is?”

Kai hesitated. “Belonging.”

Lucian was quiet for a long moment before he said, “Get used to it.”

Kai’s throat tightened. He had spent so long convincing himself he didn’t need a pack.

But now?

The thought of losing this—losing them—was unbearable.

Lucian stepped closer, his fingers grazing Kai’s wrist. “You’re ours, Kai.” His voice was low, firm. “And that means we fight together.”

Kai swallowed hard. He didn’t pull away.

For the first time, he let himself believe it.

Hours later, the pack moved.

The first target was a rogue camp—one of Orion’s smaller outposts. A place where he stored supplies, trained his stolen wolves, and expanded his reach.

Kai, Kieran, and Rhett led the strike team, while Lucian coordinated from the main camp. Anna stayed behind—she was still recovering, and Kai refused to risk her.

The mission was simple.

Take out the camp. No survivors. No mercy.

The forest was silent as they approached, their wolves blending into the darkness. Kai’s pulse thrummed steadily, his senses sharp.

The camp came into view.

A handful of wolves moved between tents, their eyes dull, their postures stiff. These weren’t free wolves. They were Orion’s.

Kai’s stomach twisted.

Not anymore.

Lucian’s voice crackled softly through their earpieces. “Move in.”

Kai didn’t hesitate.

He lunged.

The first wolf didn’t even see him coming. Kai slammed into him, his blade slicing across the wolf’s throat before he could make a sound.

Kieran was already engaged with another, his golden eyes flashing as he fought with precision. Rhett, ever the chaos bringer, grinned as he tore through the camp, moving like a storm of fire and steel.

The camp erupted into screams.

Orion’s wolves fought, but they were weaker without his presence guiding them. They fell fast, their training no match for wolves who had true pack bonds.

Kai felt the shift.

For the first time, Orion was losing ground.

One of the remaining wolves tried to flee.

Kai caught him before he could.

He pressed his blade to the wolf’s throat. “Where is Orion?”

The wolf trembled, eyes flickering with something broken. “You… you don’t understand.”

Kai growled. “Make me.”

The wolf swallowed hard. “You think this is a victory?” He let out a ragged laugh. “You’re playing right into his hands.”

Kai’s grip tightened. “What does that mean?”

The wolf smirked.

Then, before Kai could react, he bit down hard—on something hidden beneath his tongue.

His body convulsed.

Then he was dead.

Kai staggered back. “What the hell?”

Kieran swore. “A suicide capsule.”

Rhett muttered. “Orion really doesn’t like loose ends.”

Kai’s stomach twisted.

The camp was destroyed.

But the battle wasn’t over.

Orion wasn’t just building an army.

He was setting a trap.

Lucian’s voice cut through the comms. “Get back. Now.”

Kai didn’t hesitate.

They ran.

The victory felt hollow.

Because if Orion had expected this—

Then the war was just beginning.