Chapter 42: Chapter forty two

The meeting hall was thick with tension, the scent of smoke from the torches curling through the air like an omen. The pack’s highest-ranking wolves were gathered, some with fresh wounds from the battle, others standing stiff and unyielding despite the exhaustion clinging to them. No one sat. No one could afford to be comfortable. The weight of Orion’s message still lingered in the air like a blade hovering over their throats.

Surrender—or die.

Lucian stood at the head of the war table, his expression unreadable as he rolled up the parchment and placed it down with deliberate calm. His sharp blue eyes flickered over the room before settling on Mira, who had been pacing like a caged animal since the meeting began.

“We need to strike first,” she said, voice low but filled with unmistakable urgency. “We can’t just sit here waiting for him to march through our gates.”

Kai stood near the far side of the table, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He didn’t disagree with her. Every second they waited was another second Orion strengthened his grip. But they were missing one very important thing.

“We don’t know where he is,” Kai said, voice tight. “Orion isn’t stupid. His army might be stationed along the border, but he isn’t.”

Mira exhaled sharply. “Then we find him.”

Kai scoffed. “And how do you suggest we do that? Comb through every inch of rogue territory? Hope he left behind a trail of breadcrumbs?”

Mira’s jaw tightened. “We have scouts. We can send them out in shifts—”

“We don’t have time for that,” Lucian cut in, voice steady but cold. “Orion’s already given us a deadline. If we waste days searching blindly, he’ll have already made his move.”

The room fell silent.

Because that was the truth.

They didn’t have the luxury of time.

Kai clenched his fists, frustration thrumming beneath his skin. He hated feeling helpless, hated knowing that Orion had backed them into a corner.

But then—

A quiet voice broke the silence.

“I know where he is.”

Every head in the room snapped toward Anna.

She stood near the entrance, her face pale, her hands curled into the fabric of her sleeves. But her eyes—her eyes were filled with something dark, something Kai didn’t like.

Lucian’s expression sharpened. “What did you say?”

Anna swallowed. “I can feel him.”

A heavy silence followed.

Kai felt his stomach drop.

“No,” he said immediately. “Absolutely not.”

Anna’s gaze snapped to him. “You don’t even know what I’m suggesting.”

Kai’s jaw locked. “I know enough.”

Lucian’s expression was unreadable, but Kai knew he was already considering it. Weighing the risks.

Kai turned to him sharply. “You can’t seriously be entertaining this.”

Lucian didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to Anna, studying her with calculating intensity. “How?”

Anna exhaled slowly, lifting the sleeve of her tunic to reveal the mark on her arm. It had spread further, dark veins curling up toward her collarbone. The sight of it made Kai’s stomach twist.

“He’s still inside me,” Anna said softly. “Not completely. Not like before. But there’s a part of him that’s… linked to me. And if I focus, I can feel where he is.”

Kai shook his head. “That’s a trap.”

Anna turned to him, eyes flashing. “Maybe. But maybe it’s our only shot.”

Lucian’s fingers curled against the table. “If we follow this connection, how certain are you that it will lead us to him?”

Anna hesitated. “Eighty percent.”

Mira let out a low curse.

Kai scoffed. “That’s not good enough.”

Anna turned to him, her voice rising. “Then what is? Do you have another option, Kai? Because if you do, I’d love to hear it.”

Kai’s chest tightened.

She was right.

But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Lucian was quiet for a long moment. Then, finally, he exhaled. “We’ll do it.”

Kai whipped around to face him. “Lucian—”

Lucian’s gaze snapped to him, sharp and unwavering. “We don’t have a choice, Kai.”

Kai clenched his jaw, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Lucian turned back to Anna. “How soon can you start tracking him?”

Anna exhaled. “I already have been.”

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine.

Lucian nodded. “Then we move at first light.”

Kai didn’t sleep that night.

None of them did.

He sat on the edge of the training grounds, staring out at the darkened forest beyond the borders. The scent of blood from the last battle still lingered in the air, mixing with the damp earth.

Kieran sat beside him, silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

“You don’t trust this plan.”

Kai exhaled sharply. “Do you?”

Kieran was quiet. Then, finally, “No.”

Kai let out a bitter laugh.

“I hate this,” Kai muttered. “I hate that we’re reacting instead of acting. I hate that Orion keeps pulling us into his games.” He clenched his fists. “And I hate that Anna is putting herself at risk like this.”

Kieran was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he placed a hand on Kai’s knee.

“We’ll protect her,” Kieran murmured. “We’ll protect all of them.”

Kai exhaled shakily, his chest tight.

Kieran squeezed lightly before letting go. “Try to get some sleep.”

Kai let out a hollow chuckle. “Not happening.”

Kieran smirked. “Figured.”

They sat there in silence, listening to the night.

Tomorrow, they would be hunting a monster.

And there was no guarantee that they would make it back.

Dawn came too quickly.

The camp was already buzzing with energy by the time Kai made his way back to the war table. Warriors were gearing up, weapons being sharpened, strategy being finalized.

Anna stood near the center, Mira beside her, the mark on her arm glowing faintly in the dim morning light.

Lucian was already giving orders, his presence steady, his voice calm.

“We move in small units,” Lucian said. “No direct engagements unless absolutely necessary. We locate Orion’s base, get the information we need, and we get out. If at any point this turns sideways, we pull back.”

Kai inhaled deeply, forcing himself to focus.

They didn’t have the luxury of doubt anymore.

Anna met his gaze from across the table.

She didn’t say anything.

She didn’t need to.

Kai swallowed hard. Then, finally, he nodded.

Lucian turned to the rest of the warriors.

“This is our chance,” Lucian said, voice unwavering. “This is where we turn the tide.” His blue eyes blazed. “We fight smart. We fight together. And we end this.”

A chorus of low growls filled the air, the energy shifting, resolve settling over the pack like a second skin.

This was it.

They were taking the fight to Orion.

And there was no turning back.