CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Elena's POV

When Darius and the rogues vanished, there was an overwhelming silence. The pack was battered, bruised, and tired; the air still smelled of blood. However, the true horror was not yet over. It was palpable to me.

Stephen reverted to his human form, his body tensed and lacerated. He whispered, peering at the location where Darius had disappeared, "What the hell was that?"

Leila moved nearer and wiped her mouth of blood. He's putting us to the test. getting ready for a greater endeavor.

Jackson approached us while he caught his breath. "I don't comprehend. How come they didn't kill us? The numbers were with them.

Stephen stated, "They don't need to finish us off yet," his voice dark with insight. "They are first making us weaker. making us question our own abilities.

Leila's face became stern. "He has a plan in place. And we won't be able to withstand the next attack if we don't figure out what."

Fear gripped in my stomach. How do we proceed? How are we going to stop him?

Stephen turned to face me, resolve shining in his eyes. "We must organize the group. bolster our defenses. We also require allies. Darius won't give up until he has destroyed everything.

Leila grimaced as she nodded. Stephen, who's going to stand alongside us? Not that the other packs have been all that devoted.

Stephen's jaw became tense. They will need to be. It's no longer just about us in this battle. It has to do with surviving.

Jackson moved uncomfortably, glancing around at the bruised pack members. "You think they'll give you a listen?"

Stephen's gaze grew gloomy. "They are without options."

With concern heavy in my heart, I put a hand on Stephen's arm. What happens if they don't? What happens if Darius has already reached them?

Stephen sighed, a troubled look on his face. "So, we'll fight by ourselves."

Leila gave a headshake. "Stephen, you and I both know that we can't succeed on our own."

I mutely said, "We won't be alone," but I wasn't sure if I really believed it. "We have one another."

I wasn't sure what was in Stephen's eyes when he looked at me—hope, maybe, or desperation. "You're accurate. However, our needs go beyond one another.

Leila let out a sigh. After that, we move quickly. We eagerly await Darius' next attack.

Jackson stepped forward; his expression grim. “I’ll start gathering the pack, Stephen. We’ll have a meeting as soon as possible.”

Stephen gave a nod. “Do it. And be quick.”

As Jackson ran gone, Stephen turned back to me, his face stern. “I don’t know what Darius is planning, but it’s bigger than anything we’ve ever faced.”

I swallowed hard, fear eating at the borders of my consciousness. “We’ll figure it out.”

Leila’s eyes narrowed. “We’d better. Because if we don’t, we’re all dead.”

The meeting was strained. The pack members gathered in the main hall, their faces pale and filled with uncertainty. The attack had rattled them, and the fear was palpable.

Stephen stood at the front, his voice steady but firm. “We don’t have much time. Darius and my father are building an army. This was just the beginning.”

A whisper of concern rippled through the pack. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the fear that we wouldn’t be able to stop what was coming.

Leila stepped forward, her expression hard. “We need to be stronger. We need to be smarter. Darius is playing a game, and we’re the ones who have to win it.”

One of the pack members, an older wolf named Marcus, spoke up. “What makes you think we can win this? They’ve already attacked us twice. We barely survived.”

Stephen’s eyes narrowed. “Because we have something they don’t.”

"What is that?" Marcus snorted. "More people to feed?"

Stephen spoke a chilly "No." "We have one another. We are devoted to one another.

A younger wolf by the name of Ethan folded his arms. Furthermore, devotion is useless when we are outnumbered.

Leila snarled, her tone piercing. "At this point, loyalty is the only thing keeping us alive. Do you believe Darius's army is obedient? They are afraid, which is why they are following him. They are weak as well as dangerous because of this.

The group looked at each other nervously. Though they were terrified, there was a spark of hope in their eyes. They wanted to think we were capable of winning. They were merely clueless.

Stephen become softer in tone. "I realize it's difficult to envision a path out of this. But Darius will ruin everything if we do not unite. And we'll have nothing left over.

As his remarks finally registered, the room became silent.

Marcus finally let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. What then should we do?

Stephen looked from the pack to Leila and back again. "We exercise. We strengthen the perimeter. We also extend our hand to the other packs. We will wage war on Darius's request.

The room's tension subsided a little, but the terror was still there, seething beneath the surface. It was not going to be simple.

But we had no other choice.

Stephen and I sat by the woods' edge later that night, enjoying the cool night air caressing our skin while the pack started getting ready.

Are you alright? With his arm around my shoulders, Stephen asked me softly.

I leaned into him, anxiety weighing heavily in my heart. "I'm not sure. It seems as though everything is collapsing.

Stephen sighed, a concerned look on his face. "I am aware. But we'll overcome this. We must.

I nodded, but I couldn't shake the doubt. "What if we are unable to stop him? How come Darius is too powerful?

Stephen's voice was calm but forceful, his jaw clinched. After that, we quarrel. till the very end.

I trembled, panic gnawing at my heart. Stephen, I'm afraid. For you, for the infant, for all of us.

His voice was kind as he drew me closer. "I refuse to allow anything to occur to you. or the infant.

With emotion tightening my throat, I forcefully swallowed. "I simply have no idea what's going to happen. And more than anything, that terrifies me.

Stephen nodded, the horror in his eyes matching mine. We'll tackle it as a team. Whatever the case may be. I tried to take strength from his presence and leaned into him. However, the fear persisted, nibbling at the corners of my mind.The sound of far-off screams reverberated through the trees as we sat in quiet, chilling me to the bone.

Stephen stiffened, glancing around the pitch-black woodland. "That is not among ours."

With my heart racing, I froze. "How do we proceed?"

His voice strained, he muttered, "We wait." We also hope they don't come across us.

However, before he could finish speaking, Damian appeared out of the darkness, his eyes gleaming with a deadly intent.