Chapter 81
Hunter’s POV
The Shadows of Surrender
When Lisa made the decision to let the Scorpio pack leave the battlefield alive, I wasn’t surprised. I had seen that spark of mercy in her before—a willingness to seek an alternative to bloodshed. It wasn’t a weakness, not the way others might see it. No, it was something far more dangerous: hope.
But what did surprise me was that the Scorpio pack accepted her offer. If I’d been in their position, my pride would have burned too hot to bow, no matter the cost. Yet, there they were, kneeling before her and retreating into the woods, broken but alive.
I didn’t interfere. This was Lisa’s moment, her decision. I wanted her to lead without my shadow looming over her, without the weight of my expectations pulling at her choices. So, I stayed back, watching from the treeline as the battle came to its unexpected conclusion.
But my curiosity didn’t stop there. Surrender was a fickle thing, and I needed to know if it was genuine. The Scorpio pack had lost their Alpha, their pride, and their direction. Wolves like that were dangerous—they either became desperate or vengeful. So, I followed them, slipping through the shadows of the forest like a predator stalking its prey.
The Scorpio wolves trudged through the undergrowth, their steps heavy with exhaustion and defeat. Their once-proud warriors now moved in silence, heads bowed low. But one stood out from the rest: Luci, their Luna. Her movements were restless, her shoulders tense as though the weight of their failure pressed harder on her than anyone else.
I perched in the crook of a tree, concealed by its branches, and watched as they settled into a clearing for the night. A fire crackled at the center, casting flickering light across their weary faces. They spoke in hushed tones, but even from a distance, I could feel the tension simmering among them.
Luci paced near the edge of the clearing, her hands clenched into fists. Her golden eyes darted to the group, then to the darkness beyond, as if searching for something—or someone.
Her brother, Pascal, sat near the fire, his head hung low. He looked rough, his fur still matted with blood from the fight. But when his Beta, Johnson, approached him, Pascal’s head snapped up, and his eyes burned with fury.
“Pascal,” Johnson said carefully, his voice low but firm, “you need to let this go.”
“Let it go?” Pascal’s voice rose, sharp and cutting. He shot to his feet, his towering frame casting a shadow over the Beta. “They killed Amaru! They killed our Alpha!”
“And we surrendered,” Johnson replied evenly, though there was steel in his tone. “We lost, Pascal. Fighting again will only get more of us killed.”
Pascal’s growl rumbled through the clearing, his anger palpable. “You think this is over? You think we can just walk away and pretend nothing happened?”
“Do you want to throw away more lives for your pride?” Johnson stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Think, Pascal. Hunter wasn’t even there. If he had been—”
“He wasn’t there because he’s a coward!” Pascal spat, his voice dripping with venom. “He went into hiding because he knew we’d tear him apart for what he did to Amaru.”
“Or maybe,” Johnson countered, his tone sharp now, “Hunter didn’t bother because he knew we weren’t worth the trouble.”
The words hit Pascal like a slap. His claws flexed, and for a moment, I thought he might attack Johnson. But then he froze, his chest heaving with barely restrained fury.
“That’s more reason to find him,” Pascal said through gritted teeth. “To show him we are worth the trouble.”
“Enough!” Luci’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stepped into the firelight, her presence commanding. Her golden eyes locked onto Pascal’s, and he faltered, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly.
“What are you doing, Pascal?” she demanded, her voice steady but laced with exhaustion. “Amaru is gone. Do you think he’d want this? More death? More blood on our hands?”
“He’d want justice!” Pascal snapped, his voice breaking.
“Justice?” Luci’s laugh was bitter, almost a snarl. “Or revenge? Because they’re not the same, Pascal. I also want the same thing but I can't bare to see people died because of me”
Pascal looked away, his jaw tight. The firelight danced across his features, highlighting the conflict etched into every line of his face.
Johnson seized the moment. “You’re a strong fighter, Pascal,” he said, his tone gentler now. “You have the respect of the pack. If you want to honor Amaru, then lead. Be the Alpha we need—not the one who gets us all killed chasing ghosts.”
For a moment, there was silence. The Scorpio wolves watched Pascal, their eyes filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Finally, Pascal straightened, brushing off his tattered clothes. A slow, predatory grin spread across his face. “Alpha Pascal,” he murmured, testing the title.
The pack stirred, some exchanging glances, others nodding in quiet approval. Even Luci seemed to relax, though her eyes remained wary.
“Fine,” Pascal said, his voice steady now. “We’ll rebuild. But this isn’t over.” His gaze shifted to the forest, his eyes narrowing as if he could sense me watching. “Hunter thinks he can hide, but he’ll see. We’ll make him see.”
The wolves around him howled in agreement, their voices rising into the night. I stayed still, my heart pounding as their cries echoed through the trees.
I’d seen enough. Their surrender wasn’t a lie, not entirely. But it wasn’t peace, either. They would regroup, rebuild, and when the time was right, they’d come for us.
As I slipped away from the clearing, I couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for Pascal. He was reckless and driven by anger, but there was strength in him—a strength that could either unite his pack or destroy it.
When I returned to the edge of the Xotica territory, the forest was quiet, the air still. The packhouse lights glowed softly in the distance, and for a moment, I stood there, staring at the home I’d fought so hard to protect.
Lisa’s decision had spared lives, but it had also set something in motion—something neither of us could fully predict.
I stepped into the shadows, my mind racing. There was work to be done, preparations to be made. Because one thing was certain: Pascal wouldn’t rest until he got his revenge. And when he came, I would be ready.