Chapter 262

Chapter 262
Iris's POV

And then—making my heart skip a beat—Sebastien pushed through a cluster of young pack members, his eyes locked on mine with fierce determination.

"So you planted spies among us," Beta sneered, though I didn't miss the flash of surprise in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected our team to have penetrated his inner circle so effectively.

"I always come fully prepared," I replied calmly, though inwardly grateful. The sight of familiar faces restored my confidence. "This isn't the resolution I wanted, but you've left me no choice."

Sebastien moved to my side, his presence reassuring as a mountain. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Beta and his men. I nodded slightly, feeling the security his presence brought. Dina and the others quickly formed a protective circle around me, professional and efficient.

I glanced around, suddenly realizing the team was missing a key member. "Where's K?" I whispered to Sebastien, concern rising within me.

"He has another assignment," Sebastien answered briefly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "Trust him." The answer both intrigued and worried me, but I knew Sebastien wouldn't lightly divide our team's strength, especially in such a dire situation. K's absence must have an important reason.

Beta keenly seized on this detail: "Look! They're plotting something! This so-called 'K' must be a spy sent to execute some secret mission!" He turned to his pack members, raising his voice. "They want to infiltrate our territory, destroy our way of life! This is the true face of outsiders!"

"You're being absurd," I had to counter. "They're my bodyguards. Considering you previously sent people to attack my family, this is just basic self-preservation. I came here for peaceful dialogue, not to incite war." My voice was firm and clear, hoping more pack members would hear the truth.

Beta narrowed his eyes. "Bodyguards? You bring armed personnel into our territory and call it a peaceful visit? This further proves you're a spy!" His tone was scornful, clearly determined to portray me as a threat.

Unexpectedly, a young man stepped out from the crowd, standing by my side: "We've had enough of your dictatorial rule, Beta! You always use words like 'tradition' and 'purity' to suppress different voices! Aurora is right, we need change, we need to integrate into the broader world!"

His courage seemed to inspire others. Young werewolves gradually emerged from the crowd, standing beside me and my team.

"Traitors!" Beta howled in fury. "You choose an outsider over your own pack!" His rage seemed to reach a critical point. I could see his hands beginning to transform, nails extending into claws—the prelude to a full shift.

"Why help me?" I whispered to the young man who had first stepped forward. "You're taking a huge risk."

"We've had enough of Beta's rule," the young man replied, determination gleaming in his eyes despite his trembling voice. "He rejects any change, suppresses any new idea. Your speech showed us hope—a possibility where we can maintain our identity while being part of the larger world." His answer both touched and troubled me—I hadn't expected my words would trigger such a violent internal conflict.

"Enough! I'll deal with these invaders and traitors myself!" Beta's voice had become hoarse, more like a beast's roar. His transformation accelerated—his face elongating, teeth sharpening, muscles bulging, fur beginning to grow beneath his skin. The entire process was both terrifying and mesmerizing, and I couldn't help but hold my breath.

As Beta completed his transformation, his form was intimidating—standing nearly two meters tall, powerful muscles covering his body, silver-gray fur gleaming in the moonlight, claws and fangs sharp as knives. This was the power of a pureblooded werewolf, far surpassing any mixed-blood werewolf I had encountered. I instinctively tensed, preparing for the attack.

"Iris, step back!" Sebastien suddenly moved in front of me. I wanted to stop him from risking himself, but it was too late—Beta lunged toward us, his speed almost impossible to track.

Sebastien began his own transformation, opting for a balanced half-human, half-wolf form, retaining human flexibility of thought while gaining a wolf's strength and speed. The two powerful werewolves collided in the center of the square, emitting ear-splitting roars, the shockwave of their power forcing everyone around to step back.

Beta's transformation seemed to be a signal, as his followers also began to shift and attack. Dina quickly pulled me to a relatively safe position while maintaining vigilance. Daniel, Blake, and Jenny immediately engaged, their fighting style showing traces of professional training—precise, efficient, and unhesitating.

The square instantly became a battlefield, filled with roars, impacts, and screams. Though not without combat skills myself, my primary task now was protecting the young people who had chosen to support me. "Follow me!" I directed those who appeared to lack fighting experience, leading them behind a stone pillar while observing the battle and looking for possible breakthroughs.

The fight intensified. Despite Sebastien and my team's remarkable combat prowess, Beta's side had superior numbers and the advantage of familiar territory. I saw Daniel take a hit, Jenny surrounded by three werewolves, and even Sebastien, though holding his own against Beta, beginning to show signs of fatigue.

"We need to retreat," I said softly to Dina beside me, mentally calculating escape routes. "The situation isn't in our favor." If things continued to deteriorate, I was prepared to abandon this mission, prioritizing the team's safety.

At this critical moment, another commotion appeared at the square's entrance. All attention was drawn there—it was K, but he wasn't alone. Beside him stood a tall female figure. Even amid the chaos, I could sense the unusual aura emanating from this woman. Her presence somehow altered the energy of the entire square, creating a wave of pressure.

The mysterious woman stepped forward, standing in the center of the battlefield, then released a long, powerful howl—not an ordinary sound, but an ancient werewolf summons, filled with authority and irresistible power. To my surprise, all fighting werewolves, including Beta, involuntarily paused and turned toward her.

"Enough!" The woman's voice was clear and powerful, echoing throughout the square. "Has the Northern European pack fallen so low that it resolves internal disagreements with claws and fangs?" Her eyes swept across everyone present, containing a power that none could directly face.

"This can't be..." Beta's voice mixed awe and fear, the first time I'd seen him show vulnerability.