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Valencia’s POV
I opened my jaws.
Dragon fire erupted from my throat like a golden-red waterfall. The flames poured down onto the weapons storage building below.
The heat was incredible. Even from a hundred feet up, I could feel the power of it.
The fire hit the building and consumed it instantly. Wood, stone, everything burned.
Then the explosions started.
BOOM.
The first blast shook the air. A massive fireball erupted from inside the storage building. Weapons and gunpowder igniting all at once.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
More explosions followed. Each one bigger than the last. The shockwave from the blasts shattered windows in nearby buildings. Debris flew in every direction.
The night sky lit up like midday. Orange and red flames reached toward the clouds.
Below, I heard screaming. Shouting. Chaos.
Warriors poured out of the barracks in various states of undress. Some had weapons. Most didn't. They ran in every direction, trying to figure out where the attack was coming from.
Someone pointed up at me. I heard him yelling orders.
Arrows flew toward me. Maybe twenty of them. But I was too high. They fell back to earth without even getting close.
Good, Alduin said in my mind. They're disorganized. Panicking. Keep the pressure on them.
I circled once. Banking left. My wings caught the wind perfectly.
Then I dove again.
This time I targeted the three long barracks buildings in the center of the settlement. Where most of Elton's warriors slept.
I opened my jaws again. Fire poured out in a continuous stream.
The first barrack went up like kindling. The second. The third.
Warriors who'd been trying to exit the buildings were caught in the flames. Their screams cut through the night.
I felt a pang of guilt. These weren't all evil men. Some were just following orders. Trying to survive.
They chose their side, Alduin reminded me. They chose to follow Elton. To ally with Ashwood. To threaten your pack. This is war, Valencia.
I know, I thought back. It doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.
I pulled up. Gained altitude again. Circled the burning settlement.
Below, the chaos was spreading. Warriors ran between burning buildings. Some tried to organize bucket lines to fight the fires. Others just fled toward the forest.
No one was looking up anymore. They were too focused on the destruction around them.
Perfect.
I turned my attention to the large grain storage buildings on the western edge of the settlement. Three massive structures filled with food supplies.
One more dive. One more burst of fire.
The grain stores erupted in flames. The dry wheat and corn burned hot and fast. Within seconds, all three buildings were completely engulfed.
That's their food supply for months, I thought. Without it, any survivors will have to scatter. Find other packs to take them in. They won't be able to maintain an army.
Now the Alpha's residence, Logan's voice came through the mate bond. I need you to lower altitude near there so I can jump off.
I angled toward the large building Logan had pointed out earlier. It stood separated from the other structures. Still untouched by fire.
I descended quickly. Fifty feet. Thirty feet. Twenty feet.
Jump, I sent through the bond. I'll catch you if anything goes wrong.
I felt his presence shift on my back. Then he was gone.
I immediately pulled up. Didn't want to be too close to the ground where archers might actually hit me.
Through the mate bond, I felt Logan land. Felt him shift into his massive silver wolf form.
Go, I sent to him. I'll provide cover from above.
I circled overhead. Watching. Waiting.
Below, Logan's silver wolf form moved like a ghost through the smoke and chaos.
I turned my attention back to causing destruction. There were still targets left.
The stables. Twenty horses panicked inside, trapped by the fire spreading around them.
I hesitated. The horses hadn't done anything wrong. They were innocent animals.
But chaos was the goal. And terrified horses running through the settlement would add to the confusion.
I swooped down. Used my massive claws to tear the stable roof off. The horses bolted immediately. Stampeding in every direction.
Warriors tried to catch them. Failed. Got trampled for their efforts.
I moved on to the pack house. The administrative building where Elton's advisors and officials lived.
My claws raked across the roof. Tore massive chunks away. Then I breathed fire into the exposed interior.
More screams. More chaos.

Logan's POV
I hit the ground hard. Within seconds, I was Axel. The settlement was chaos. Fire everywhere. Smoke so thick I could barely see ten feet ahead.
But I didn't need to see. I had my nose.
I inhaled deeply. Sorting through hundreds of scents. Burning wood. Burning flesh. Fear. Panic. Blood.
There.
Elton's scent. Sharp and distinct. I'd memorized it years ago when we first met at the Alpha King's council.
He was moving. Fast. Away from the main settlement toward the forest.
Running.
I took off after him. My paws pounded against the dirt. Warriors scattered out of my way. Some didn't see me coming until I was already past them.
Above me, I heard Valencia roar. The sound shook the air. Made my bones vibrate.
Another massive explosion erupted behind me. The shockwave knocked several running warriors off their feet.
I glanced back for just a second. Saw Valencia diving toward the western edge of the settlement. Saw her jaws open wide.
Dragon fire poured down like a waterfall of gold and red.
The grain storage buildings. Three massive structures filled with months of food supplies.
The first building caught fire instantly. Dry wheat and corn burned hot and fast. Within seconds, the entire structure was engulfed.
Valencia banked left. Targeted the second grain store. More fire. More destruction.
The third building went up before the warriors on the ground could even react.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The grain exploded. Not like the weapons storage. But hot enough that the air itself seemed to combust. Fireballs rolled into the sky.
I glanced up briefly. Saw her massive form silhouetted against the flames. Her wings spread wide. Her scales reflecting the firelight. She looked magnificent.
She pulled up sharply. Gained altitude. Circled once over the burning settlement.
I turned my attention back to my own mission. One warrior tried to block my path. Brown wolf. Medium sized. He lunged at me.
I didn't slow down. Just opened my jaws and caught him by the throat mid-leap. One shake. His neck snapped. I dropped his body and kept running.
Another explosion behind me. Different from the others. Higher pitched. Multiple smaller blasts in rapid succession.
Valencia's massive shadow passed overhead. She was heading toward the pack house now. The administrative building where Elton's officials lived.
I heard the screech of her claws on stone. The terrible sound of a roof being torn apart.
Then more fire. More screaming.
She was methodical. Destroying every significant structure in the settlement.
Two more warriors appeared from between burning buildings. They shifted as they ran. Ready to fight.
I went through them like they weren't even there. My claws tore open the first one's side. My jaws crushed the second one's skull.
They were just obstacles. My real target was ahead.
Elton's scent was getting stronger. He was maybe two hundred yards ahead now. Running toward the tree line at the edge of the settlement.
Through the smoke, I saw him. Human form. Four guards with him. All in wolf form. Protecting their Alpha as they fled.
I put on a burst of speed. The gap closed rapidly.
The rear guard sensed me. He turned. His eyes went wide when he saw Axel bearing down on him.
He tried to dodge. Too slow.
My jaws closed around his spine. I felt vertebrae crack between my teeth. Tasted blood. Dropped him and kept running.
The other three guards stopped. Turned to face me. Trying to buy their Alpha time to escape.
Elton kept running. Didn't even look back at the warriors dying for him.