Chapter 121 Chapter 112 - Part A

Chapter 121 Chapter 112 - Part A
Nathaniel
I woke to the gentle press of lips trailing down my spine, warm and familiar. A sleepy smile curved on my lips as I stirred, rolling over slightly to meet Liam’s soft brown eyes.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” I murmured with a lazy grin.
“Good morning, Nate,” Liam replied, his voice a warm rasp that sent a pleasant shiver through me.
I leaned in, ready to press a kiss to his lips, when an urgent link tore through my mind like a thunderclap.
Nathaniel! Come downstairs now! Grace’s voice was sharp, panic and urgency slicing through the link.
I bolted upright, my body moving on instinct as adrenaline surged through me. “We need to hurry,” I said, already reaching for the clothes scattered on the floor. Liam sat up, startled but quick to follow suit.
“What’s happening?” he asked, slipping into his pants with practiced efficiency.
“I don’t know yet, but Grace doesn’t sound like this unless it’s serious,” I said, yanking a shirt over my head and grabbing my boots. The relaxed morning atmosphere evaporated, replaced by the tense hum of an imminent threat.
Within minutes, I was charging down the stairs, my wolf buzzing with unease as I rounded the corner to the main lobby. Grace was already there, a coffee table covered in maps and documents serving as her makeshift strategic room. Despite her advanced pregnancy, she stood with an authority that commanded attention, her sharp gaze darting between her team and the maps.
Conor arrived just after me, his hair disheveled but his expression deadly serious. “What’s going on?” I demanded, striding toward the table.
“Andromeda’s forces,” Grace said, her tone clipped but calm. “They’ve launched an attack on our southern border. Rogues and minions, more than we’ve seen before.”
“Where’s Ethan?” I asked, my stomach twisting. If he wasn’t here commanding the response, then something was wrong.
Grace’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He went after Mer. I haven’t been able to reach him.”
“Well, fuck,” I muttered under my breath, scrubbing a hand through my hair. The weight of the situation settled over me like a suffocating blanket. “All right,” I said, forcing my voice into a steady, commanding tone. “Let’s get ready.”
Grace nodded, stepping aside to give me a better view of the maps. “We’ve got patrol units holding the border for now, but the rogues are testing our defenses. It’s only a matter of time before they push harder. We need reinforcements.”
I studied the maps, quickly assessing the positioning of our forces. “Conor, gather units four and six. Take them to the southern border and relieve the current patrols. Keep them on high alert, these bastards won’t stop at one wave.”
“On it,” Conor said, already turning to leave.
“Liam,” I called, glancing over my shoulder. He was at my side in an instant, his hand brushing mine briefly - a subtle but grounding gesture. “I need you to make sure all the elders and children are in the safe rooms.”
Liam nodded, his jaw tight. “Consider it done.”
Grace’s hand rested protectively over her belly as she leaned closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Nathaniel, we can’t afford to lose control of the border. If Ethan doesn’t come back soon…”
“He’ll come back,” I interrupted firmly, my gaze locking with hers. “But if he doesn’t, I’ll take over. For now, focus on keeping our people safe.”
She hesitated, then nodded, her expression a mix of determination and worry. “I’ll hold the fort here.”
I turned to Liam one last time, my voice softening for a moment. “Be careful.”
“You too,” he said, his eyes lingering on mine before I stepped away.
I turned back to Grace, who stood by the map, her hand resting protectively over her belly. She had refused to leave, and her presence was as grounding as it was worrying. Her sharp brown eyes scanned the map with precision, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“What’s the latest from the southern patrols?” I asked, stepping closer.
“Josh linked me five minutes ago,” she said, her voice low but steady. “They’re holding, but just barely. The rogues keep testing their defenses. It’s only a matter of time before they try something bigger.”
I cursed under my breath, my jaw tightening. “We can’t let them fall. If they break through the south, it’ll be a direct path to the village.”
Grace nodded, her fingers tapping against the edge of the table. “Unit seven is the closest. We could send them as reinforcements.”
“Do it,” I said without hesitation. “And get Bella to coordinate with the doctors. We’re going to need them ready for casualties.”
Grace hesitated, her gaze flicking to me. “Nathaniel… this isn’t sustainable. We’re spread too thin. If Ethan and Mer don’t return soon—”
“They will,” I interrupted, my voice firm. I couldn’t let her doubt take root, not when the pack was looking to us for leadership. “Until then, we hold. We protect our people. That’s what matters.”
She didn’t argue, but the worry in her eyes lingered as she relayed orders to Bella through the mind link.
Hours blurred together as we moved from crisis to crisis. Reports came in from all directions: skirmishes breaking out near the eastern woods, scouts spotting larger groups of rogues gathering on the northern ridge. Each piece of intel was another reminder that Andromeda’s forces were testing us, probing for weaknesses.
I stood on the front steps of the pack house, my gaze sweeping over the gathered wolves. Every able-bodied member of the pack was ready for battle, their faces grim but resolute. This wasn’t just about defending our territory - it was about survival.
“Listen up!” I called, my voice carrying over the murmur of the crowd. “Andromeda’s forces think they can break us. They think they can tear us apart because Ethan isn’t here. But they’re wrong. We are the Crescent Moon pack, and we don’t break. We don’t bow. We fight, and we protect what’s ours!”
A ripple of agreement passed through the crowd, the tension in the air hardening into determination. I caught Liam’s eye as he returned from his scouting mission, his expression grim.
“What did you find?” I asked, stepping aside as he approached.
“They’re gathering on the northern ridge,” he said, his voice low. “At least three dozen rogues, maybe more. They’re waiting for something, or someone.”
I clenched my fists, the weight of his words settling over me. “They’re waiting for her,” I said, my voice barely more than a growl. Andromeda wasn’t just testing us - she was toying with us, drawing this out to weaken our resolve.
“We can’t let them gain any more ground,” Grace said, stepping up beside me. Her voice was steady, but I could see the strain in her posture, the weight she carried not just as our Gamma but as a mother-to-be. “If they breach the northern ridge, they’ll have a direct line to the pack house.”
“Then we hit them before they can move,” I said. “Liam, take units five and six and intercept them. Push them back, but don’t over-commit. We can’t afford to lose anyone unnecessarily.”
Liam nodded, already moving to gather his team. I turned back to Grace, my chest tightening at the sight of her pale face. “You should rest,” I said, my tone softer now.
She glared at me, her stubbornness as fierce as ever. “I’m not leaving, Nathaniel. This is my pack, too. My family. I’ll fight for it in any way I can.”
I didn’t argue. There was no time, and truthfully, I needed her here.