Chapter 122 Chapter 112 - Part B

Chapter 122 Chapter 112 - Part B
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the first howls of battle reached my ears. The northern ridge was alive with movement, the clash of wolves echoing through the trees. I stood at the edge of the woods, my heart pounding as I prepared to join the fray.
Ethan, Mer - wherever you are, come back soon. We need you.
With a deep breath, I shifted, the familiar snap and stretch of my bones grounding me as I embraced my wolf form. The forest blurred around me as I sprinted toward the sound of battle, my pack fighting for their lives - and for the future we couldn’t lose.
The air outside was electric with tension, every wolf on high alert as we prepared for what was coming. Andromeda’s forces would not wait for us to gather ourselves. We had to move, and fast.
Standing at the center of the pack’s war zone, I linked orders to the warriors gathering around. You’ve trained for this! Remember your positions and stick to your squads. No heroics, protect your partners and focus on holding the line. We’re stronger together.
Their faces were a mixture of fear and determination, the younger wolves looking to the senior warriors for guidance. I could see the unease in their eyes. Ethan wasn’t here, but I couldn’t let their doubt grow.
Conor, I linked him, I need you to lead the second unit on the eastern side. Mia’s squad is there, but they’re stretched thin. Get them reorganized and hold the position at all costs.
His auburn wolf nodded at me. Then he bounded off into the trees.
After a few minutes, a howl echoed through the woods - Conor’s signal. The attack had begun on the eastern side. The energy coursing through me was a mix of fear, adrenaline, and the desperate need to protect what was ours.
Move out! I linked to the warriors, and the group surged forward like a tidal wave.
By the time we reached the eastern border, the chaos was palpable. Rogues and Andromeda’s minions clashed with our warriors, their snarls and growls filling the air. The metallic tang of blood mingled with the earthy scent of the forest.
I launched myself into the fray, my teeth sinking into the neck of a rogue that had one of our younger wolves pinned. She rolled away, quickly regaining her footing as I flung the rogue’s lifeless body aside.
Thanks, Beta! she linked, her voice tinged with relief but focused.
Stay sharp, I replied, scanning the battlefield for the next threat.
Conor’s red wolf tore through a line of rogues, his movements feral yet precise. He was a blur of motion, using his size and strength to overwhelm the enemy. Seeing him gave me a sliver of hope - our pack was holding its own, but the numbers were against us.
Beta! A desperate link from Josh cut through my thoughts. The southern border is under attack, heavily.
I growled low, my mind racing. Pull the third squad to reinforce the south. Grace, send reinforcements from the western patrol to cover the gap.
Already on it, Grace’s voice rang in my mind, her calm tone a lifeline in the chaos.
Another rogue lunged at me, its claws swiping dangerously close. I dodged and countered with a powerful bite, feeling its bones crunch under my jaws. As I turned to face the next wave, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
Andromeda’s minions were stepping onto the battlefield. Their glowing eyes and unnatural speed made them far more dangerous than the rogues we’d been fighting.
Minions on the eastern flank! I linked to the warriors, my voice sharp. Focus on teamwork, don’t let them isolate you!
The fight grew more brutal with every passing second. Wolves fell, their blood staining the earth, but we didn’t back down. I fought harder, faster, refusing to let the fear take hold.
When I finally reached the southern border, it was chaos. The rogues there were more organized, clearly taking direct orders. Grace had done her best to reinforce the area, but we were still spread too thin.
Josh’s gray wolf darted past me, blood staining his fur as he tackled a rogue. I joined him, taking down another two before scanning the area. A very large rogue wolf was advancing on one of our younger wolves, its claws poised to strike. Without thinking, I barreled into it, the force of my impact sending us both tumbling.
The rogue was strong, too strong. Its claws raked across my side, drawing blood, but I bit down hard on its arm, twisting until I heard the satisfying snap of bone. It let out an unearthly scream before I tore out its throat.
Hold the line! I linked to the warriors, pushing myself upright despite the pain in my side. We can’t let them breach this point!
Hours felt like days, and by the time I returned to the pack house, I was covered in blood, most of it not my own. Grace was still in the lobby, her expression grim as she relayed updates to the squads. She glanced up as I approached, her eyes narrowing at the sight of me.
“You look like hell,” she said, but her voice was softer than usual.
“We’re holding, but barely,” I said, sinking into a chair. My muscles ached, and the wound on my side throbbed, but there was no time to rest. “Any word from Ethan?”
Her expression darkened, and she shook her head. “Nothing. Mer as well.”
The weight of her words settled over me like a stone. Ethan and Mer were out there, somewhere, fighting their own battles. We could only hope they would return before it was too late.