Chapter 16 Continuation
"What is it?"
"More soldiers. Coming from the east. Maybe a hundred of them."
Everyone tensed.
"More of Darius's men?" Zevran asked.
"No," the young wolf said. "These wolves are carrying white flags. They want to talk."
"Who are they?" Luna asked.
"They say they are from the Eastern Packs. They heard about the battle and came to help."
"They are a little late," Corin muttered. The spirit fox had survived the battle without a scratch.
"Better late than never," Riven said. "Let them approach."
The hundred wolves marched up the mountain path. At the front was a woman with golden fur and fierce green eyes.
She stopped in front of them and bowed. "I am Alpha Kira of the Eastern Packs. I bring greetings and an offer of alliance."
"You picked a good time to show up," Zevran said. His voice was cold. "After the fighting is done."
"We came as soon as we heard," Kira said. "But the message took two days to reach us. By the time we arrived, the battle was already over."
"What message?" Mara asked.
"The one about the Moon Wolf. And the broken curse. And the war against King Darius." Kira looked at Mara. "You must be her. The white wolf."
"I am Mara."
"I have heard stories about Moon Wolves all my life. I never thought I would meet one." Kira smiled. "It is an honor."
"Thank you," Mara said awkwardly. She was not used to people treating her with respect.
"I also bring news," Kira continued. "Bad news, I am afraid."
"What news?" Zevran asked.
"King Darius had allies. Other packs who supported him. When they heard he was defeated, they did not surrender." Kira's face was grim. "They declared war. They are gathering their forces right now. Within a week, they will march against you."
"How many?" Riven demanded.
"Two thousand. Maybe more."
Everyone went quiet.
"We just finished one war," Luna said. "And now another one is coming?"
"It seems so," Kira said. "But you do not have to face it alone. The Eastern Packs stand with you. All twelve of them."
"How many soldiers can you bring?" Marcus asked.
"Eight hundred. Maybe a thousand if we call in all our warriors."
"That still leaves us outnumbered two to one," Riven said.
"Then we need more allies," Mara said. "What about the Northern Packs? The Western ones? Will they help?"
"I do not know," Kira admitted. "Many packs are still deciding which side to support."
"Then we have to convince them," Zevran said. "We have to show them that we are worth fighting for."
"How do we do that?" Isla asked. She had been quiet during the battle, hiding inside the safe house.
"We tell them the truth," Mara said. "About everything. About the curse. About Selene. About what King Darius really was."
"And if they do not believe us?"
"Then we show them." Mara stood up. Her legs were shaky but she forced them to hold her weight. "We hold that trial. Right now. Today. In front of everyone. We show them justice."
"You want to put King Darius on trial while his allies are gathering an army?" Luna looked shocked. "That is madness!"
"Maybe. But it is also the right thing to do."
Zevran smiled. "I agree with Mara. We do this the right way. No more secrets. No more lies. Everything out in the open."
"Where do we hold this trial?" Marcus asked.
"At the Great Stone Circle," Kira suggested. "It is neutral ground. All packs recognize it as sacred. If we call for a gathering there, they will come."
"Even the ones who supported Darius?" Riven asked.
"Even them. No pack would dare break the sacred laws of the Great Stone Circle."
"Then that is what we do," Mara said. "We call a gathering. We hold the trial. And we let the packs decide what happens next."
"This is either very brave or very stupid," Corin said.
"Probably both," Mara admitted.
Nyra walked out of the safe house. Her purple eyes were tired. "Well, you certainly know how to make things interesting. A trial at the Great Stone Circle? Do you know how dangerous that will be?"
"Yes," Mara said. "But we do not have a choice."
"We always have a choice, child. The question is whether we have the courage to make the hard one."
"So you think we should do it?"
Nyra smiled. "I think you are already becoming a leader. Whether you know it or not."
A wolf howled in the distance. Then another. Then dozens of howls filled the air.
"What is that?" Isla asked nervously.
"The call to gather," Marcus said. "Word is spreading. Wolves from all over the kingdom are hearing about what happened here. They want to see the Moon Wolf. They want to witness the trial."
"How long until they arrive?" Zevran asked.
"Three days. Maybe four."
"Then we have three days to prepare," Mara said. "Three days to get ready for whatever comes next."
She looked at Zevran. He looked back at her. The golden bond between them glowed softly.
Together? she thought.
Together, he agreed.
They did not know what the future would bring. War. Peace. Life. Death.
But they would face it side by side.
As the sun set on the blood soaked mountain, Mara felt something shift inside her.
She was not just a slave anymore. She was not just a half wolf.
She was Mara. Mate of Zevran. Daughter of Riven. Moon Wolf.
And she was ready for whatever came next.
But as they started walking down the mountain to prepare for the journey to the Great Stone Circle, Mara heard something that made her blood run cold.
A voice. Whispering. Coming from everywhere and nowhere.
"The Moon Wolf rises. But the Shadow comes. And when they meet, the world will burn."
Mara spun around. "Did anyone else hear that?"
"Hear what?" Zevran asked.
"That voice. That warning."
Everyone looked at her with confusion.
"I did not hear anything," Riven said.
Mara touched her chest. Her heart was racing. "Something is wrong. Something is coming. I can feel it."
"What kind of something?" Luna asked.
Before Mara could answer, the ground began to shake.