Chapter 35 Gathering Storm
Three days passed in a blur of preparations.
Wolves from every pack arrived at the Great Stone Circle. Warriors. Healers. Scouts. Everyone who could fight or help.
Mara found herself in the middle of it all. Making decisions. Giving orders. Being the leader she never wanted to be.
"We need more archers on the eastern flank," Luna reported. "Brutus will probably attack from that direction."
"How do you know?" Mara asked.
"Because that is what I would do. The eastern approach has the best cover. He can get close before we see him coming."
"Then put fifty archers there. And scouts. I want to know the moment his forces move."
"Yes, Moon Wolf." Luna ran off to relay the orders.
Mara hated being called Moon Wolf. She was just Mara. But no one listened when she told them that.
"The supply situation is getting critical," Marcus said, approaching with a stack of papers. "We have food for maybe two weeks. After that, we start rationing."
"Can we send hunters out?"
"Not without leaving our defenses weak. Brutus has scouts watching us. Any hunting party we send will be ambushed."
"Then we ration now. Save food for when we really need it."
"That will not make us popular."
"I am not here to be popular. I am here to keep everyone alive."
Marcus nodded and left.
Mara rubbed her temples. She had a headache that would not go away.
"You need to rest," Zevran said. He had been following her around all day, making sure she ate and drank water.
"I cannot rest. Too much to do."
"Then delegate. Let others handle some of this."
"I do not know how to delegate. I have never led anything before."
"Then learn. Fast. Because you are going to burn yourself out." Zevran grabbed her hand. "Come on. Walk with me. Just for a few minutes."
"But—"
"No arguments. You have been working for twelve hours straight. You need a break."
Mara let him pull her away from the chaos of camp. They walked into the forest, away from the noise and stress.
"Better?" Zevran asked.
"A little. My head still hurts though."
"That is because you are trying to do everything yourself. You are not alone in this, Mara. Let us help you."
"I know. I just feel like if I do not handle everything personally, something will go wrong."
"Something will go wrong anyway. That is the nature of war. You cannot control everything. You can only do your best and hope it is enough."
They walked in silence for a while. The forest was peaceful. Quiet. It was easy to forget there was a war coming.
"I am scared," Mara admitted. "Terrified, actually. What if I make the wrong decision? What if people die because of me?"
"People will die no matter what you do. That is the terrible truth of war. But more people will live because you are leading them. Because you give them hope."
"I do not feel very hopeful right now."
"Fake it. That is what leaders do." Zevran smiled. "Trust me. I watched my father lead for years. Half the time he had no idea what he was doing. But he acted confident and everyone believed him."
"Your father was King Darius. Not exactly a role model."
"True. But the principle still applies. Act like you know what you are doing. Even when you do not. Eventually, you will figure it out."
"That is terrible advice."
"It is realistic advice."
A scout appeared through the trees. "Moon Wolf! We have a situation!"
Mara's heart sank. "What kind of situation?"
"Brutus sent a messenger. He wants to talk. Under a flag of truce."
"Talk about what?"
"He did not say. But he is waiting at the eastern border with fifty wolves. Armed but not attacking."
Mara looked at Zevran. "What do you think? Trap?"
"Probably. But we should hear what he has to say. Knowledge is power."
"Fine. Tell the messenger we will meet him in one hour. Neutral ground. Both sides bring twenty wolves maximum."
The scout ran off.
"I am coming with you," Zevran said.
"I know. I would not go without you."
They gathered their group. Riven, Luna, Kira, Shade, and fifteen other strong fighters. All armed. All ready for treachery.
They met Brutus at a clearing halfway between the two camps. He stood with his twenty wolves, looking smug.
"Moon Wolf. Thank you for coming."
"What do you want, Brutus? I am busy preparing for your attack."
"That is what I want to talk about. The attack." Brutus stepped forward. "I am willing to avoid war. If you agree to my terms."
"What terms?"
"Leave. Take your mate and your closest supporters and leave the kingdom. Go somewhere far away and never come back. If you do that, I will let everyone else live in peace."
"You want me to abandon everyone who believes in me? Everyone who needs my help?"
"I want you to stop pretending to be something you are not. You are not a leader. You are a slave who got lucky. You do not belong here."
Mara felt anger rising in her chest. "I belong here more than you do. The packs chose me. Not you."
"Only because you have magic tricks. Take away your powers and you are nothing."
"And take away your ego and you are nothing."
Brutus's face turned red. "I am giving you a chance to save lives! Take it or reject it! But know that if you reject it, I will show no mercy when we fight!"
"I reject it. I will not abandon the people who need me."
"Then you are a fool. And you will die a fool's death." Brutus turned to leave. "We attack at dawn in three days. Say goodbye to everyone you love. They will be dead soon."
He and his wolves left.
"Well, that was productive," Corin said sarcastically. The spirit fox had appeared out of nowhere, as usual.
"At least we know when he is attacking now," Luna said. "Three days. That gives us time to prepare."
"Not enough time," Riven said grimly. "But it will have to do."
They returned to camp and immediately began final preparations. Everyone knew the timeline now. Three days until battle.
The mood grew somber. Wolves said goodbye to loved ones. Made peace with their gods. Prepared to die.
Mara hated it. Hated knowing that people would die because of her decisions.
That night, she sat with Zevran by their fire. Neither of them spoke. They just held each other.
"If I die in this battle," Mara said quietly. "Promise me you will run. Take Isla and Riven and anyone else who will go. Get away from here."
"No."
"Zevran—"
"No. We made a promise. We live together or die together. I am not running."
"But—"
"No arguments." Zevran kissed her. "Now stop talking about dying and start talking about what we will do after we win."
"After we win?"
"Yes. After. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do?"
Mara thought about it. "I want to find a quiet place. Somewhere far from politics and wars. Build a small house. Maybe have children someday."
"Children? You want pups?"
"Maybe. If we survive long enough. Do you?"
"I never thought about it before. The curse made it impossible. But now?" Zevran smiled. "Yes. I would like that. A house full of little wolves running around causing chaos."
"You would be a good father."
"You would be a better mother."
They sat in comfortable silence, imagining a future that seemed impossible. But the dream kept them going. Kept them fighting.
Two days before the battle, something unexpected happened.
A messenger arrived from the Eastern Kingdoms. Territories beyond the wolf lands. Places Mara had only heard about in stories.
"I bring a message from Queen Adira of the Cat Clan," the messenger said. She was a sleek panther in human form. "My queen has heard of the Moon Wolf. She wishes to offer alliance."
"Alliance?" Mara was shocked. "Why would the Cat Clan care about a wolf war?"
"Because Queen Adira hates bullies. And she sees Brutus as a bully. She offers five hundred cat warriors to fight by your side."
"Five hundred?" Luna's eyes went wide. "That would change everything!"
"What does she want in return?" Mara asked. She had learned that nothing was free.
"Only your friendship. And a promise that if she ever needs help, you will answer her call."
"That is all?"
"That is all. Queen Adira believes in helping those who fight for justice. You fight for justice. Therefore, she helps you."
Mara thought fast. Five hundred warriors would give them a huge advantage. But it would also create a debt. A responsibility.
"Tell Queen Adira I accept her offer. And I promise if she ever needs help, I will come."
"Excellent. My warriors will arrive by tomorrow night." The panther bowed. "Fight well, Moon Wolf. And may you live to see peace."
She left as quickly as she appeared.
"This is good," Marcus said. "With five hundred cats, we might actually win this."
"We might," Mara agreed. "But Brutus will not sit still. He will find a way to counter our advantage."
She was right.
The next morning, scouts reported that Brutus had gained new allies too. The Bear Clan from the northern territories. Three hundred massive bear warriors, each worth three wolves in combat.
The war was growing larger. More complicated. More deadly.
"This is getting out of hand," Riven said. "We are going to destroy each other. All of us."
"Then we end it quickly," Mara said. "One decisive battle. Winner takes everything."
"How do we ensure it is decisive? Brutus could retreat and rebuild."
"We challenge him personally. Single combat again. But this time, to the death. No more mercy."
Everyone went quiet.
"You want to kill him?" Luna asked.
"I do not want to. But I will if I have to. To end this war. To save lives." Mara looked at each of them. "Unless someone has a better idea?"
No one did.
"Then we send the challenge at dawn. Brutus dies tomorrow. One way or another."