Page 97 of Full Moon
Easton steps forward before I can respond, his golden eyes blazing with barely contained fire. "Both councils have a silent kill order on Feray. White wolves amassing in one area will tip them off. The longer we keep your presence secret, the better our chances of striking before they can prepare."
He exchanges a weighted glance with Khal. "We suspect one of the councils is working with the basilisks to hunt Feray. They've already driven my species to extinction using exactly those methods."
His voice grows thick with centuries of grief. "I am the last phoenix. My people were turned to stone over a thousand years ago—every man, woman, and child in my kingdom, frozen in the moment of their deaths while going about their daily lives. The Kingdom of Dusk was my birthright. Now it's nothing but a graveyard of statues covered in moss and forgotten by history."
Diaval steps forward, his presence commanding attention. "The councils have hunted species to extinction at least four times that we know of. Winter wolves. Unicorns. Phoenixes. Naga. All branded as threats and erased until most believe they never existed." He pauses, ancient pain flickering behind his eyes. "Dragons are dying off too—our reproduction rates dwindling to almost nothing. I believe the councils are behind it, particularly the mages. We're next on their list. They're just being more subtle about our extermination."
The weight of their words settles over the gathered wolves like a shroud. Seven hundred hearts break and harden simultaneously as the full scope of what we face becomes clear. This isn't just mywar. It's a war for every species the councils have decided doesn't deserve to exist.
Jurian breaks the silence, his earlier frustration replaced by grim determination. "We will follow the path you've chosen, Luna. But what about the ice tunnel? We can't get out, nor can we call for reinforcements."
A soft laugh escapes my lips as I look at Diaval. "Leave that to us."
I step closer to him, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his skin despite the frozen air. "I know your dragon doesn't like carrying others. But I need you to carry my slower mates and the dragon egg across the tundra. Easton can only fly for so long in this cold before it drains him, and Torben and Khal can't keep pace with wolves running full speed for hours. Only you can carry them safely and watch over me from above."
I reach up and caress the side of his face, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingers. "Please, make this one exception for me."His expression softens, the fierce protectiveness giving way to something deeper. He nods.
For you,his dragon rumbles through our bond,we will carry the entire world on our back if you ask it.
I turn to my pack, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders like a mantle woven from ice and iron. "Get your selections made. Choose the guard that will stay close to me in Briarvale. Choose the attack force that will wait in the shadows of the mountains for the moment to strike."
My claws extend without conscious thought, sliding from my fingertips like promises of violence yet to come. "We will strike when the time is right. Not a moment before. For now, prepareto head toward Dunnum. We'll pick up more wolves there, more teeth and claws to add to our numbers. It's time to clean house and set things right." The pack disperses with purpose, betas shouting orders, wolves forming into groups. I stand in the center of it all, feeling torn in two directions.
Part of me—the part that dreamed of a simple life in a cabin far from the complexities of power—feels strangled by the weight of what I must do. But another part, one I didn't know was missing, has never felt more complete. The pull of the pack, the rhythm of seven hundred hearts beating in sync with mine—it fills a void I didn't know existed.
Being with my mother's people has given me a sense of belonging I never knew I needed. Fi has found a life that suits her—Revelin's world of parties and glamour. It's not who I am. My mates were right. I needed this connection. Bears are solitary unless in a sleuth. Dragons prefer isolation without a nest. Basilisks are the same. Phoenixes remain only with their mate.
But I am a wolf. And wolves need their pack.
Through the bond, I connect with Alec and Dorian in Dunnum, feeling their presence like warm flames in the vast network of wolf consciousness. Their agreement comes swiftly—ten wolves as my personal guard, another twenty-five to bolster the hundred from Crescent Valley.
One hundred and thirty-five wolves, plus my four mates and their considerable power. The weight presses down on me, but I stand tall. This is the path I've chosen.
Khal's touch grounds me, his fingers warm against my shoulder, his caress gentle. When he kisses my temple, it's a promise unspoken but deeply understood. "Are you okay, Precious?"
I force a smile, though it feels fragile on my lips. "I will be." I kiss him briefly—more comfort than passion—then pull back as reality crashes in.
"It will not be easy. Good people are going to die. People who are following me because they trust me." My voice trembles. "The Briarvale council is going to turn into a war zone. Who knows what happens with the mages."
"Sadly, good people die all the time," Khal says, kissing my temple again. "This time, it's for a good reason. It's securing the future for generations to come."
He threads his fingers through my hair, and I lean into him, finding solace in the simple gesture. His touch soothes me, but it doesn't erase the dread curling in my gut. I know what's at stake. I know we have no choice. But that doesn't make it easier to accept that some of my people won't live to see the world we're fighting for. I cling to him, hoping for just a little longer I can pretend we're not standing on the edge of an abyss.
We will survive this,my wolf whispers, her voice fierce despite my tears.And when we're done, the councils will learn what it means to fear the winter.
