The fire's orange glow flickered against the darkening sky as Luca stood at the center of the Blackclaw camp, the weight of leadership heavy on his broad shoulders. Around him, the pack moved with purpose—sharpening weapons, reinforcing defenses, and sharing whispered rumors of Selene's betrayal. The air was thick with both determination and dread.
Emily stood quietly beside Luca, her eyes scanning the faces of their kin. The pack was strong, but the fractures beneath the surface were now impossible to ignore. Selene's treachery had shaken the fragile trust that held them together, and the Nightfang threat loomed closer by the hour.
Luca's voice cut through the murmurs, steady and commanding. "Tonight, we face more than old rivals. We face a new enemy—one born from within. Selene's alliance with the Nightfangs endangers us all. We will not let our pack fall."
A low growl of agreement rippled through the gathered wolves, but Emily caught the flicker of doubt in some eyes. Fear of the unknown, suspicion of each other.
As night deepened, Luca called a council of his closest warriors. Selene was among them, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp as ever. The tension in the circle was palpable.
Luca began, "Selene, you stand accused of betrayal. Do you deny the charges?"
Selene's lips curled into a cold smile. "Accused by whom? What proof do you have?"
Emily felt her heart pound, but Luca held firm. "We have witnesses. We have heard your plans."
Selene laughed, a sound like steel on stone. "You think you can control this pack with threats and accusations? I am Blackclaw by blood and right. If you cannot see that, then you are weak."
The council erupted into heated voices—some supporting Luca, others hesitant, and a few quietly siding with Selene. The pack was fracturing before their eyes.
Emily stepped forward, her voice clear. "We are stronger together. If we fight each other, the Nightfangs will destroy us all."
Selene's gaze locked on Emily, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "And what of your power? How do we know you won't tear us apart from within?"
Luca raised his hand, silencing the room. "Enough. The pack must decide. But tonight, we prepare. Tomorrow, we confront the Nightfangs—and Selene's true loyalties will be revealed."
The camp hummed with restless energy as night deepened. Fires blazed in scattered circles, casting flickering shadows on the faces of the Blackclaw warriors. Each was lost in their own thoughts—some sharpening blades, others tending to the wounded, all preparing for the storm on the horizon.
Emily moved through the camp alongside Luca, the faint glow of her healing magic a steady comfort to those she touched. Yet even her presence could not fully ease the growing unease.
"Do you think the pack will hold together?" she asked softly, glancing up at Luca as they paused near the edge of the clearing.
He looked out into the darkness beyond the firelight, jaw clenched. "They have no choice. If we fracture now, the Nightfangs will tear us apart."
A low growl interrupted their exchange—a warning from one of the sentries. Luca's eyes sharpened.
"Nightfangs," he muttered, signaling the alert.
The pack sprang into action, warriors moving to defensive positions while others gathered weapons and prepared spells. Emily's hands glowed bright blue as she moved among those injured in the earlier battle, healing quickly but knowing her magic would be needed soon on a far larger scale.
Amid the chaos, Selene's figure appeared, stepping into the firelight. Her eyes met Luca's, cold and challenging.
"You'll regret this," she said softly. "You can't stop what's coming."
Luca met her gaze without flinching. "We'll see."
Minutes later, a howl shattered the night, chilling the blood of everyone present. Figures emerged from the shadows—sleek, ruthless Nightfang warriors, their eyes burning with hunger and hatred.
The battle erupted instantly.
Emily felt the surge of energy within her rise to a crescendo. Claws flashed, teeth snapped, and the forest echoed with the cries of combatants. Luca fought with the brutal grace of a born alpha, his every move protective and precise.
But amid the fury, Emily's focus was on keeping the pack alive—healing wounds, bolstering strength, and fighting the creeping despair threatening to overwhelm them.
Selene was nowhere to be seen.