The bullets started flying before I even heard the helicopters.
I was still standing in the ancient stone circle, silver light pouring from my skin like liquid starlight, when the first gunshot cracked through the afternoon air. A chunk of bark exploded from the tree next to my head, and suddenly Elder Celeste was tackling me to the ground.
"Stay down!" she hissed, her gray eyes wide with panic. "They're already here!"
The sound of rotor blades thundered overhead as three black helicopters swept over the tree line, their bellies bristling with weapons and men in tactical gear. Through the noise, I could hear Alpha Thomas's voice booming across the pack grounds: "All non-combatants to the safe room! Combat teams, defensive positions!"
