Night covered the Blood Moon borders. Assigned guards walked the patrol path, torches flickering against the trees.
"If patrol keeps going like this, I might start bringing wine with me," one joked, earning a laugh from the others.
Another wolf chuckled. "Careful. The Alpha might hear that."
"He can join us then."
The third wolf shook his head. "You two joke too much."
Then he slowed.
"Wait."
The others kept walking.
"What now?" one asked with a grin.
"I heard something."
The first wolf waved it off. "It's the bushes. The wind is strong tonight."
But the rustling came again, louder this time. Their laughter stopped.
"I'll check it out," the first guard said. He moved toward the noise and pushed the branches aside.
He leaned in to look through the thick brush.
His body jerked.
"What the…"
His legs were yanked down violently.
"HEY!"
The other two rushed forward.
Before they reached him, the bushes exploded.
Rogues poured out of the forest.
The guards were heavily outnumbered.
Claws flashed in the moonlight. Steel struck flesh.
The patrol barely raised their weapons before the rogues crashed in like a wave.
Torches flew. Flames caught the dry fields. Fire spread fast.
"Burn it all," the Rogue leader ordered, fire burning in his eyes.
One wounded guard staggered away from the chaos. Blood ran down his arm as he shifted and ran toward the pack center.
He burst through the gates, shifting back, breath tearing from his lungs.
"Rogues!" he shouted to the sentries. "The eastern border is under attack!"
The alarm horn echoed across the pack.
Within minutes, the message reached the Alpha hall.
The doors opened as Alpha Varek entered.
The hall was filled with Elders of the Blood Moon Pack, warriors who had survived countless battles, along with younger elites who had earned their seats through strength.
They all stood in respect. Silence fell as he took his seat. He raised his hand, and the messenger stepped forward.
"The east is burning, Alpha. Crops are gone. Three of our brothers are dead. Iron Ridge has sealed the pass and stolen our imported medicine."
Varek's voice stayed deep and steady. "If they think the Blood Moon Pack will beg while our children go hungry, they are wrong."
"Double the patrols. Curfew starts tonight. Everyone stays inside before midnight. From today, all food is shared. No leader, not even me, eats more than a pup. We suffer together. We survive together. If Iron Ridge does not return our medicine by dawn, we take it by force."
The elders murmured in approval.
Then a voice cut through the room.
"This is too dangerous," Lucien said, stepping into the light. His eyes looked tired, but steady. "If we strike now, we start a war. We are already weak and hungry. We should wait. Send a diplomatic envoy. They might listen to reason. And the elders should not eat the same as the rest. Respect still matters."
"And if we do nothing, our sick die while we debate risk. Even a father gives his last meal for his children. I would rather die fighting than watch this pack fade in silence," Varek replied.
"You call yourself a father to this pack. But your children have no Luna," Lucien said.
"Your hunger for war comes from being alone. No mate to steady you. No one beside you to tell you when you're wrong. If you want war so badly, go fight it alone. Stop dragging the pack with you."
Varek's eyes turned red. His fists tightened until his knuckles whitened.
"Be careful with your words, Lucien," Varek warned, voice controlled.
"Someone has to speak the truth," Lucien replied.
Varek did not answer.
A crack of bone snapped through the hall as he shifted into a massive black wolf.
Lucien shifted too, a silver wolf meeting him head-on.
They clashed, growling and tearing at each other with claws and fangs.
Lucien was fast, but Varek was pure force.
Within moments, Varek pinned him.
Lucien yielded.
"The next time you challenge me like this, I will not consider you my brother. I will take your neck," Varek warned before throwing him aside.
Varek turned to the elders.
"Prepare the wagons. We take back our medicine."
They all agreed, unwilling to provoke him after what he did to his own brother.
Deep in the forest rogues circled in the flame, with wild laughter and raised jugs.
"Those blood moon fools never stood a chance." one rogue mocked and the laughter grew colder.
A tall figure stepped out from the trees, the firelight revealed only part of his face, and his expression was calm and steady.
"The border patrol is weak and the field is burnt like you wanted." The rogue leader finally spoke looking straight at the man.
"You carried out the attack perfectly."
One of the rogues grinned proudly.
"Blood Moon will wake up to ashes."
"Knowing Varek, he won't back down. He has other plans."
"He'll march on Iron Ridge by dawn. We must notify them." the man added.
"Why should we continue to help them? Iron Bridge is weak. Even with our help, they've only been greedy and cruel to us." The leader complained as the others roared in agreement.
"Right now we need allies to take down Alpha Varek. We don't want his eyes on us. The Iron Ridge pack makes the perfect bait. Until then, we help them and let them think they're strong."
With huge smile on their faces, two rogues set out to inform the Iron Ridge Pack,
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he stepped back into the shadows. "Varek," he whispered, "I'll make you crumble, until all that's left is death." A faint smile curved his lips.