Chapter 15

 The Bloodlines 

The morning after the attack, a heavy silence fell over the camp. The rogue forces had been beaten back, but at a cost. We lost many good wolves, and the reality that this was just the beginning hit us all. The fight against Richard's heir was not going to be swift, and the enemy was more organized than we had anticipated.

Eric stood at the front of the pack, addressing everyone gathered in the courtyard. His voice, usually steady and strong, was laced with an undercurrent of tension. "Last night's attack was a warning. Richard's heir is not only gathering strength but is watching our every move. We need to assume we're being tracked, and we need to be smarter."

Ryker stood beside him, his eyes dark and focused. He'd been leading the defenses all night and had barely slept, but he was as alert as ever. Beside them, Aria and Alex stood ready, their faces set in grim determination. This war was affecting all of us, no one could escape its reach.