Chapter 8

The war drums beat loudly in Luna's chest as she hurried through the village, the tension in the air thick with uncertainty. The warriors of the Night Howlers were gathering in the central hall, their faces grim and their voices low as they exchanged news of the enemy's movements. Luna's mind raced as she thought of Ronan—of the look in his eyes when they had parted. She couldn't shake the feeling that the Dawn Chasers were planning something far worse than a simple raid.

She entered the main hall, where Darius, Sylva, and several of the pack's trusted generals were already convened. The room fell silent as she stepped inside, all eyes turning to her. Darius's amber gaze was sharp as ever, though there was an underlying exhaustion in his expression.

"Luna," Darius said, his voice clipped. "You're here. We have a situation."

Luna nodded, taking a seat beside her mother. "What's happening?"

One of the generals, a large male named Kael, spoke up, his voice heavy with concern. "We've received word from our scouts. The Dawn Chasers are assembling in greater numbers than we anticipated. They're not just preparing for a raid—they're preparing for something much larger. We believe they're planning a full assault."

Luna's stomach dropped. A full assault? That could mean the end of everything they had fought for.

"How soon?" Luna asked, her voice tense.

"They could strike within the next few days," Kael said, his expression dark. "We need to be ready. And we need to know their exact plans."

Darius stood, his posture rigid. "This isn't just about strategy. This is about survival. If they manage to breach our borders, we'll be facing a war that could wipe out everything we've built."

The weight of the situation pressed down on Luna, but she steeled herself. There was no room for fear, not now. She couldn't afford to let the pack see her falter.

"We'll need to fortify our defenses," she said, her voice steady. "Send out more scouts, get intelligence on their movements. We can't afford to be caught off guard."

Darius gave her a sharp look, his eyes narrowing. "You're right. But we also need to prepare our warriors for what's coming. This isn't just a skirmish anymore. This is war."

Luna's thoughts briefly flickered to Ronan, but she shoved the thought aside. She couldn't afford to let him cloud her judgment, not when so much was at stake.

"I'll organize the patrols," Kael said. "We'll increase the perimeter checks and send teams into the surrounding areas to gather more intel."

"I'll coordinate the training," Sylva added. "We need to ensure our warriors are ready for anything."

Luna nodded, appreciating the swift decision-making. But as she looked around the room, she couldn't ignore the weight of the uncertainty in the air. The Night Howlers were strong, but the Dawn Chasers were not to be underestimated. She had seen that firsthand.

Before she could speak again, a loud howl pierced the air, a warning call from the northern perimeter. Luna's heart skipped a beat. It was too close. The scouts had spotted something.

Without wasting a second, Luna was on her feet, her instincts taking over as she rushed outside. Her father and the others followed quickly, the sound of their feet pounding the earth echoing in the cold morning air.

When they reached the edge of the village, the first light of dawn was just breaking, casting a pale glow over the distant trees. A group of warriors stood at the edge of the forest, their postures tense, their eyes fixed on something just beyond the tree line.

"What is it?" Luna asked, her voice sharp.

One of the warriors, a young female named Rhea, stepped forward, her face pale with fear. "It's them. The Dawn Chasers. They're here. Not just a few—they've brought the full force."

Luna's heart raced as she scanned the horizon. She could see the shadows moving in the distance—figures emerging from the trees. The Dawn Chasers were closing in faster than they had anticipated.

"They're too close," Darius said, his voice low and commanding. "We can't let them breach the village."

Luna's mind whirled. The Night Howlers were skilled in battle, but they were outnumbered. They needed a plan, and they needed it now.

"We can't wait for them to attack," Luna said, her voice firm. "We need to strike first."

Darius looked at her, his expression unreadable. "You're suggesting we go on the offensive?"

Luna nodded, her mind working quickly. "Yes. We can't just wait for them to breach our borders. If we strike before they have a chance to organize, we can weaken them. We don't have the luxury of time."

Kael stepped forward. "It's risky, but it's our best shot. If we hit them hard enough, they won't be able to rally in time."

Darius studied her for a long moment, the weight of the decision heavy in his gaze. "Fine. We strike at dawn."

Luna's heart pounded in her chest. This was it. The moment they had been dreading was upon them. She had never fought in a war this big before, but she would not back down. Not now. Not when her people were counting on her.

As the pack prepared for battle, Luna's mind wandered again to Ronan. She couldn't afford to think about him, not when there was so much at stake. But deep down, she knew that this war wasn't just about the survival of the Night Howlers. It was about something bigger—a fate that had been set into motion long before either of them had been born.

And no matter what happened, Luna knew that the threads of their destinies would cross again.

But when they did, would they be enemies? Or something else entirely?