The battle was over. The days of tension and fear were over. Even more relieving was the fact that the victory had gone to them, the Frostholm Pack.
The people rejoiced. They were all grateful. Many of them even made their way to Amerotha Forest, a sacred place that had always been considered the center of the Frostholm Pack’s mystical energy. They expressed their happiness and prayed for the unity of the pack, hoping that it would always thrive in wisdom and honor. According to ancient legend, a great power resided there. So, they often came to pray, wishing that all their wishes would come true.
Unfortunately, victory didn’t come without sorrow. The Frostholm Pack was rejoicing, but they were also grieving. Many had fallen, and more than a few had sacrificed their lives to protect the pack.
“Ayla, don’t move too much. Your wound is still fresh. You need to rest.”
Ayla closed her eyes, feeling the truth in Scott Saunder’s words-the palace doctor of the Frostholm Pack. “Thank you, Scott.”
“You’re welcome,” Scott replied with a nod. Then he put a hand on Ayla’s shoulder. “Call me if you feel any discomfort. I’ll be going now.” He turned to leave, but Ayla grabbed his hand and stopped him. He paused and asked, “What is it?”
“How are the others?” Ayla looked at Scott with a somber expression. Her eyes seemed dark. “They’re all okay, right?”
Scott didn’t say anything, but his expression was more than enough to give her an answer.
A sharp pain hit Ayla’s heart and her breath caught in her chest. “I-is Bruce safe?”
Scott struggled to find the right words. But he knew that Ayla would find out sooner or later. So, he shook his head slowly.
“No, it can’t be,” Ayla whispered, her lips trembling as tears filled her eyes. “You’re not serious, are you?”
“Bruce couldn’t be saved, Ayla,” Scott spoke in a low tone, unable to bear to explain what had happened. “When the rescue team found him, his condition was truly devastating. His body was torn apart and he had lost all his blood. He was dead when they found him.”
Ayla froze, a horrible image suddenly filling her mind. She could picture Bruce’s struggle as he fought off the Nimbria Pack to keep her, Usher, and Mariah safe. Bruce had sacrificed his life.
“I’m sure Bruce is smiling up there right now. So don’t let your grief consume you.”
Ayla knew that Scott’s words were true. Bruce must be proud of himself for fighting so bravely. Besides, Bruce’s sacrifice had not been in vain. They were safe.
“And what about Mariah? Is she okay?”
This time Scott nodded without hesitation. “She’s badly hurt, but she survived.”
Ayla let out a long breath. At least her guilt wasn’t getting any worse. Mariah was alive; she had made it. And most importantly, nothing terrible had happened to Usher.
Ayla could not express how grateful she felt when she heard the news. Ivan and Ferdie’s impeccable teamwork had saved Usher just in time. Their heroic actions earned the admiration of the entire pack. They were hailed as formidable warriors, the pride of the pack.
Ivan, however, refused to be swayed by the accolades. Instead, the incident made his mind race. He decided to discuss it with Odin.
“It seems that you will have to change the evacuation routes. Times are changing, and some of the evacuation measures are no longer relevant.”
Odin nodded in agreement, as he had been thinking along the same lines. “You’re right. Evacuating outside the palace grounds during a war is indeed a risky move.”
“So, do you have a plan?”
“Of course,” Odin replied confidently. He had been thinking about it for several days. “I plan to build secret evacuation routes within the palace, along with hidden rooms for shelter. There are some new technologies we need to incorporate, and I’m also going to increase security along the borders, especially in the Amerotha Forest. I’ll be meeting with Graham about that.” He exhaled briefly. “The construction will certainly take time, but it will be worth it for the security it provides.”
The Frostholm Pack’s guards had initiated significant innovations to ensure the safety of the palace and the Alpha family in case of any unforeseen events. Odin couldn’t afford to dwell too long on Bruce’s death. He sought a replacement for Bruce and vowed that Bruce’s sacrifice would always be remembered. He also made sure that Bruce’s efforts would not go to waste.
On the other hand, Ivan didn’t sit idly by. He strengthened the warriors of the Frostholm Pack. Intensive training sessions were held and new, effective strategies were devised. Most importantly, he worked on the warriors’ mentality to keep them sharp.
Everyone, without exception, worked together to increase the safety and preparedness of the pack, ready for whatever the future might bring. They were certain that the Nimbria Pack would not take their defeat lightly. One day, the Nimbria Pack would surely return, attack, and attempt to conquer the Frostholm Pack.
That time might still be years away. The Nimbria pack needed time to recover. There would be a gap, and Ivan was determined not to waste it.
Several days had passed since the end of the war. Longing had filled Ivan’s heart. In addition, a feeling of worry often haunted him every night. He knew that Rowena was a powerful witch. It was not difficult for her to use magic and nature to protect herself.
Unfortunately, all these thoughts were in vain. Ivan would not feel at ease until he saw Rowena, and he was sure that Rowena was eagerly awaiting his arrival. So, he cleared his schedule and made his way to Amerotha Forest.
The sun had already set by the time Ivan arrived at Amerotha Forest. He immediately entered the forest; driven by an urgency he could not contain. He called out, “Rowena!”
Ivan’s voice echoed through the dense trees, but he received no response. The Amerotha Forest felt unusually quiet, even quieter than usual. Suddenly, a feeling of unease crept into his mind.
He heard footsteps around him. The sound was so faint that he stopped moving. His instincts kicked in, convinced that these were not Rowena’s footsteps.
Ivan’s eyes widened. His breath caught in his chest. He was certain that the footsteps belonged to several people.
Ivan’s suspicion was confirmed. Moments later, unknown silhouettes emerged from the shadows of the trees. They moved slowly, surrounding him from all sides!
*