The forest fell silent as the last of the rogues disappeared into the shadows, their snarls fading like echoes on the wind. Exhaustion settled over the clearing, but the pack remained standing, battered yet unbroken. Logan’s gaze lingered on the treeline, his body rigid as though expecting the rogues to reappear at any moment.
“We regroup in the den,” he commanded, his voice carrying over the clearing. “No one lingers alone. Let’s move.”
The pack began to shift back into their human forms, shaking off the tension that had gripped them during the fight. Mal stood next to me, her golden fur streaked with blood and dirt. Though she’d shifted back earlier, her movements still seemed cautious, as if the weight of the battle clung to her even now.
“Mal,” I said, reaching out to touch her shoulder, “you sure you’re okay?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. “I’ll heal.” She hesitated, her gaze flickering to mine. “Thanks for earlier. You didn’t have to…”
“You’d have done the same for me,” I replied firmly. “We’re in this together.”
Her jaw tightened, and she nodded again, though the guilt in her eyes remained. I didn’t press further. Mal wasn’t one to wear her heart on her sleeve, and tonight had already pushed her to the edge.
As we made our way back to the den, Logan fell into step beside me. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his thoughts.
“You did well tonight,” he said, his voice low.
“Thanks,” I replied, surprised by the compliment. “But it felt… messy. They caught us off guard.”
“They always will,” he said grimly. “That’s the thing about rogues. They don’t fight by the rules, and they don’t care about losses. That’s why we have to stay sharp.”
I nodded, though his words left a heavy feeling in my chest. The reality of our situation was stark: we were constantly on edge, constantly preparing for the next attack. There was no room for mistakes, no time to breathe.
The den came into view, nestled in the hollow of a rocky outcrop. It was a place of safety, though tonight it felt more like a temporary reprieve than a sanctuary. Inside, the pack began tending to their wounds and regrouping. Liam was already leaning against a wall, wincing as another wolf wrapped a bandage around his arm.
Logan turned to face the group, his piercing gaze sweeping over us. “Rest up tonight. Tomorrow, we train harder. I want everyone to be faster, stronger, and more prepared for their tricks. The next time they come, we won’t give them an inch.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the pack, though the exhaustion was evident on every face. Logan’s leadership was undeniable, but even he couldn’t erase the toll the fight had taken on us.
Mal sat down heavily on one of the den’s worn couches, her head resting against the back. I joined her, sitting close enough that our shoulders brushed. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence felt fragile, like a thread that might snap under the weight of our unspoken thoughts.
“What are you thinking?” I asked finally, keeping my voice soft.
She let out a hollow laugh. “That I need to get my head together. I keep losing it out there, Audrey. I feel like I’m a danger to everyone around me.”
“You’re not a danger,” I said quickly. “You’re just… passionate. And that’s not a bad thing. You saved me tonight.”
“And if I hadn’t? What if I’d lost control?” She shook her head, her golden eyes dark with frustration. “Logan’s right. I need to learn when to fight and when to step back.”
“You will,” I said firmly. “We’ll figure it out together.”
She didn’t respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. It was a small victory, but I’d take it.
Hours passed, and the den grew quieter as the pack settled in for the night. The tension from the battle lingered in the air, but there was a sense of unity among us-a shared determination to face whatever came next.
Logan remained by the entrance, his silhouette outlined by the moonlight streaming through the opening. I hesitated for a moment before approaching him.
“You’re not going to rest?” I asked, leaning against the wall beside him.
“I will,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. “But someone needs to keep watch.”
I studied his face, noticing the faint lines of exhaustion around his eyes. Logan carried the weight of the pack on his shoulders, and it was clear the responsibility wasn’t an easy one.
“You don’t have to do it alone,” I said quietly. “We’re here for you, too, you know.”
He turned to look at me, his blue eyes softening. “I know. But it’s my job to protect everyone. I can’t afford to let my guard down.”
“You’re not a machine, Logan. Even you need to rest sometimes.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”
“Maybe. But I’m also right.”
He chuckled, the sound low and warm. For a moment, the weight between us lifted, replaced by something lighter, almost comforting.
“Go get some sleep, Audrey,” he said, his tone gentler now. “I’ll be fine.”
Reluctantly, I nodded and made my way back to where Mal had already dozed off on the couch. As I settled in beside her, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight had only been the beginning. The rogues would return, stronger and more determined. But for now, we had each other, and that was enough.
The next morning came too soon. The den was bustling with activity as the pack prepared for another day of training. Logan was already outside, overseeing drills with an intensity that left little room for error.
I joined Mal and Liam in the clearing, the three of us working through defensive maneuvers under Logan’s watchful eye. Every move felt sharper, more deliberate than the day before. The memory of the fight lingered in our minds, driving us to push harder.
“Again!” Logan barked, his voice cutting through the air.
We complied, moving as one unit, our movements synchronized and precise. Sweat dripped down my brow, but I didn’t stop. None of us did. The pack couldn’t afford to be anything less than prepared.
By midday, we were exhausted but stronger. Logan called for a break, and the pack dispersed, some heading for the river to cool off while others collapsed in the shade.
I found myself sitting by the water’s edge, letting the coolness of the river wash over my hands. Mal joined me, her expression lighter than it had been the night before.
“We’re going to be okay,” she said, her voice quiet but steady.
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. “Yeah. We will.”
For the first time in what felt like weeks, hope flickered in my chest. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but we had each other. And together, we could face anything.