Chapter 47:
The night air felt cool on my skin as I stood at the edge of our territory, looking into the dark trees beyond. The usual forest noises were strangely absent, as if the whole world was waiting in quiet for the storm we all knew would be breaking loose. The moon was absolutely massive in the sky, throwing these really long shadows all over the place and giving everything a gentle, silvery glow.
I couldn’t shake off what had gone down in the last couple of hours. It was just playing on repeat in my head. The urgent howls that had woken me, Xander reading Ryder’s ominous message, the frantic preparations, and finally, the pack meeting we had just concluded. The energy of our pack bond still thrummed through my veins, a reminder of the strength we possessed when united.
But even with that strength, doubts filled my mind. Were we truly ready for what was coming? Could we stand against Ryder and his rogues? The responsibility of being a leader seemed more burdensome than ever, and I started doubting every choice I had made.
Deep in thought, I didn’t notice someone coming until a warm hand touched my shoulder. I jumped and turned around to see Xander looking at me with concern.
“Hey,” he said gently, almost whispering. “Are you alright?”
I attempted to let him know that I was alright, and that everything was fine, but I couldn’t manage to say it. Instead, I simply shook my head, unable to maintain the appearance of being totally sure of myself.
He didn’t say a single word, he just held my hand and pulled me away from where I was standing. I went with him willingly, feeling relieved at the opportunity to leave.
We walked together quietly, holding hands. The noise of the pack getting ready for a fight grew quiet as we moved away, and we could only hear the light sound of leaves and the soft breaking of small branches under our feet. It wasn’t until I heard the sound of flowing water that I knew where Xander was taking me.
We came out of the trees into a little open space with a big, smooth rock looking over a small stream. This place was special to us; we found it soon after we came to Clearwater pack, and it had been a quiet place we visited whenever the stress of being leaders got too much.
Xander led me to the rock, and we sat down side by side, still holding hands. We sat for some time, the soft sound of water lapping below and the moonlight on the water’s surface the only things audible to us.
Finally, my thoughts no longer bottled up, I leaned my head on Xander’s shoulder and let out one long sigh. The stress I had been feeling all day seemed to leave me as I exhaled, making me feel tired but also a bit relieved.
Xander wrapped his arm around me, bringing me closer to him. His other hand stroked my hair softly; that soothed me further. “It’s okay,” he murmured, his breath warm against my hair. “You don’t always have to be so strong, Aurora. You can just be you when you’re with me.”
“I’m scared, Xander,” I admitted, “What if I’m leading us all into danger? What if I’m not strong enough to face Ryder? What if-”
“Shh,” Xander soothed, cutting off my spiral of doubts. He cupped my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Listen to me, Aurora. You are stronger than you think.”
“You don’t need to handle this alone. We’re all with you the pack, our allies, me. We believe in you, Aurora. I believe in you.”
His belief in me was so strong it was almost too much to handle. “Why are you so certain?” I murmured, expressing the worry that had been bothering me. “How can you be certain I won’t let us down?”
Xander smiled a little. “Because I know you,” he replied straightforwardly. “I’ve seen you beat the odds that seemed impossible. I’ve been with you through every tough situation we’ve encountered.” He softly caressed my face with his thumbs. “You’re not just my mate, Aurora. You’re the center of my life, my support, my everything. And I’m sure that together, we can handle anything.”
His words comforted me like a soothing ointment, easing the worry in my heart. I leaned into his touch, and a small smile appeared my lips. “What did I do to be so lucky to have you?” I murmured.
Xander’s smile widened. “I wonder about you every day,” he said, his voice full of warmth and love.
I couldn’t hold back any longer, so I moved closer and gently kissed him. Xander quickly responded, with one hand in my hair and the other around my waist, pulling me even closer.
The kiss grew more intense as we shared all our love, fears, and hopes. For a moment, everything else disappeared. There was no upcoming fight, no danger looming over us. It was just us, strengthening our connection and finding courage in each other.
When we finally stopped, we were out of breath, I felt a fresh wave of resolve inside me. Xander was right. We were side by side in this, and together, we could handle anything that came our way.
The distant howl of a wolf broke the quiet peace we had. It brought us back to the truth of the risk that was always near our safe area. More sounds followed-the noise of swords being made sharp, quiet talks about plans, and the soft footsteps of animals as they checked our land.
Xander and I both got up at the same time, ending our short break. As we faced each other, I saw my resolve mirrored in Xander’s eyes. Without a word, we held hands and began walking back towards the pack house.
With every step, I felt my dominant self returning, like putting on a comfortable coat. My back straightened, my head lifted, and my walk became more determined. By the time we arrived at the clearing where most of the pack was assembled, I had regained my strong, confident demeanor, ready to lead them.
As we stepped out from the woods, everyone’s attention shifted to us. I could see various feelings on the faces of our pack members-fear, resolve, hope, and most importantly, trust. They were counting on me for direction, for comfort, for leadership. And this time, I didn’t hesitate under the pressure of their hopes.
“Okay, everyone,” I announced, my voice firm and clear. “Let’s review our plans once more.”
For the next hour, we went over our plan again, ensuring each person understood their part. Xander was next to me, sharing his thoughts and sometimes holding my hand for encouragement. Seeing the focused expressions on everyone, I felt a strong sense of pride and affection for these brave individuals who were ready to face danger to fight against unfair control.
When the discussion ended, I saw Aiden standing apart, looking thoughtful. I walked over to him, wanting to know what he was thinking about.
“Aiden,” I said as I approached. “Is everything okay?”
He startled slightly as if pulled from deep thoughts. “Aurora,” he greeted me with a nod. “I was just thinking about something… about Ryder’s ritual.”
My interest piqued immediately. “What about it?”
Aiden frowned as he attempted to express his thoughts. “While I was with him, I caught snippets about the ceremony he was preparing. It’s intricate, needing exact timing and particular magical ingredients.”
I nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“What if,” Aiden said slowly, “we could disrupt the ritual somehow? If we could throw off his timing or interfere with the magical energy he’s channelling…”
“We might be able to weaken him,” I finished, excitement building in me. “Aiden, that’s brilliant! Do you think you could figure out how to do that?”
A determined look settled over Aiden’s features. “I can try. Take your time to work on it.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, feeling a small spark of hope. “Go ahead. This might give us the advantage we need.”
As Aiden rushed off to work on his idea, I looked back at the rest of the group. The sky was getting lighter as the first hints of morning showed up at the edge of the sky. Ryder’s message said he was coming, but he didn’t tell us exactly when he would arrive. We needed to be prepared at any moment.
“Everyone, try to get some sleep if you can,” I instructed. “We don’t know when Ryder will act, but we need to be in top shape when he does.”
The pack dispersed, some heading to their quarters to catch what sleep they could, others taking up positions on our defensive line. Xander and I made one last round, checking our defenses and offering words of encouragement to our sentries.
As we completed our circuit, we found ourselves back at the edge of our territory where I had stood earlier. The forest beyond seemed different now no longer ominous, but a challenge to be faced.
Xander reached for my hand, and our fingers naturally intertwined. “No matter what comes our way,” he whispered, repeating what he had told me before, “we’ll handle it side by side.”
I held his hand tighter, feeling reassured by his steady support. “Side by side,” I echoed.
We stood together, observing the sun come up over our property. The scene was stunning, with the warm sunlight dispelling the darkness of the night. Yet, as I enjoyed the sight, I couldn’t help but worry that this could be the last quiet sunrise we’d experience for some time.
Just as I was thinking this, a far-off howl pierced the quiet morning. It was joined by more howls, a strange and eerie sound that made me shiver. Beside me, Xander tensed, his grip on my hand tightening.
“They’re here,” he said unnecessarily, his voice grim.
I nodded, feeling a strange calm settle over me. This was it. The moment we’d been preparing for. All our plans, all our training, would now be put to the test.
I turned to Xander, memorizing every detail of his face. “I love you,” I whispered, pouring all my feelings in those words.
“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice filled with love. “More than anything.”
We shared one last kiss, brief but filled with all the things we couldn’t say. Then, with a shared nod of determination, we turned to face the oncoming threat.
I raised my voice, letting it carry across our territory. “Everyone to your positions! This is not a drill!”
The pack sprang into action, with wolves changing shapes and rushing to their designated spots. I could sense the rising excitement, the air almost sparking with stress.
As our team gathered, I spotted Aiden rushing toward us, his face bright with eagerness. “Aurora!” he shouted as he got closer. “I know how we can stop Ryder!”
Hope surged in my heart. “Tell me,” I pressed.
Aiden quickly explained, his words coming out fast. As I listened, my excitement increased. This plan could work. It could give us a real shot at facing Ryder’s immense strength.
As Aiden wrapped up his explanation of the plan, a loud noise filled the air, similar to a huge tree breaking in half. The ground shook under us, and a heavy magical force suddenly covered the area.
I quickly turned around, my eyes opening wide at what I saw. At the border of our land, the air appeared to wave and tear open, showing a spinning hole of dark power. As we stared in fear, shapes started to come out of the opening distorted, corrupted forms of werewolves, vampires, and other magical beings.
And there, leading this terrifying group, stood Ryder. He looked changed from the last time I saw him, his face twisted by the dark magic he had taken in. His eyes shone with an eerie light as they locked onto me, a mean grin spreading across his face.
“Aurora,” he called out, his voice clearly reaching us from far away. “I hope you’re prepared for me. Our little game ends today.”
I felt Xander and Aiden move to flank me, their presence a comforting reminder that I wasn’t facing this alone. Around us, our pack tensed, ready for battle.
Standing tall, I looked Ryder straight in the eyes without hesitation. “You’re correct about one thing, Ryder,” I shouted, my voice firm and loud. “This concludes today. But not as you imagine.”
Ryder’s grin grew wider, a touch of craziness shining in his eyes. “Oh, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this,” he said, lifting his hands. Dark energy sparked around him, the air twisting with the immense power he was directing. “Shall we start?”
As Ryder’s troops charged ahead and our group prepared for the clash, I exchanged a final glance with Xander and Aiden. In that instant, I understood that no matter what came next, we would confront it as one. Taking a deep breath, I transformed into my wolf shape, a defiant howl escaping from my throat.