“How are you not sick to your stomach?” I muttered to Leonardo, our minds intertwining like threads in a tapestry.
His amusement rippled through me first, warm and teasing, followed by a gentle undercurrent of concern. Even in the privacy of my thoughts, his deep chuckle sent shivers down my spine. His presence was tangible, a comforting weight that lingered just behind me, and I felt the brush of his touch along my arms.
“I was born and raised to be an Alpha, kitten,” he murmured, his smirk clear as day. “Speaking to the pack is part of the job.” He tugged lightly on my wrist, spinning me to face him.
The knot of nerves in my stomach tightened further. If I could, I would have stretched this fleeting moment into eternity. It wasn’t the speaking itself that had my chest constricting but the uncertain storm our words might unleash. Still, we had no more time to stall. Enrico stepped through the door, his tone clipped as he announced, “It’s now or never.”
This was the first of five stops-five identical meetings where our message would echo across the pack and beyond. The rogue attacks plaguing our land were far more sinister than they seemed. Puppets on invisible strings, these rogues were manipulated into chaos and bloodshed. The Fae had breached our realm, their intentions clear: domination. And what made this harder to explain was that their Alpha and Luna-Leonardo and I-had changed too.
Gathering the entire pack in one place would’ve been simpler, but the risk was far too great. Instead, we were forced to travel, holding smaller meetings in safe locations. Even these gatherings excluded the warriors, who were stationed at the borders, ever vigilant. The roads were ghostly quiet-Dante had issued orders long ago for everyone to remain indoors. Peering through the windows of abandoned houses was unsettling, though Sofia reassured me many families were sheltering in the safety of their homes closer to the center.
“This is the largest venue we could secure on such short notice,” Dante said, his frown deepening as we approached the doors of the recreational hall.
He was right. The space, built for modest gatherings, now brimmed with life. A sea of faces filled every corner, shoulders pressed close. At the front stood a low platform, giving us barely a couple of feet over the crowd. Dante flanked us as we stepped onto it, his presence grounding. Behind us stood Carlo, Laura, Sofia, Enrico, Chiara, Noemi, and Graziana. Leonardo had given the girls the choice to attend, and though Graziana initially refused, she relented when Noemi decided to come. Loyalty tethered them together.
Leonardo’s unwavering confidence steadied my nerves. Beside him, surrounded by friends and allies, I felt a glimmer of hope. Despite disappearing for three months and returning irrevocably altered, they trusted us-trusted him. That trust, fragile yet resilient, was the lifeline I clung to.
“Silence,” Leonardo commanded, his voice slicing through the rising tide of shock and whispers as the crowd took in the changes wrought by the Fae. Their eyes darted between us-recognizing, yet unsure. These were the same people who’d watched us grow, yet now they struggled to reconcile the familiar with the otherworldly.
“My intention,” Leonardo began, his voice resolute, “is to make you all aware of what has transpired over these past three months. I will not withhold the truth, but I ask that you grant me and your Luna the respect to speak freely.”
Unease rippled through the crowd-a tangible wave of furrowed brows and quiet murmurs. I could feel their yearning to trust us in the way they clung to their mates and children, seeking reassurance. Slowly, the room quieted, their whispers ebbing.
Leonardo stepped forward, his voice steady as he recounted the events-the rogues, the Fae, the transformations we could not reverse. As he spoke, I moved with him, letting our shared bond bridge the growing chasm between us and the pack. These people were still ours, and they could feel that connection, unbroken despite everything.
Together, we told them what we knew, even as time pressed against us. We spoke of the Fae’s machinations and the war brewing on the horizon. Leonardo’s words carried weight, his tone a quiet promise of retribution and protection. “Despite what we have become,” he said, his hands spread wide, nails elongating into claws, “our wolves still live within us. We will use the power given to us not to dominate, but to protect.”
A hush settled over the room until one man, older and weathered, raised his hand. His voice cut through the quiet. “And what if we don’t want any part of this? Can we take our families and leave?”
Leonardo’s gaze sharpened, his voice deepening as he replied, “You are free to do what you believe is best for your family. But hear me now: this war is coming. The Fae do not care who or where you are. To them, we are all mortal, and our world is theirs for the taking. Leave if you must, but know this battle will find you, no matter where you run.”
His words lit a fire among the crowd, their apprehension beginning to melt. Though questions still lingered, their trust in us-fragile yet enduring-seemed to grow. Dante, ever the enforcer, added his voice, a dark boom that silenced the lingering doubts. “Your Alpha and Luna possess abilities that could turn the tide of this war. With or without your support, they will fight for this pack-for this realm.”
And fight we would, no matter what.