The next four meetings followed the same pattern, though the tension in the air seemed to shift as word of our message spread. By the time we reached each new gathering, the crowd already knew what to expect. Still, unease lingered. Many were wary, fearful that Leonardo and I might betray them in favor of the Fae. Others voiced concerns that Noemi and Graziana might harbor resentment toward the human realm, choosing instead to fight for their own.
We didn’t dismiss their fears or brush them aside. Instead, we acknowledged their concerns, validating the risks they were taking. At every meeting, we reminded them of what we all stood to lose-a future that went beyond individual realms.
By the time we completed the final meeting, our message had reached nearly every corner of the pack. Even Alpha Attilio and his Luna must have heard by then-Leonardo had taken a call from him just two hours ago.
Our last destination was the perimeter Dante had established during our absence.
“It wasn’t just me,” Sofia interjected, a smug tilt to her head. “It was a team effort. It’s obvious that this pack was their primary target. The ice princess and her witch want your home erased first. Carlo managed to send some of his warriors here, and Attilio did the same. We’ve been rotating shifts, even stepping in ourselves when needed.”
“So if the perimeter is solid, how are rogues still slipping through?” I frowned, my mind racing. “Even if they’re using the cave systems, that doesn’t explain how they’re getting past our defenses.”
Sofia sighed, pulling stray strands of hair from her face. “If there’s a hidden entrance into the town, it’s well concealed. We’ve scoured most of the obvious routes.”
“It might be best if you two shift before we arrive,” Dante suggested, his grimace visible in the rearview mirror as he drove. His tone was as sharp as the tension hanging in the air. “The warriors are exhausted and on edge. They might attack first and ask questions later.”
“Better they recognize me as their Alpha before trying something foolish,” Leonardo said dryly, his tone laced with enough steel to make my cheeks warm.
We dropped Noemi, Graziana, and Chiara off at the house before continuing toward the outskirts, where the forest met the neighborhoods. The farther we drove from the heart of Leonardo’s territory, the heavier the atmosphere became. A strange stillness loomed, muting the world around us.
Cars sat abandoned in the streets, frozen in midday like a paused memory. Across the road, a grill stood in a park, the food atop it long spoiled. Gusts of dry wind pushed crumpled papers along the asphalt, whispering of a life interrupted.
Is this what our world would look like if they destroyed it, or would they rebuild from scratch? I wondered, my thoughts naturally slipping into Leonardo’s.
It won’t look like this for long, he replied, his voice steady and resolute. It’s not the land that makes a pack or makes me an Alpha. As long as our people survive, homes can be rebuilt.
We continued through town until we reached the dense forest that bordered the edge of his territory. The land here had always been a source of pride for Leonardo’s pack-rolling hills, towering trees, and mountains that kissed the sky. We stopped at the edge of a community park where a web of hiking trails began. Signs marked the paths, denoting their difficulty levels.
I stepped toward the trees to undress when a cool hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back into Leonardo’s chest. His scent enveloped me, light and masculine, a comfort in the chaos. Strands of his dark hair brushed against my forehead as he looked down at me, smirking.
Then, as if summoned by magic, a thin veil of hazy ice rose from the ground, forming a crystalline wall between us and the others. It shimmered in the fading light, a masterpiece of elements.
“How did you-” I began, pressing a fingertip to the cold surface. My words trailed off when the ice sizzled beneath my touch, leaving a small hole behind. I pulled my hand back, giggling at the perfect dime-shaped impression.
“You run warmer than I do, kitten,” he said with a cheeky grin, a stark contrast to the brooding Alpha I once knew.
Within the icy privacy screen, we slipped out of our clothes and shifted. The process was as painful as always-skin stretching, bones contorting-but the elements softened the worst of it, easing me through the change. When it was over, Blue stood tall, shaking out her chestnut fur. She turned toward Leonardo and froze.
He was breathtaking. His fur, pale as snow, shimmered under the emerging moonlight, glowing with a soft, silvery light. The sight left me breathless.
If you think I look magical, take a look at yourself, Leonardo’s voice chuckled in my mind. He nodded toward a piece of unmelted ice nearby.
I padded over, gazing into the reflective surface. Blue stared back, familiar yet changed. Her chestnut fur now carried fiery orange undertones, and an earthy glow surrounded us, a stark contrast to Leonardo’s icy aura.
“Badass. You guys are Fae wolves,” Enrico whistled, still in human form as he gawked at us.
“We are not calling them that!” Sofia snapped, glaring at him.
Are we a different species? I asked Leonardo, curiosity flickering in my thoughts.
Maybe, he replied with a shrug. Does it matter?
It doesn’t, I promised, a wolfish grin spreading across Blue’s face. Sofia will think of something better.
The walk through the forest was far tenser than I anticipated. Dante’s ears were pricked, his focus sharp as we moved in formation-me at the front, Leonardo guarding the rear. The forest, once a childhood haven, felt foreign and ominous. Gone was the carefree beauty of twilight; this was a battlefield waiting to erupt.
Approaching from the north, Dante’s voice cut through the mind-link. There’s someone important you need to meet. Our Alpha and Luna have returned.