Chapter 40
“Aurora’s already attached to her, I added, watching my daughter
I kept my voice steady, fighting the tension in my chest. “Aria’s been through enough. She deserves to develop feelings naturally before i drop the mate bomb on her.”
“My daughter Autora’s already attached to her,” I added, watching my little girl sing along with Aria. They bonded instantly.
Samuel nodded thoughtfully. “Wise decision, waiting. Not everyone would show such restraint.”
“Moon Shadow could use allies like Silver Lake Pack,” I said, changing the subject. The rogue attacks are becoming more frequent along our borders.
“Agreed. Our territories share similar problems.” Samuel extended his arm in the traditional wolf greeting. “Silver Lake stands with Moon Shadon.”
We clasped forearms, sealing our agreement as the song ended.
ARIA
I felt it before anyone else did. A strange prickling sensation crawled up my spine as I wrapped up the song. The pups applauded, Aurora bouncing excitedly, but I couldn’t focus on their joy. Something was wrong.
Lucas appeared at my side, his expression concerned. “You okay? You look weird.”
I didn’t answer. My attention was pulled toward the forest edge beyond the celebration area. The shadows between the trees seemed to shift unnaturally.
Then I saw it–a blur of movement too fast for human eyes, but somehow my senses tracked it perfectly. A rogue wolf, lean and feral, bursting from the tree line and heading straight for the children’s area.
Aurora and another young pup were closest to the danger, completely unaware. No warriors had noticed yet, all focused on the celebration.
I moved without thinking, my body reacting with a speed that surprised even me. In three strides, I reached the pup, grabbing Aurora with one arm and the other pup with my free hand.
“Get down!” I shouted, pushing the pups behind me just as the rogue wolf lunged.
I spun to face the attack, dropping into the defensive stance Gabriel had drilled into me for years. The wolf’s eyes gleamed with feral hatred, foam dripping from its jaws. This wasn’t a normal wolf.
As it sailed through the air toward me, I braced for impact. Its massive weight slammed into me, claws raking across my back. White–hot pain tore through my body as its claws shredded my skin. I bit back a scream, focusing instead on keeping my footing.
With a strength I didn’t know I possessed. I shoved the pups further away. “Run! Now!”
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Chapter 40
As it lunged again, I channeled every lesson Gabriel had taught me about fighting larger opponents. I waited until the last possible serout, then dropped and spun, my leg extending in a powerful kick that raught the wolf under its jaw.
The impact sent it flying backward, but I knew it wouldn’t stay down. I struggled to my feet, positioning myself between the wolf and the props, who hadn’t fled far enough…
Suddenly, a dark blur shot past me. Jace. Ilis rage was palpable as he reached the rogue wolf in two powerful strides. Without shifting, he grabbed the animal by its throat, lifting it off the ground with one hand.
“You attacked the wrong person,” he growled, his voice deadly calm.
The crack of vertebrae breaking echoed across the suddenly silent clearing. Jace dropped the lifeless body, rushing to my side as my knees finally gave out.
“Aria! Hold on.”
The last thing I recalled was being swept into strong arms, a familiar scent wrapping around me as darkness stole my
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