Strength in Despair
The next morning dawned with a somber stillness that hung heavy over Crimson Fang. The pack gathered in the central courtyard, their expressions solemn as they stood shoulder to shoulder in a united front of grief and resilience. Isla stood at the head of the gathering, her silver hair catching the faint morning light, her shoulders squared despite the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
The losses they had endured—Alaric, Micah, and so many others—felt insurmountable. Yet the pack looked to her now, their Luna, for strength.
“We’ve lost so much,” she began, her voice steady but tinged with sorrow. “Alaric. Micah. Wolves who gave everything to protect us, to protect our families. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.” Her silver eyes swept over the crowd, meeting each pair of grieving eyes. “But we cannot give up. Not now.”
A low murmur rippled through the pack, their pain palpable. Isla stepped closer, her voice gaining strength. “The twins are still out there. And as long as there’s a chance, we fight. Not just for them, but for every wolf who has fallen, every wolf who stands here now. We fight for the future they gave their lives to protect.”
The wolves howled in unison, their voices a haunting, mournful melody that echoed through the forest. Isla closed her eyes, the sound washing over her like a wave. It was both a lament and a promise, a declaration of unity and defiance against the darkness that sought to consume them.
As the crowd began to disperse, Jamie approached her, his gray eyes filled with quiet determination. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What’s our next move?”
Isla met her gaze, her silver eyes burning with resolve. “We find them,” she said simply. “And we end this.”
Jamie nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then I’ll make sure we’re ready.”
Later, as Isla stood alone in the war room, she traced the lines of the maps spread across the table. Her fingers hovered over the places where they had searched, where battles had been fought and lost. Her chest ached with the weight of it all, but she forced herself to breathe, to focus.
For the twins. For Draven. For her pack.
