Eila sat stiffly in the pack house's grand meeting hall, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The air was thick with tension, the weight of her vision pressing down on her like an iron chain.
She had told her parents everything—well, almost everything. She had left out the part about the two silver-haired warriors, unsure of what their presence in her dream meant. The rest, however, she had recounted in vivid detail. The fire, the bodies, the unnatural creatures fighting alongside the rogues.
Her parents had immediately mind-linked the Alpha, and within the hour, they had all been summoned to the pack house.
Now, seated in the room filled with the highest-ranking wolves of the pack, Eila felt the sharp edge of nervousness prickling her skin. Would they believe her? Would they take her words seriously?
Alpha Magnus sat at the head of the long wooden table, his golden eyes sharp with scrutiny. Luna Priscilla sat beside him, her poised demeanor betraying only a hint of unease. Leonard stood at the far end of the room, silent yet commanding. His piercing blue gaze never left her, and that alone sent a shiver through her.
Eila inhaled deeply before recounting her vision. She spoke clearly, her voice unwavering despite the knot in her stomach.
She described the rogues moving in an unnervingly organized manner, unlike their usual chaotic raids. She explained the presence of creatures unlike anything she had ever seen—dark, fast-moving figures that seemed to blend into the night itself. She spoke of the destruction, the flames, the blood-soaked streets.
The room remained silent as she finished.
Then murmurs broke out.
"Rogues don't fight like that."
"They're scattered, impulsive. They don't follow strategy."
"Could this be a new kind of enemy?"
Luna Priscilla raised her hand, and the room fell silent again. Her silver-grey eyes were pensive as she regarded Eila. "You're certain this wasn't just a dream?"
Eila met the Luna's gaze, willing herself to stay composed. "It felt real," she admitted. "I could smell the blood, feel the heat of the fire. It was more than a dream—it was a warning."
Alpha Magnus exchanged a look with Leonard, who remained impassive.
"We've had reports from our spies," Magnus finally said, his voice heavy with thought.
"They've noticed some rogue movements that didn't match their usual patterns. We dismissed it at the time, assuming it was a small faction trying to claim more territory. But if what you've seen is true…" His jaw tightened. "We can't ignore this."
A quiet hush fell over the room.
Then Magnus turned to his Beta. "Leonard, increase patrols at the borders. I want hourly reports on any unusual activity. If anything even remotely suspicious happens, I want to know immediately."
Leonard gave a sharp nod. "Understood."
Luna Priscilla stood. "We also need to protect our own," she said, turning to Eila's parents.
"Your backgrounds as warriors make you valuable for internal defense. We need people inside the pack, guarding homes, watching over the young and the elderly."
Celena and Armaan exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.
"We'll handle it," Armaan said. "Our family and the neighborhood will be protected."
Satisfied, the Alpha and Luna concluded the meeting just as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A guard entered and bowed his head. "Alpha, Luna—your sons have returned."
Luna Priscilla's composed expression shifted, warmth touching her features. "Excuse us," she said, turning to Leonard. "You may handle the rest."
Without another word, the Alpha and Luna exited the hall, leaving Leonard in charge.
The Beta wasted no time. He swiftly assigned responsibilities to the necessary warriors, giving orders in a calm, clipped tone. Within moments, the meeting was over, and the attendees dispersed.
Eila rose from her seat, relieved that it was finally over. She turned to leave with her parents, not wanting to linger in the oppressive atmosphere any longer.
But before she could take a step, Leonard's deep voice stopped her.
"Wait."
She turned to find him approaching, his tall, imposing frame blocking her path.
"I'll take her home." His words were directed at her parents, but his eyes never left her.
Celena hesitated, glancing at her husband. Armaan studied Leonard for a moment before nodding. "Take care of her."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Leonard's face, though his expression remained as unreadable as ever.
With that, Eila's parents left, trusting Leonard to keep his word.
Eila swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was to her. His scent—dark, crisp, and intoxicating—wrapped around her like an invisible force.
She didn't know why, but something told her that being alone with him would be just as dangerous as anything lurking in her visions.