Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 343

Elyra stood at the head of the table, her fingers lightly grazing the edges of the map spread out before her. The territories of the packs were marked with precise, methodical strokes, but now they felt like boundaries that would soon be breached by Dain's growing shadow. The weight of the situation was suffocating, a constant pressure in her chest that she could no longer ignore. The divide between them-the twins, once united, now torn apart-had never felt so vast.

Cassian stood beside her, his usually calm demeanor now edged with frustration. His sharp eyes studied the map, moving from one pack's territory to the next. "We can't let him continue this," he said firmly, his voice unwavering. "His influence is spreading, and if we wait any longer, we'll be too late to stop him."

Fenrir, always the pragmatist, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. His face was set in a hard expression, eyes narrowing as he took in the situation. "Cassian's right. We need to strike before he consolidates his power. He's already gained the loyalty of the Ironfang Pack and others will follow. If we don't act now, we lose all chance of stopping him."

Elyra's heart clenched at the words. She could feel the pressure building in her chest, the war between her heart and her duty growing more intense with each passing second. The conflict between family and responsibility, between love and survival, tore at her soul. "I don't know if I can do it," she murmured, barely above a whisper. "I can't... I can't lose him, Cassian. He's my brother." The words hung heavy in the air, each one filled with a desperation she had been hiding for too long.

Cassian placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. "I understand, Elyra. I do. But this isn't just about him anymore. It's about the packs, the people who depend on you. Dain's path is no longer just his own. If we don't stop him, everything will fall apart." She turned away from him, staring at the map again, her mind racing. She had spent her entire life fighting for unity, for the strength of the packs. But now, the very thing that had once been her greatest strength-the bond she shared with Dain-was the thing threatening to destroy everything. She had promised herself she would never abandon him, but how long could she keep that promise if it meant sacrificing everything else?

A chill ran down her spine as the door to the room creaked open, and Fenrir stepped aside, a grim expression on his face. Elyra's heart skipped a beat. In his grip was a man-one of Dain's scouts, his hands bound tightly behind his back.

"What is this?" Elyra asked, her voice cold, though her stomach twisted with unease.

the scout. "We captured

his face battered and bruised, struggled to meet their eyes. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, his voice hoarse. "He's coming for you, Luna." The words came out in a whisper, but they were sharp and clear, as though he knew the

in her throat. The words echoed in her mind like a warning bell,

a matter of protecting the packs. Her brother, the

stepped back, her mind reeling. "What does he mean? Is Dain coming

and resignation. "He's gathering his army," he said. "He's coming

quickened. The

filled her with dread. He wasn't just taking power from the packs; he was

with every syllable. It was as if hearing it aloud made the rift between them more real, more final. Her brother was no longer the person she had once known, no longer the person she had hoped she could save. He had chosen the shadow, and now the shadow

We can't waste any more

had been avoiding. Could she still save Dain? Could there be a way to

far gone, wasn't he? And yet, the thought of facing him-of fighting against her own

do whatever it takes. We're in this together.

laid before her. She could feel her heart pulling her in two directions: to save her brother, or to save the packs. But she knew, deep down, there could be no saving