Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 344

The camp was buzzing with unease. Scouts reported movement on the outskirts of the forest, and the air was thick with the scent of tension. Elyra sat in the council tent, surrounded by her allies, her hands gripping the edges of the wooden table so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Cassian and Fenrir stood to her left, Selene to her right, all watching her with expectant eyes.

The flap of the tent suddenly opened, and a young guard stepped in, his face pale. "Luna," he said, bowing his head. "An emissary from Dain's forces is here. He claims to bear a message."

Elyra's stomach tightened, but she forced herself to nod. "Bring him in."

Moments later, a figure entered the tent. The emissary was tall and cloaked in shadowed leathers, his face partially obscured by a hood. His aura radiated dark energy, and the faint scent of shadow magic clung to him like a second skin. "Speak," Elyra said, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her chest.

The emissary pulled back his hood, revealing sharp, angular features and eyes that glowed faintly with shadow. He reached into his tunic and retrieved a scroll, which he unfurled with deliberate slowness. "From Alpha Dain," he announced, his voice smooth and cold. "You are to deliver this message to Luna Elyra." His gaze shifted to her, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Or so he said."

Elyra's heart clenched at the sound of her brother's name, but she kept her face composed. "I am Elyra. What is his message?"

The emissary straightened, his tone growing darker. "Alpha Dain sends this ultimatum: Join him, or be consumed by the shadow. He offers you a place by his side a chance to unite the packs under his rule. But refuse..." He let the sentence hang in the air, the unspoken threat lingering like a storm cloud.

Cassian growled low in his throat, stepping forward. "He has no right to make such demands. Tell him we won't bow to his shadow."

Elyra raised a hand, stopping Cassian before he could continue. She met the emissary's gaze, her voice calm but firm. "And what of the packs he's already claimed? Did they have a choice?"

"They made the right choice. Perhaps

for unity and balance. She had believed in him,

cutting through the tense silence. "And I will not let the packs be consumed by

tilted his head, as if studying her. "A bold choice," he said

his taunt, turning to Selene. "He's not giving us a choice. If we

grave, her silver eyes meeting Elyra's. "You've always believed he could be saved," Selene said gently.

her chest

admitted her voice quieter now. "But I'm running out of time. If he keeps going down

forward, his voice hard. "He's already made his choice, Elyra. You can't keep holding on to the past. We need to be

to him. "If I may," he said, his tone laced

returned, colder this time. "Dain has taken control of the Riverstone Pack. Their

through

Kel

felt the air leave her lungs. The Riverstone Rack was a critical stronghold, both strategically and symbolically. Their defection meant more than just a loss of territory-it was a blow to morale,

Cassian growled, stepping forward

shrugged. "Believe what you will. But soon, you'll