Elena’s POV
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the training grounds as we finalized our battle preparations. Warriors stood in formation while Damien, Caleb, and I reviewed our assault strategy one final ti. We had postponed this mission for as long as possible, uncertain about enemy surveillance around our territory.
Earlier reconnaissance teams had swept through the surrounding woodlands, searching for any sign of hostile observers. They discovered old footprints and disturbed vegetation, but the evidence suggested our watchers had abandoned their posts days ago. This news brought considerable relief to our war council.
Our enemies remained unaware of tonight’s operation.
"Mom, you don’t have to participate in this assault. Pack Lunas aren’t required to engage in direct combat." Caleb’s voice carried genuine concern.
"Briar is my flesh and blood. I’m joining this fight." My tone left no room for negotiation.
"The resemblance between you two becos more obvious every day." Liam observed with a slight smile.
"What exactly do you an by that?" I demanded.
"Your shared stubbornness." He replied, prompting laughter from Damien.
"I always predicted she would inherit that particular trait from you." Damien added with obvious amusent.
"Enough comntary from the peanut gallery." I shot back.
"Rember my conditions. I need an opportunity to speak with Sophie before any violence begins." Liam’s expression grew serious.
"What happens if she refuses to abandon the base? What if she genuinely believes you’ve betrayed your forr comrades?" Caleb questioned.
"Then I’ve exhausted my options to help her. However, if I can reveal everything I discovered about Dawn’s treatnt, she might comprehend the truth and choose to escape with us." Liam explained.
"Your conversation window will be extrely limited. After that, we’re launching our attack." Damien’s voice carried finality.
"Understood. I know exactly where to find her. The discussion won’t require much ti." Liam confird.
"Warriors, prepare for departure." Damien commanded the assembled fighters.
Emotional farewells began as soldiers embraced their loved ones. I climbed the front porch steps to hold and kiss each of my children goodbye.
Their reluctance to see leave was obvious, but they understood Briar’s situation completely. I had never concealed her existence from my family. Her photographs decorated every room in our ho.
Hiding Briar from her siblings was never an option, though I had also never guaranteed her successful return. I consistently promised only that we would attempt to bring her ho safely.
That represented our absolute best effort under these circumstances.
We departed into the dense forest where clothing was removed and our human forms gave way to powerful wolves. Liam rode upon a warrior’s back since he lacked shifting abilities.
The journey to the military installation consud a considerable amount of ti, necessitating our afternoon departure schedule.
Arrival occurred just before the facility’s evening curfew. We maintained considerable distance while Liam approached the base periter and infiltrated through security gaps he rembered from his service there.
Our pack waited in concealed positions, allowing Liam adequate ti to locate and extract Sophie from the compound.
Through the darkness, we observed him erge from the dormitory building with a young woman in tow. Their animated conversation quickly escalated into what appeared to be a heated argunt. Enhanced werewolf hearing allowed us to eavesdrop on their increasingly loud exchange.
"You’re a goddamned traitor to everything we stood for." Sophie’s voice rang with fury and betrayal.
"That’s completely false. Captain Fletcher and his officers aren’t the honorable leaders you believe them to be. Fletcher was sexually assaulting Dawn repeatedly before she was transferred away from here. He was raping her regularly."
Liam’s revelation hung heavy in the night air.
"What man in this hellhole hasn’t violated soone? This entire base serves as Fletcher’ personal hunting ground, stocked with vulnerable young won for his twisted entertainnt." Sophie’s bitter response was revealing, and from the shocked look on Liam’s face, it was more than he’d anticipated.
"He victimized you as well?" Liam’s voice carried shock and growing anger.
"Absolutely. Along with several other girls I could na. Your precious Dawn wasn’t unique or special in that regard. I still don’t understand your obsession with her welfare. She abandoned this place without even saying goodbye to you." Sophie’s words dripped with resentnt and jealousy.
"She couldn’t communicate with anyone. Orders ca down and she was removed imdiately under ard escort. I assud you cared about her friendship." Liam pleaded.
"I did care, until you started favoring her over constantly. Now I couldn’t give a damn about her fate, and I’m celebrating her absence. I just wish you possessed more backbone instead of being so pathetically naive. The fact that you trust those savage wolves over your own species disgusts ." Sophie’s voice reached a crescendo of rage.
"Please reconsider. Just co with now." Liam made one final desperate appeal.
"Go straight to hell." She spun around and stord back toward the dormitory entrance.
Liam imdiately signaled our attack to comnce.
"Move quickly. She’s going to alert the Captain about our presence." He warned urgently.
Our pack exploded from the tree line, charging at full speed directly into the periter fencing and demolishing the barriers completely.
Sentries positioned in guard towers opened fire on our advancing forces, but their defensive positions were overwheld and destroyed within monts.
Chaos erupted throughout the facility as alarms blared from multiple directions. Every warrior understood their assigned objectives and moved with deadly precision.
The main fighting force engaged enemy soldiers while Damien and I broke away from the group, heading directly toward the Officer’s Quarters building.
When we reached our target structure, Damien launched himself at the reinforced entrance door, smashing through it as though it were constructed from cardboard.
Electronic security systems had been installed, but the designers obviously never considered werewolf-level threats when planning their defenses within the supposedly secure base periter.
Their oversight would prove catastrophic.
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