Draven.
A ripple spread through the crowd. Low murmurs, glances exchanged. Fear, but also resolve.
I let the words settle before I continued.
"Over a month ago, my brother Dennis was attacked by one of them. A creature faster than even I could catch. Pale skin, red eyes. They are not stories to frighten pups. They are among us."
Dennis inclined his head, the faintest mark still visible near his collarbone, though most wouldn’t see it in this light.
"But listen well," I said, my gaze sharp. "The humans of Duskmoor — the very people whose city we live in — are now being attacked too. Killed in the sa brutal way. Which ans two things: first, the vampires do not serve the humans. And second, they are unpredictable. Dangerous beyond reason."
The air seed to tighten. The younger wolves’ eyes widened; older ones set their jaws, so nodding faintly as truth cut through rumor.
"They hunt at night," I continued, "but that does not an the day is safe. I remind you of the rule I set before: no wolf walks alone. Not at night. Not in the quiet corners of the city. Pairs at the least. Groups, when possible. Especially for the young and the old."
My words dropped like stones into still water, heavy and deliberate.
"Train," I added. "Every day. In the yard, the woods, wherever you can. Your strength may save your life — or the life of soone beside you."
From the side, Wanda’s gaze lifted, cold and resolute. Jeffery stood still as stone, his expression unreadable. Dennis watched the faces, asuring who understood, who hesitated.
"These vampires," I said slowly, "are more dangerous than the humans of Duskmoor. The humans may hate us. They may sche. But they bleed and die like anyone else. Vampires..." My jaw tightened. "They bleed too. But killing them will cost us dearly if we are careless."
Silence deepened. I saw young warriors’ throats bob as they swallowed; a woman near the back curled her hand around the wrist of her mate, drawing him slightly closer.
"Be cautious," I finished, voice low but cutting through the hush. "Trust each other. Watch the woods. And if you see sothing that feels wrong, tell your captains, tell Jeffery, tell . Do not act alone."
The wind moved again, shifting the torches so they flickered, casting the crowd in restless shadows.
I stepped back, my gaze lingering on them. Faces hardened. So frightened. So defiant. But all listening.
Finally, I gave a single nod.
"You may return. Jeffery, Dennis, Wanda, wait behind."
One by one, the wolves bowed again, breaking into murmured conversation as they filtered out into the forest paths that led back to their hos.
"They are afraid," Dennis said quietly.
"It’s nothing new," Wanda murmured.
Dennis, Jeffery and Wanda stayed where they were, eyes on , waiting. I didn’t waste breath on repeating what they already knew.
"We’ve covered what’s behind," I said, voice low, steady. "Now, what cos next?"
Jeffery’s posture tightened; Dennis tilted his head, brows drawn. Wanda’s gaze, sharp as glass, didn’t waver.
"From tonight, we move from defence to quiet offence," I continued. "We’ve been reacting to the vampires and the humans’ gas. That ends."
Dennis shifted. "You have sothing specific in mind."
I t his gaze. "Two things. First, the vampires. I want one alive. Just one. Enough to answer the questions the dead can’t."
Although I had ntioned this to Dennis and Jeffery before, Wanda was absent. So, I was just deliberately repeating my plans, to remind others, and to also inform Wanda.
Wanda’s brows lifted slightly. "Alive? That’s a risk."
"It is," I agreed. "But it’s ti we stop guessing at their plans. And if we can’t get one alive, then a corpse—quickly, before it rots. Proof to force the council’s hand."
"And the second thing?" Jeffery asked, voice calm.
"The humans," I said. "The lab has to be found imdiately. I want eyes inside it."
Dennis blew out a breath, understanding dawning in his expression. "You an... infiltration."
I nodded once. "As soon as the lab is found, Get soone—a wolf who passes easily as human. Soone without a trace of suspicion tied to us. Get them in as staff, cleaner, supplier—I don’t care how."
Wanda was quiet for a heartbeat. Then, her voice: "That will take ti."
"It will," I said, "but it’s the only way to learn what exactly the humans are truly after—and what they’re doing with the missing wolves."
Dennis folded his arms. "And when we find out?"
"Then we decide," I answered. "If it’s as bad as we suspect, we expose them—or burn them out before they can finish whatever they’ve started."
"They should not be allowed to live," Rhovan growled in my head. "Burn them."
The torches were dying now, only red embers left, but none of them moved.
Jeffery asked, "What about Brackham? If he senses we are digging this deep—"
"He will panic," I said, voice even. "And a panicked man makes mistakes. Let him keep believing we are stuck with his hand-picked team chasing shadows."
Truth be told, the two weeks I gave to the Mayor was just like throwing a bone at a dog. Let him think I had granted him a wish while in the actual sense, I was already making moves.
A thin, humourless smile tugged at Dennis’s mouth. "Brother, you’ve already planned every step ahead."
"That’s my job," I said.
A breeze stirred through the clearing, shifting Wanda’s hair against her cheek, her eyes fixed on . When she spoke again, her tone wasn’t soft — it was edged, almost scornful.
"And redith?" she asked, voice clipped. "Will she continue living blissfully unaware while the rest of us bleed and watch the shadows?"
I turned my gaze on her, but she didn’t look away. If anything, her chin lifted.
"She is your wife, right?" she went on, sharper now, "Then she and her maidservants should attend these etings like the rest of us. Let her see what keeps the rest of us awake at night — instead of letting her sleep safe and soft while we do the worrying."
A muscle in my jaw tightened. "That won’t be necessary," I said flatly. "Have you forgotten she doesn’t have a wolf?"
Wanda’s brow arched faintly. "I am well aware that she is cursed and wolfless. Everyone knows that, but this is unfair," she pushed further.
"Wanda, I am the leader here, not you. You won’t tell what to do," I added, my voice quiet but final. "And I will take care of things my way."
A beat of silence settled in the clearing, cold and absolute. Then I drew in a breath. "Enough talk. Move. We’re losing night."
Dennis gave a short nod, Jeffery bowed slightly, and Wanda inclined her head, the faintest flicker of sothing unreadable in her gaze before she turned away.
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