Draven.
I let the silence stretch a breath longer before I spoke, my voice deep and cutting through the hall.
"Look around you," I ordered. "See if there is anyone missing in our midst tonight."
The wolves obeyed without hesitation, heads turning, eyes sweeping the circles, murmurs low as they scanned the faces among them. After a mont, the quiet returned—no gaps, no absences.
I slowly exhaled through my nose. ’So. Brackham really took my words seriously. He has not laid another hand on my people again."
I let my gaze sweep the room, eting the eyes of a few before continuing. "Tell , how many of you watched Mayor Brackham’s address on the news this morning?"
Hands rose, not all, but enough for to count. Their eyes flickered with uncertainty, waiting for to confirm what they had only suspected.
"That so-called ’operation’ wasn’t against any syndicate," I said flatly. "It was an attack on the vampires. His lies were ant for the humans, not for us."
A low ripple spread through the hall, unease, voices muttering, but I lifted a hand and silence fell again.
"Understand this—the vampires will not waste ti seeking their revenge. They will strike back. And when they do, the city will bleed. And I had said this before."
I paused, letting that truth settle in every heart before I gave the command.
"From this night, begin tidying up all your businesses here in Duskmoor. The weaker ones among you and the elders should prepare to return to Stormveil starting this new week."
Just then, a hand lifted hesitantly from the second circle. "Alpha," the wolf’s voice trembled slightly, "if many of us begin leaving, won’t Brackham find this suspicious?"
I turned my gaze on him, steady, unyielding. "Do not worry about Brackham. His attention is fixed elsewhere. By the ti he notices, it will already be too late to matter."
The wolf bowed his head, relief evident in his posture. The others murmured softly, nodding, the weight of my words settling into obedience.
I let my gaze sweep the room once again, catching the eyes of those who were still holding their breath.
"The stronger among you will remain here in Duskmoor," I continued. "You will continue to run your businesses, but on a minimal level and keep your faces visible. But be wise and tread carefully. Do not draw unnecessary attention. Let Brackham believe you are nothing more than wolves living quietly under his nose."
Heads nodded, murmurs of assent rippling through the circles.
I raised my chin slightly, my voice cutting sharper now. "But when the city burns with vampire vengeance, you will not interfere. Stay calm and stay clear. Unless they co for you directly, do not act."
The hall was silent, every ear fixed on as I repeated the sa set of instructions from last ti, a big reminder to them.
Then I stepped forward into the circle, my tone dropping lower, firr.
"Protect yourselves from the humans. Watch them and wait. When the ti cos, when my signal is given, then we will take over this war. And we will remind the humans what happens when they dare to kidnap our kind, when they dare to use us as their lab rats."
A growl of approval surged through the hall. Voices rose, blending into a thunderous hail:
"Yes, Alpha!"
"Alpha! Alpha!"
Their devotion filled the chamber, the sound of it vibrating in my chest like a living drum.
I lifted a hand, and the noise faded, replaced by the heavy thrum of discipline.
"One last thing," I said. "Intensify your training. Push yourselves harder than before. In our next eting, you will show off your skills. And I expect you to make proud."
A unified roar answered , wolves pounding fists against their chests, their eyes blazing with fierce loyalty.
I let the echoes of their chants linger in the hall before lifting my hand, signalling for silence once more.
Next, I turned toward Dennis, who stood ready at my side with a roll of long parchnt in his hands.
"Pass those out," I told him. "One to redith. One to Jeffery. One for yourself. And the last, to ."
Dennis obeyed without question, handing each of us a sheet. The parchnt felt heavy in my grip because it wasn’t just paper, but rather, the weight of decisions that would determine who stayed, who left, and who lived.
I faced the crowd again, my voice steady and commanding. "Those among you who have older ones, or younger ones—children will line up in front of us now. You will put down their nas, their ages, and their details. From the coming week, they will be sent back to Stormveil."
The murmur spread instantly through the hall as they shifted, forming orderly lines; parents guided their children forward, while younger wolves steadied their elders.
redith held her parchnt close, her posture tall, her eyes calm but intent as she prepared to take nas. Jeffery uncapped a pen with his usual precision while Dennis grinned faintly, though even he kept his tone serious as the first wolf stepped before him.
I tightened my grip on the parchnt, watching the lines form with discipline. This wasn’t just a strategy; this was survival.
And as their Alpha, I would see it through.
The process carried on, each na etched onto our parchnt a small but necessary step toward safety.
Jeffery was thodical, his list already neat and ordered, his voice low but precise as he guided each wolf through.
When the last na was taken and the lines finally thinned, I raised my hand, and silence reclaid the hall.
"You’ve done well tonight," I told them, folding the parchnt in my hands. "The safety of your families will be secured. Now, go back to your hos. Train. Prepare. And wait for my word."
A unified bow answered , the circles breaking apart as the wolves began to disperse, their faith still heavy in the air.
I glanced at redith, who was gathering her parchnt with steady hands, and a rare satisfaction spread through .
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