Chapter 271: Chapter 271

Chapter 271

DANE

Aurora’s voice was firm, her gaze unyielding as she spoke. “You’d better be right about this.”

Dane nodded, turning back to the map. His determination hardened. “I will be.”

The lantern danced its light onto the old parchment as I leaned over the table in quietude. The maps and records from past pack

and leaders lay sprawled before me, their edges worn with age

use.

My fingers trailed upon the faded markings of a territory to the south, a place once called ours, but lost within a time of division and weakness.

“This was ours,” I whispered, my voice low in the quiet.

“Talking to yourself again?” Trajan’s voice cut through my concentration as he entered the room, his tone teasing but interested.

I motioned him forward without turning. “Look at this.”

Trajan leaned in, his brows furrowing as he scanned the map. “South Ridge. That’s been gone for generations. No one’s claimed it since.”

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“Precisely,” I said, my voice sharpening with intent.

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“It’s well. Take it back and it would fortify our borders, make our resources more abundant, and serve notice to onlookers that we won’t be pushed around.”

Trajan straightened, his mouth curling upward in a smile. “Ambitious. I like it. But what does Aurora think?”

I hesitated, my jaw clenched. “She doesn’t know. Yet.”

Later that morning, Trajan and I were standing by the training grounds, hashing out the logistics of the reclaiming of South Ridge.

“We’d need a good team to scout it first,” Trajan suggested. “Make sure it’s really unclaimed.”

I nodded, already thinking about who would be best for the job.

“We keep it quiet. I don’t want the pack panicking about another big move until we’re sure.” “Smart,” Trajan agreed. “But you know Aurora will ” “Dane.”

I froze as the voice cut through my reverie; Aurora was standing a few paces off, her arms across her chest and an inscrutable expression on her face.

“What do you plan to do?” she asked so low, but controlled.

Trajan glanced at us and headed away quickly after saying

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something about needing to patrol the borders.

3/5

I stepped closer to Aurora, my hands on my hips. “It’s an idea. South Ridge was ours once. I think it’s time we took it back.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I was going to,” I said quickly, my voice defensive. “But I needed to figure out the details first.

Aurora shook her head; a flash of frustration crossed her face. “Dane, that fast,this isn’t about details. Can’t you see what this might do to the pack? The friction it will cause?”

“It is about strength,” I returned, my voice elevating. “We have been on the back foot for so long. This is the perfect opportunity to prove we’re not weak and we can still grow.

“And at what cost?” she returned, pressing closer. “If it goes.

wrong,

if we lose wolves because of this, how is that strength?”

The arguments classed as hot as steel on steel, the air crackling between us as for every opportunity argument, she put another. one for caution and preserving what was.

Finally, she sighed, her shoulders sagging just a little. “I’m not saying no, Dane. But we have to go into this with care. Together.”

I met her gaze, the fire in her eyes mirroring my own. “Fine. But we can’t wait too long. Time isn’t on our side.”

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The sun was behind the horizon as I led a small patrol near the borders; the shadows of the forest stretched long and dark. The scent of pine and earth filled the air, but something else was beneath it, something unfamiliar.

“Do you smell that?” I asked, my voice low.

Trajan, walking a few steps ahead, paused and inhaled deeply. “Smoke.”

We walked carefully, and the leaves sounded no louder than a whisper. As we drew closer to the edge of the clearing, a glow caught my attention; there was a campfire burning brightly, and moving around it was the dark shape of a single figure. The movements were slow and very deliberate.

I signaled mutely. My heart pounded as I crouched behind a thick tree, studying the figure. The scent was stronger now foreign and unrecognized.

Who do you think it is?” Trajan whispered low.

“Could be a stray,” I replied, though doubt chewed at the edges of my mind. “Or someone scouting us.”

The figure turned to them, their face obscured by the firelight. They seemed unaware of our presence, their focus on the small flames before them.

“We need to move in closer,” I said, my voice firm.

Trajan nodded, but before we could take one more step deeper

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inside, the figure sprang up, head jerking in our direction.

“Dane,” Trajan hissed low, “they know we’re here.”

The stranger reached for something on the edge of them. An ounce of reflected light played off what could only be cold metal. It came, and all my muscles got ready.

And I sensed that this would be our only chance. Thick tension hung there, the heavy forest holding its breath while the mind raced.