26 – Shadows at the Border

Kael POV

Nightclaw knew what tonight meant.

Theron’s Luna ceremony had been marked in every soldier's rotation for weeks.

Though Kael had little use for formal celebrations, he understood the ceremony’s significance. Solidifying the mate bond with a Luna did more than just fortify Moonfang's internal structure—it elevated their standing. A Luna brought balance, unity, and raw, mystical power. It made them stronger, more stable. And in these times, that strength would only benefit them all when the rogues finally came crashing through the treeline.

So Nightclaw stood guard.

Close enough to protect the perimeter if things went south—far enough not to offend the pride of Moonfang’s warriors.

From his office in the pack house, Kael watched the night unfold through a high window that overlooked the eastern ridge. The flicker of bonfires lit the trees beyond the hills. Music drifted faintly through the distance, and the call of voices raised in celebration.

He leaned against the edge of the windowsill, one hand resting idly on the wood. His soldiers had checked in at regular intervals—disciplined, sharp, without error.

It was quiet, for now.

A cheer erupted again in the far-off village. He let his eyes close, just for a moment.

He could almost imagine her there. Aria.

The thought snuck up on him more often than he cared to admit. No matter how much distance he kept, no matter how many reports filled his desk or how many hours he poured into preparing for war, she was always there—woven into the fabric of his thoughts like wildfire in dry grass. He pictured her standing at the edge of the crowd, face lit by lantern light, smiling for her sister, who had stepped into the role of Luna. Aria’s scent lingered in his memory like an ache he couldn’t soothe.

He drew a sharp breath and pushed the thought away. Now was not the time.

As the night crept toward midnight, Kael set his jaw. He knew what came next.

The sequence....The mating bond, then sealed by oath and blood, would be honored by the traditional run. Alpha and Luna shifting into their wolves and racing through their territory beneath the full moon. It was a sacred thing, primal and symbolic—meant to let the pack feel the bond come to life in motion.

He checked the time again.

Almost midnight.

Kael turned from the window, ready to return to the war reports when he felt it—a ripple through the bond he shared with his warriors.

Then the howling began.

Moonfang’s wolves raised their voices in unison, the ceremonial cry that marked the start of the Luna run. It was triumphant, rhythmic, proud.

But it wasn’t alone.

A second howl answered.

Ragged. Guttural. Wrong.

Kael went still.

His body was in motion the next second.

“Elias!” he bellowed, already heading for the door. His boots pounded against stone, the corridor echoing with urgency. His voice snapped through the command hall again. “Elias, with me now. Perimeter breach—northern ridge.”

Elias emerged from the adjoining room, already pulling on his jacket. “Heard it too. That wasn’t Moonfang.”

“No.” Kael’s voice was tight. Controlled. “Rogues.”

The word burned like fire between them.

They reached the edge of the Nightclaw camp within minutes, meeting up with the first cluster of soldiers who had already drawn weapons. Kael’s wolf surged beneath his skin, pacing, restless.

“They’re not in our direct line,” a scout said breathlessly. “But they’re near the eastern tree line, just across from Moonfang’s edge.”

Kael didn’t wait. “We move.”

They cut across the forest in practiced formation, Nightclaw blades gleaming, senses sharpened to a razor’s edge. As they drew closer to the shared border, Kael caught the scent—unmistakable. Dirty fur, rusted blood, decay. His stomach turned.

Moonfang warriors were gathering too, their faces tense. Some were still flushed from the ceremony, their celebration cut short.

Kael reached the border clearing as Theron stepped from the tree line, his body shifting mid-stride. His human form emerged with a growl, jaw clenched, hair damp from the run.

“Of all nights,” Theron spat. “They pick this one to announce themselves.”

“They never miss a chance to poison something sacred,” Kael replied, voice low and even. “You think it’s just a warning?”

Theron’s lip curled. “If it were an attack, they’d already be on us.”

Beta Ryker arrived a second later, his shirt clinging to him, chest rising fast but steady. His grin was almost manic. “Well, I’ll be damned. They actually showed up.”

Elias appeared beside Kael, scanning the trees. “They’re still out there. Watching. Waiting.”

Kael nodded. The four of them—two Alphas, two Betas—stood like the points of a compass, the weight of leadership and instinct rolling off them like thunderclouds.

“We hold the line,” Kael said, tone commanding. “Theron, we’ll push our men in along the eastern slope and take the north bend. If they’re scattered, they’ll test for weaknesses.”

Theron’s arms crossed. “They want us off balance. Scare tactic.”

“But if we don’t answer,” Ryker added, “they’ll think we are.”

Kael met Theron’s eyes. “We can’t afford to wait.”

Theron nodded once. “Agreed. Let’s split patrols. We cover ground fast. But keep your men in pairs. No one alone.”

Orders snapped into motion. Warriors dispersed. Elias peeled off to lead the Nightclaw flank, barking instructions with quiet authority. Moonfang men fell in with them, a clear sign that the alliance—still new, still uncertain—was holding, for now.

Kael moved ahead with Theron, the two Alphas walking the border shoulder to shoulder, the space between them bristling with tension but laced with shared purpose.

“You didn’t come to the ceremony,” Theron said after a long silence.

Kael didn’t look at him. “Didn’t think I was invited.”

Theron gave a short huff. “Maybe not. Still, you missed something. Lyra—she’s strong. She’s different now.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Kael said. His thoughts went to Aria again. Had she felt the surge of power? Had it changed her too?

“You feel that bond ripple through your bones?” Theron asked.

Kael nodded once. “Every wolf on this land did.”

Theron’s mouth tightened. “Then they know. This pack won’t break easily.”

“No,” Kael said. “But that doesn’t mean we’re safe.”

They paused as another howl rose—farther off this time. Fading.

Kael’s muscles coiled. “They’re pulling back.”

“For now,” Theron muttered. “They wanted us to see them. To remember.”

Kael clenched his fists. “Then we make sure they remember us too.”

The border remained tense through the rest of the night. Patrols continued until dawn broke, burning gold over the horizon.

The rogues never attacked.

But their presence was felt long after the last echo of their howls.

They had sent a message. Loud and clear.

And Nightclaw and Moonfang, for all their differences, now stood side by side in the face of the darkness coming for them.

Kael stood at the edge of the forest as light crept in, his eyes fixed on the ridge beyond.

He didn’t know when he’d see Aria again. But he knew this: war was coming, closer than ever.