Chapter 4 4

Aurora staggered for a bit before she managed to stand on her feet perfectly. Everyone present was shocked that she could even stand.

"I've endured too much in this pack to stay another second. Hypocritical leaders, selfish members, and you-my mate-who failed me most. Keep your lies, your cruelty, and your title. I'm done." Her eyes are cold and unfeeling. "All of you can dive headfirst into hell. I'm leaving this shithole of yours, and you can keep it for the rest of your life!" she spat angrily, despite the immense pain she felt. Turning on her heel, she began to walk away. Easton immediately followed her.

Maverick also left the scene, his expression pained as he watched Aurora walk away. He seemed to have difficulty breathing; his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were trembling. But no one noticed him leave.

The pack councils and members attempted to follow her, but Alec shook his head at them, and they reluctantly stood down, watching as Aurora left the field-out of Moonlight Pack-hand in hand with Easton.

A while later, they all heard a pained howl that made them flinch and look around in confusion. Aurora didn't have a wolf, so it couldn't have been her.

---

Five Years Later – Moonlight Pack

"It has come to this. We have no other choice," the brunette said, pacing back and forth, running a hand through her hair.

"No! That's not possible. You can't possibly be suggesting that we go to those..." The leader of the Pack Council sneered, practically spitting out the last word. "Rogues."

The brunette paused and gave him and the others a leveled look before scoffing and resuming her pacing.

"For fuck's sake, Sadie. You might want to stop pacing. You're making me dizzy, and it's not helping the damn case," a man sitting in the far-left corner of the room remarked, earning glares from Sadie and a few others present.

"Shut up, Floyd," she snapped. "Dan and his council are being a big bunch of asses. The Night Pack is willing to form alliances with any pack that will work with them. Doing that would spare us from a lot of unnecessary hardship!"

"They aren't a pack! They're a bunch of rogues wreaking havoc wherever they can. They cause mayhem and have an evil abomination for a leader. How 'peaceful' it would be to join them!" Dan barked. Grunts of approval sounded from the members of his council in the room.

Right on cue, the door opened, and Alpha Maverick Prill entered, his Beta, Alec Hill, at his side. The chaos in the room abruptly subsided, and everyone stood, though the tension lingered.

The presence of their powerful Alpha gave the room a sense of assurance. His stance exuded confidence and authority, but his face betrayed no emotion. His calculating eyes swept the room as he walked to the head chair and sat. Everyone else followed suit, though they remained on edge.

"The matter that has caused arguments more than once will be addressed right now," Alec said, and everyone nodded. "You may speak."

"We should form an alliance. The easiest and surest way out is this," Sadie said, speaking first.

"Why the hell are you even involved in this? You're just the pack doctor!" Dan said, his tone sharp.

"Maybe because I'll be the one treating the fallen warriors when we decide to attack the Night Pack," she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

"Alpha, you have to understand this is not beneficial to us in any way. It will look like we're submitting to these people. We are the Moonlight Pack; we don't submit-" Gary, the second leader of the Pack Council, began, but Sadie cut him off.

"So this is a matter of pride? We won't have any pride left when the valley is empty too," Hilda, the assistant pack doctor, chimed in. Gary glared at her. "And if you bring up their witch again, I'll be disappointed."

"You..." Gary was speechless.

Floyd broke the silence, stating the facts. "The Night Pack is a brutal rogue pack. They've been turning on other packs, murdering mercilessly. They're better organized than regular werewolves. They're brutes, have strong leaders, and a powerful witch backing them. We could attack, but it would cost us dearly. My sources say they might be open to an alliance, so why not approach them now instead of waiting for war?"

Everyone fell silent, waiting for their Alpha to speak. It was clear the room was divided.

"Why go to war when we can talk? I'd rather save resources for rival packs that pose real threats-not speculative ones. Alec, inform the Night Pack we'll be entering their territory," Maverick said calmly. Alec nodded once. Dan and his men frowned in displeasure while those supporting the alliance cheered. "Owen."

"Yes, Alpha!" Owen, a burly man with messy curly hair, stood alert and ready.

"Get Gamma Jared. We leave for the Night Pack today."

"Yes, Alpha."

********

Alpha Maverick and his selected delegation-his Beta Alec, Gamma Jared, Floyd, Sadie, Hilda, Owen, and reluctantly, Gary and Dan-arrived at the Night Pack's border by midnight the next day. Warriors from the Night Pack were already waiting for them, as though they had anticipated their arrival. It turned out that the infamous witch had approved their visit. The reply had come barely two hours after Alec sent the message.

"Greetings to Alpha Maverick Prill and his people," a man dressed entirely in leather greeted them formally.

"Greetings to you too, Delta Hilton," Alec responded. Gary and Dan grumbled, clearly displeased, while the rest of the group nodded politely.

"If you'll follow me," Hilton said, his tone clipped. He glanced at the Pack Council members and pressed his lips together in irritation, but said nothing.

It was no secret that the Moonlight Pack's council was widely detested, both within their own pack and by others.

The Night Pack's territory was eerily quiet for such a late hour. There were no visible guards, which seemed reckless until one remembered the rumors about the witch's magic barriers. It was said that she had fortified the entire territory, making it nearly impossible to infiltrate.

How powerful must she be to achieve such a feat alone? No one knew, but everyone understood the unspoken rule: do not cross her.

Hilton led them to a large house-the pack house, presumably-and guided them through two staircases before stopping in front of a door. He pushed it open and stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. The room appeared to be some sort of meeting hall, modestly furnished and starkly white.

"The Alpha will join you shortly. Please have a seat," Hilton said curtly before exiting the room without another word.

"Look at this," Gary muttered angrily as soon as the door shut. "This is why I'm against this. Highly disrespectful. The leader of the pack doesn't even have the decency to greet you himself. He sends his Delta."

"And what about that?" Dan added, pointing to the only decoration on the otherwise plain walls-a portrait of a wand pointed at the moon, surrounded by twinkling stars and glitter.

"That's beautiful," Sadie commented, ignoring their derision.

Before either Dan or Gary could respond, the door swung open again. This time, the room filled with members of the Night Pack, their expressions alert and confident. At the end of the line, a tall figure entered last, his presence commanding immediate attention.

"This is Alpha Easton," Hilton announced, gesturing to the man whose brown eyes turned icy cold as they scanned the delegation from Moonlight Pack.

"Of course, they know me," Easton sneered, taking his seat at the head of the room. Maverick's expression frosted over, but he said nothing.

Unnoticed by the group, one of the Night Pack's members slipped quietly out of the room.

"So, this is the proposal to form an alliance?" Easton said coolly. "How amusing that your Pack Council would allow you to entertain such an idea."

Dan and Gary bristled but said nothing.

"Trust me, we'd rather be anywhere else right now. It's also funny that you're still willing to meet us," Alec countered icily. Sadie glanced nervously between him and Easton. Hilda's gaze remained fixed on Maverick, while Floyd, Jared, and Owen looked ready to pounce if tensions escalated.

"You're the shameless ones. Why wouldn't I be ready to see you?" Easton replied, scoffing.

"I'd prefer we get to the point," Maverick finally spoke, his voice calm but authoritative. "Let's sign whatever agreement is necessary and leave. Unlike you, Alpha Easton, I don't have the luxury of endless time."

Easton's jaw clenched so tightly it seemed his teeth might crack.

"The nerve!" Easton snarled, his composure breaking. "You dare act like an upright man in my territory? The audacity!"

"You speak of nerves, but your hypocrisy stinks," Alec snapped back, stepping forward. In an instant, he and Easton were at each other's throats, grabbing collars and glaring down at one another, ready to fight.

The tension in the room hit a fever pitch, and everyone stood, prepared for the worst.

The door opened abruptly, and a familiar voice rang out.

"Why the hell are you two at each other's throats?"

Every member of the Moonlight Pack froze, flinching at the sound of her voice. Slowly, Maverick turned toward the door, his eyes widening in disbelief.

There she was.

Aurora Amy Wells.

She stood in the doorway, radiating confidence and strength. Her leather jacket and boots accentuated the image of someone who had fully embraced her identity, and Maverick couldn't help but think that she had never looked more natural or at ease.

Nothing about her had changed, yet everything about the moment was different.

For Maverick, the love he had for her was still as deep as ever. The betrayal he had felt remained fresh, the pain raw.

Aurora's piercing gaze met his, and in that moment, time seemed to stop.