Chapter 4 The Call For Truce

The moon cast a silver glow over Shadowveil as Dacre Valnan stood on the balcony of his manor, staring out into the distance. The scent of blood from Kale Hunter's assault still lingered, even after the ground had been washed clean. But the scars ran deeper than what water could remove. His warriors were uneasy. His people feared what came next.

Dacre clenched his jaw. This wasn't just a skirmish. This was a war they couldn't win divided.

"Orion," he said, turning sharply toward his Beta.

"Alpha?" Orion asked, stepping forward with a sharp look in his eye. He could see the frustration and determination burning in his leader's gaze.

"You're going to Nightfang," Dacre said. "You'll speak to Skye, Aidana's Beta, and deliver a message-one she can't ignore."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "You're calling for a meeting?"

Dacre nodded, his lips set into a hard line. "Yes. It's time we put the past aside. Kale Hunter is a threat to us both. If we don't act now, neither of our packs will survive. The bloodshed will only continue."

Orion studied his Alpha, his jaw tight. He understood the weight of what was being asked of him. "I'll leave before sunrise," he said, the weight of his duty settling on his shoulders. He had known Dacre to be many things-ruthless, calculating, and fierce-but in this moment, the sheer determination in his eyes told Orion that the situation had grown far more dire than any battle they had fought before.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when Aidana sat at the head of the long stone table in the Nightfang council hall. Her expression was unreadable, her mind lost in the thoughts of her people. The air felt heavy with tension as warriors murmured in the background about the possibility of a second attack from Kale. She hadn't slept. How could she, knowing her pack was now a prime target? Every sound outside the stronghold seemed to send her senses into overdrive, expecting the worst at every turn.

The door creaked open, and her Beta, Skye, stepped in with another figure beside her-tall, muscular, and wearing the insignia of Shadowveil stitched into his cloak. His stance was confident, his gaze calculating, but there was no mistaking the urgency in his stride. He was no ordinary warrior. He was Orion, Dacre's Beta, and the weight of his presence in Nightfang territory was undeniable.

Aidana tensed at the sight of him. "Why is Shadowveil on my land?" Her voice was low, but there was no mistaking the edge in it. Skye glanced at the newcomer, her lips pressed into a thin line as she prepared to answer.

"Orion, Dacre's Beta," Skye replied, her voice steady but tight. "He comes with a message."

Aidana's eyes narrowed. "Speak," she commanded, her voice cold as steel.

Orion stepped forward, bowing his head slightly-not out of respect, but out of recognition. His eyes held no warmth as he began speaking. "Dacre Valnan sends word. He requests a meeting with you, Alpha. He proposes a temporary truce to discuss an alliance against Kale Hunter."

A stunned silence fell over the council hall. Aidana's warriors exchanged shocked glances, the implications of the message settling like a thick fog. Aidana remained still, her gaze never leaving Orion. The tension was palpable, the walls of the room closing in as she processed the offer.

A truce? She had always despised Dacre, the ruthless Alpha of Shadowveil, and their packs had been enemies for years. But now, they both had a common enemy-Kale Hunter. The rogue alpha had taken so much from both of them, and now, it seemed he was determined to wipe them off the map entirely.

Aidana leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the armrest as she thought. Her eyes flicked toward Skye, who stood silently beside her, awaiting her decision. The thought of joining forces with Dacre, of sharing anything with him, left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had fought too hard for Nightfang. She had bled for this pack. And now, here was Dacre, standing on the precipice of offering something she could never imagine-an alliance.

"And what guarantee do I have that this isn't a trap?" Aidana asked coldly, her voice laced with suspicion. She could feel the heat of her anger rising, but she suppressed it. Her mind had to remain sharp.

Orion's expression didn't change. "The same guarantee we have that Kale Hunter won't wipe us both out," he replied evenly, his voice measured and calm. "You're smart, Aidana. You know this isn't about pride anymore. It's survival. Dacre will meet you on neutral ground. No weapons. No warriors. Just leaders."

Aidana felt a weight settle over her chest as the reality of the situation hit. She didn't have the luxury of letting personal animosities cloud her judgment. Kale Hunter's threat was very real. She had seen his destruction firsthand, and it wasn't just a war-it was a battle for survival.

Skye's voice cut through the heavy silence. "He's right. We need to at least listen," she said softly, her gaze steady as it met Aidana's.

Aidana's jaw tightened. Everything inside her resisted working with Dacre. The years of hatred, the bloodshed between their packs-it all surged to the forefront of her mind. But the rational part of her knew she couldn't afford to let that dictate her choices. If Kale Hunter wasn't stopped, everything would be lost. Her pack, her people, her family-gone.

Finally, Aidana exhaled slowly. "Tell Dacre I'll meet him," she said, her voice carrying the weight of finality. "Tomorrow night. Neutral ground."

Orion nodded once, his eyes gleaming with the understanding that this wasn't an easy decision for her. "I'll deliver your answer," he said, turning to leave.

As the Shadowveil Beta departed, Aidana stood and moved toward the large windows of the council hall. The distant horizon seemed so far away, and yet, she felt as if it were closing in on her. The line between friend and foe had never been so blurred.

The time had come to put old grudges aside.

The time had come to make a stand.