The scent of blood…
Crushing enemies beneath her claws was nothing new to Nora.
Yet something about this battle felt wrong.
With a single strike, she hurled a small she-wolf—her fur streaked with red highlights, unlike any from this region—against a tree.
Her thoughts sharpened.
This pack… is wrong.
What kind of pack was this?
Untrained, mismatched wolves howling recklessly in the middle of battle.
This couldn't be the ruthless, bloodthirsty Karaay Pack led by Alpha Boris.
A pack that challenged everyone wouldn't fight with such chaos.
The pieces refused to fall into place.
Yes, they held overwhelming dominance.
But the unease gnawing at her wouldn't fade.
If I'm wrong, Nora thought, they'll never forgive me…
But even if I am wrong, this is a risk I must take.
Juno growled uneasily.
Their instincts were aligned.
Nora reached out through the bond to Felix and his wolf, Silas.
— "Don't you feel it, Alpha? Something is off."
Felix's voice came calm but measured.
— "I see it. We have overwhelming advantage. Perhaps the Karaay Pack isn't as strong as we believed. Let's keep pressing forward. A grand celebration awaits us back home."
Nora's chest tightened.
No…
She rushed back to the red she-wolf she had struck down and shook her.
— "Look at me. Don't pass out. What's happening here? Speak. This battle makes no sense—you're not even a warrior."
The smaller wolf's eyes widened in fear as she realized the powerful she-wolf was speaking to her.
— "Boris… he'll kill me…" she whispered.
Nora lowered her head, her voice firm.
— "Don't be afraid. I am this pack's Luna. I promise you'll be protected once this ends. Now tell me."
The red wolf's breath trembled.
— "It's… a trap. We're bait. The real army is—"
Her body went limp.
Nora's eyes widened in horror.
The howl that tore from her chest split the battlefield.
Retreat.
Every wolf who heard it froze.
Felix's voice echoed through the bond.
— "Nora! What's happening?"
— "A trap!" she roared.
— "The real warriors are surrounding us!"
Felix clenched his jaw, his gaze flickering away for a brief moment.
Then he howled:
"Fall back!"
They escaped the death trap by seconds.
Nora retreated with the unconscious red she-wolf in her grasp.
Though they had seen the trap in time, the withdrawal was bloody.
Both sides suffered heavy losses.
But Nora knew one thing:
Escaping certain death was a victory in itself.
And the small red she-wolf in her arms…
Unknowingly, she had altered their fate.