Chapter 11 :The Northern Packhouse shimmered under the amber glow of late afternoon, the courtyard alive with ceremonial energy. Louise's official welcoming was underway. Servants moved in precise rhythm, arranging the silver-blue banners and polished stone steps. Guests whispered admiration as Louise walked forward, a mixture of poise, grace, and unspoken power radiating from her.Megan and Felicia lingered nearby, sly smirks tugging at their lips, wine glasses in hand. Their plan was obvious—poison Louise's wine, embarrass her, and assert dominance. But Louise had expected nothing less. The moment the first glass was offered, her senses flared, detecting the subtle, lethal poison in the amber liquid. She smiled politely, raising her glass gracefully, drinking a fraction while leaving the rest untouched. The girls' expressions faltered slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing their faces, but Louise didn't react.
The elders approached, Elder Selene and another, their eyes evaluating her, weighing centuries of tradition against the sharp cunning of a demon now poised for formal acceptance.
"Louise Daniels," Selene intoned, her voice calm yet commanding, "your courage, intelligence, and discipline have been observed. We accept you into the Northern Pack."
Applause rang out, but the ceremony was not over. Megan and Felicia's plan collapsed spectacularly. The wine, intended for Louise, had been spiked with an experimental concoction that backfired when they sipped from a ceremonial bottle. They began stumbling, flushed, their inhibitions unraveling. Before anyone could react, their actions spiraled into chaos with the weakest Omegas of the pack. The elders watched, eyes narrowing, before ordering their immediate reassignment: border security. Their punishment would teach humility while removing the immediate threat of their scheming from central pack affairs. Louise's role in exposing the plan solidified her reputation as both clever and formidable.
Later that evening, Lucas approached her, eyes glinting with amusement and desire.
"You survived their little scheme," he whispered. "Graceful as always."
Louise arched a brow. "And you love it," she replied, teasing.
Before things could escalate further, Felix arrived, face grim.
"Lucas. Trouble. The border. Now."
The flirtation ended abruptly, tension snapping like a bowstring. Lucas's jaw tightened, green eyes hardening. "Louise"
"I'm coming," she insisted, ignoring his protests. Her demonic aura shimmered faintly, visible only to those with heightened perception.
With no time to waste, the trio, along with Northern Pack elite warriors, raced to the Eastern border. Darkness enveloped the forest as the scent of blood and fear grew stronger with each step.
The clearing at the border was horrific. Fifteen pack members lay torn, bodies riddled with claw marks and wolf bites. The rogues had already begun their devastation, twenty massive werewolves, snarling, their fur bristled, eyes glowing like molten fire.Lucas and Felix shifted midair, bones cracking, muscles expanding, fur erupting across their forms. Their howls split the night, commanding dominance, signaling the start of war. Louise stayed human, shadows flickering around her as she darted between the chaos, healing wounded allies and manipulating illusions to distract the rogues.The first clash was brutal. Lucas leapt high, spinning in the air as claws caught a rogue mid-lunge, ripping its chest open with a wet tearing sound. Felix twirled under a swipe, countering with a lightning-fast kick, claws slicing through two rogues simultaneously. The forest echoed with the roars, growls, and snarls of battle.One rogue lunged at Felix, teeth snapping. He ducked low, sweeping his leg in a vicious arc, tripping the attacker into its packmates. The collision sent three rogues sprawling. Lucas landed atop another rogue, fangs bared, jaws sinking into its shoulder. With a violent twist, he threw it into a tree, splitting its howl into a pained scream before it went limp.
Louise moved like a phantom, unseen yet lethal in her own way. She sprinted between fighters, her hands glowing crimson, tracing over wounds, lifting wolves and warriors alike from the brink of death. Her eyes glimmered with a demonic red light as she manipulated perception, making rogues see phantom threats and dodge attacks that weren't there.
The rogues adapted quickly. They lunged in packs, circling, their teeth snapping, claws raking across armor and flesh. Lucas dodged a lethal swipe, rolling midair, grabbing the rogue's arm and twisting until the joint tore audibly. Felix, spinning like a predator, struck another rogue across the chest, tearing ribs with precision before launching it into a tree trunk.
A rogue leaped at Lucas, wolfsbane-tipped dagger glinting under the moonlight. It pierced his side, searing, and he staggered, a guttural hiss escaping his throat. Louise dove forward, hands pressing against the wound, chanting under her breath. Red energy flowed from her, searing through the wound, extracting the venom, closing the gash. Lucas's eyes softened as he exhaled shakily, chest heaving.
"You saved me," he muttered, voice rough."We survive together," Louise replied, brushing bloodied hair from his face. Her words carried warmth amidst the carnage.
The fight raged with increasing intensity. Wolves barreled into one another, claws shredded skin, teeth sank into throats, and howls rang like banshees. Lucas grabbed a rogue mid-leap, spinning, ramming it headfirst into another, then pivoting to shred the second's jaw with a savage twist of his claws. Felix executed a series of flips, twisting his body around a charging rogue, claws raking across its back, sending it crashing into a tree.
Louise remained central, tactical, fast. She healed, misdirected, and struck precise bursts of demonic energy, tipping the battle in favor of the Northern Pack. Rogue after rogue fell under the combination of brute force, strategy, and Louise's subtle manipulation.
By the end, the twenty rogues lay dead or fleeing, the forest littered with torn fur, blood, and broken limbs. Northern Pack casualties were heavy, but the survivors stood panting, battered, yet triumphant. Lucas collapsed briefly beside Louise, catching his breath, while Felix slashed at a rogue pursuing retreating pack members.
News from the East reached them. Leo's territory had suffered a devastating attack—thirty pack members lost, casualties high, morale shaken. Lucas's fists clenched. Letters confirmed the need for all loyal packs to regroup in the South.
"Durkstone Bridge," Lucas said, looking to Louise and Felix. "Leo has secured the rendezvous. We leave immediately."
Louise nodded. "Then let's go. The night doesn't wait."
Felix's smirk returned. "Finally, some action worth chasing."
Lucas glanced at Louise, green eyes flashing desire and caution. "Stay close.""I always do," she replied. Together, they vanished into the shadows, heading toward the South, leaving the carnage of the Northern border behind but carrying its lessons, scars, and the promise of future battles.