Blackridge

Blackridge Pack hated Redwood. That was common knowledge. They called us weak. Called Kade a coward. Called me a mistake that should’ve been killed at birth. So when Alpha Roric’s seal showed up on a letter asking for an alliance, I knew it was a trap. The postscript made it worse. ‘Come alone, Aria. We need to talk about your mother.’ My mother died when I was ten. Rogue attack, they said. Body never found. Kael read the letter over my shoulder and swore. “It’s a trap,” he said. “Obviously,” Kade said, pacing the war room. “But we need to know what they know.” I folded the letter and stood up. “Then we go. Together.” Kade stopped pacing. “You’re not going alone, Aria.” “I know,” I said. “That’s why you’re coming.” Kael grinned. “About time we crashed a party.” --- Blackridge territory was two days’ ride south. Rough land. Rougher wolves. We went light. Just me, Kade, and Kael. No escort. If this was a trap, more wolves j

The Truth

Riding alone to meet Alpha Roric felt wrong. Every instinct I had screamed to turn back, to bring Kael, to bring Kade, to bring ten wolves and burn Blackridge to the ground just in case. But I didn’t. Because if I wanted Redwood to stop being afraid, I had to stop being afraid first. The border stones came into view at noon. Roric was already there. Alone. No wolves. No weapons visible. He looked different up close. Older than I remembered from the alliance talks. More tired. Like he’d been carrying something heavy for a long time and was ready to put it down. “Aria,” he said when I stopped ten feet away. “Roric,” I said. “Walk with me.” We walked into the woods. No guards. No backup. Just two Alphas’ seconds and a lot of bad history between our packs. When we were deep enough that Redwood couldn’t see us, he stopped. “I owe you the truth,” he said. “You already gave me part of it,” I said. “Not all of it.” He pulled a small leather jour

The Border Meeting

Riding alone to meet Roric felt different this time. Last time I was carrying anger. This time I was carrying a journal, a dead packmate’s name, and the weight of knowing exactly what I was fighting for. The border stones were empty when I arrived. No wolves. No ambush. Just Roric standing by the old oak, arms crossed, watching the south road like he expected trouble. “Aria,” he said when I stopped ten feet away. “Roric.” “Walk with me.” We walked into the woods. No guards. No backup. Just two wolves who’d killed enough people to know when to stop talking and start listening. When we were deep enough that neither pack could see us, he stopped and pulled out a map. Not Blackridge’s map. Mine. Redwood’s border map, marked with red X’s in my own handwriting. “You’ve been busy,” he said. I glanced at it. “Vex’s old routes. Rogue drop points. I’ve been closing them.” Roric nodded. “Good. Because they’re not done.” He pointed to a spot on

The Final Stand

Moonshadow Pack wanted to talk about my father. That meant it was either a trap or a truth I wasn’t ready for. I chose to go anyway. Because if there was even a chance my father didn’t die in that hunter attack, I had to know. Because if it was a trap, I’d walk into it with Kade and Kael at my back and burn it down. We rode south at dawn. Three wolves. No escort. No banners. Just me, Kade, and Kael. Alpha Kaelen met us at the border stones. Tall, silver-haired, with eyes like a storm. Behind him stood twenty wolves, all armed. Not a show of force. A show of seriousness. “Aria,” Kaelen said. “Alpha Kaelen,” I said. “Walk with me.” We walked into the woods. No guards. No backup. Just history and secrets between us. When we were deep enough, Kaelen stopped and pulled out a small wooden box. Old. Carved with Redwood’s sigil. “Your father gave me this the night before he died,” he said. My heart stopped. “What is it?” “Evidence,” he s

The Quiet War

Peace didn’t look like what I thought it would. I thought peace would feel loud. Like cheers in the courtyard. Like fires burning late into the night. Like wolves finally laughing without looking over their shoulders. It wasn’t. Peace was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that made you check your knife twice and sleep with one eye open. A week after Corin died, the eastern villages stopped reporting in. At first I thought it was weather. The pass had iced over. Messengers couldn’t get through. Then day three passed. Then day four. “No smoke,” Kael said when we climbed the ridge at dawn. He pointed east. “No fires. No movement.” I frowned. “They should be butchering for winter by now.” Kade stood beside me, arms crossed. “We ride at noon.” We took ten wolves. Fast, light, no banners. If this was a trap, I didn’t want half the pack walking into it. The road to the eastern villages was empty. No carts. No footprints. No scent of cooking meat. Just wi

The Choice

The assembly was set for noon. I didn’t sleep the night before. Not because I was scared. Because I knew whatever happened today would decide if Redwood lived or died. Every wolf in Redwood was there. Omegas from the barracks, still in their training leathers. Betas from the patrols, mud on their boots. Gammas from the fields, faces sunburned and tired. Even the elders who’d survived the purge sat in the front row, watching me like I was about to betray them. Sable stood across from us with fifty of her people. Calm. Patient. Like she already knew how this would end. Kade stood beside me on the platform. His hand brushed mine once. Not for comfort. For solidarity. He spoke first. “Redwood is changing,” he said. His voice carried over the courtyard. “It’s stronger than it’s ever been. But it’s not perfect.” Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some angry. Some hopeful. Mostly tired. Then it was my turn. I stepped forward. The wood under my