Page 49 of Shattered and Saved

Before I could muster a response, he continued, his tone sharp and unrelenting. “Are you strong enough now, or will you leave her again when it gets too much?”

“I’d give my life to protect her,” I said, my voice steady and unwavering.

Joe huffed, his disdain evident. “So would everyone else here.” He brushed past me with a deliberate bump, leaving me clenching my fists as he threw one last remark over his shoulder. “Get in line.”

Watching him walk away, I felt conflicted. Col was furious, unaccustomed to being talked down to, and even less pleased about having his loyalty to his mate questioned. But I wonderedif there was any point in trying to reason with such an unyielding man.

“I’m sorry about that,” Elijah said, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. “Joe is… incredibly overprotective of Avril.” He grimaced.

The rational part of me understood why. It was clear he only wanted his niece to be happy, otherwise, he would have already thrown me out of her pack or actively tried to stand in our way.

But the alpha in me burned to prove I was more worthy of standing by her side than any other male.

In the end, I set the issue aside and focused on what Elijah had planned for me. Since Col couldn’t blend in with the smoke like the rest of the army, Elijah wanted me to use the terrain to our advantage. Blood Rose was blanketed in snow at this time of year, providing perfect camouflage for my white wolf.

My role was to join the middle team, where I could quickly step in to aid any Ashen Wolf in need. With the enemies expected to approach from the sides, I could stay low and strike from the ground, catching them off guard if any pack members found themselves in trouble.

Yet I couldn’t shake the suspicion that this was also Avril’s way of keeping me close.

In less than half an hour, Azure Smoke was ready to leave. Since the entire pack was on the move, we had to opt for routes where their presence couldn’t be noticed. Though it would have been faster to hit the road by car, the number of vehicles we would need to transport everyone would certainly draw attention. It took five hours to reach the outskirts of Blood RosePack, and another half an hour to allow the warriors to recover their stamina before Avril tried to negotiate with them.

Staying true to her promise to avoid conflict if possible, Avril, accompanied by her beta and gamma, showed herself to the sentinels roaming the borders of Blood Rose. Meanwhile, groups of Ashen Wolves surrounded the territory, waiting in strategic positions - far enough that their scent wouldn’t be caught, yet close enough to act.

My group was stationed closest to the three highest-ranking members of Azure Smoke, serving as the first line of defense if things went south. To make our presence harder to detect, there were only four of us. Though we were within the sentinels' scent range, we were close enough to Avril, Theo, and Elijah that our scents should blend with theirs - unless someone was actively trying to single us out.

“Identify yourselves!” shouted one of the sentinels as soon as the trio came into their field of vision.

“I am Avril, a representative of Azure Smoke Pack. This is Theo and Elijah, warriors designated to protect me,” she promptly answered, using the same guise she had come up with to enter Whispering Hills, palms raised in a sign of peace.

“State your case,” the man demanded, his whole team attentive to the strangers.

“I’d like to speak to Alpha Brent on behalf of my alpha,” she stated. “We would like to propose a deal to Blood Rose.”

Despite his visible reluctance, the sentinel’s eyes soon clouded over, a clear sign he was mindlinking someone - likely his alpha. Avril’s story might have been sketchy, but the name of her pack alone was enough to spark interest. Not much was known about Azure Smoke in the werewolf world, but rumors of their warriors’ combat prowess, their rapid growth, and the mystery surrounding their leader were reason enough to hear what the alpha disguised as an omega had to say.

Once Brent arrived, Avril introduced herself again before continuing her story. “A couple from our pack had been separated from their son during a rogue attack long ago. Earlier today, they sensed the awakening of his wolf through the parental bond, and their counterparts swear he could be here,” she explained, sincere enough to be believed, yet vaguely enough to avoid overcomplicating it. “His name is Ruac, and he must have shifted for the first time a few hours ago.”

An amused smile spread over Brent’s lips. “You’re after that little freak?” he croaked, and I could feel the tension rising. “So, I bet you know what’s wrong with him.”

“There’s nothing wrong with him,” Avril spat, too hastily, as if personally offended. Regaining her composure, she took a steadying breath before continuing, “He’s different, and we can explain why,” she said, her voice firmer. “We also understand that letting go of a pack member isn’t easy. Our Alpha is grateful to Blood Rose for providing him shelter and care over the years and is more than willing to repay you for what he has cost you - double it, even, for the trouble his absence may cause.”

That was a generous sum of money. The fledgling was nowhere near worth that value to the alpha, which was why I hoped he would accept the offer, letting us leave in peace. As silence stretched for the next few seconds, the sound of my heartbeat was deafening.

Unfortunately, when he finally spoke, I knew he had carved his own grave.

“Keep your money. I’m not letting him go,” Brent determined, concluding. “You won’t fool me. I know something’s up with him, and the Council will give me a lot more for handing him to them when they come to see him tomorrow.”

From feet away, Avril shot me a side glance. I could see genuine regret for what she was about to do in her expression, but I understood she couldn’t allow an Ashen Wolf to be takenby the Elder Council. When she closed her eyes, I knew she was giving her pack a command.

In the next moment, shadows burst to life, darkening the pristine forest.

30

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A V R I L

One momentthe forest was silent; the next, it erupted into chaos.

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