Chapter 75:
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on me.
“Then we have to be ready. If he’s testing us, we need to make sure he finds nothing but strength.”
We continued on, following the tracks deeper into the borderlands. The forest grew thicker, the shadows lengthening as we moved further from the safety of Talon territory. Every sound, every rustle in the underbrush, made me tense, aware of how vulnerable we were this far from home. I knew the risks of coming here, knew that if we encountered Silas’s wolves, it could quickly escalate. But this was a risk I needed to take if I was going to protect my pack.
As we rounded a bend, Dante suddenly stopped, his posture rigid. I saw it then—a flash of movement in the trees up ahead. I crouched low, following his gaze, my heart hammering as I spotted two figures moving quietly through the underbrush, their forms barely visible in the shadows.
“Silas’s scouts,” Dante whispered, his tone deadly calm.
“They’re close. Too close.”
I swallowed, my instincts screaming at me to turn back, to return to the safety of Talon territory. But I couldn’t—this was exactly what we had come to see. We needed to know what we were up against, and these scouts could provide valuable insight.
“What do we do?” I whispered back, my voice steady despite the tension coiled in my muscles.
Dante’s gaze was calculating, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scouts move.
“We observe, see what we can learn. But if they get too close, we drive them out.”
I nodded, settling in beside him as we watched the scouts. They moved with caution, their gazes sweeping over the terrain, taking in every detail. I could see the way they communicated with subtle gestures, a sign of experienced fighters, wolves who knew how to operate as a unit. They were here on a mission, and I had no doubt that Silas had trained them well.
Your adventure awaits at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c〇m
After several minutes, one of the scouts raised a hand, motioning for the other to stop. They exchanged a quiet, intense conversation that we couldn’t hear from our position, but their body language was unmistakable. They were planning something—something that involved our territory.
Dante’s hand tightened on the hilt of his knife, his jaw set.
“We can’t let them go back with whatever they’re planning. If they’ve found a weakness, Silas will know by nightfall.”
I understood the gravity of his words. If these scouts returned with information on our defenses, our numbers, or routines, it could give Silas the advantage he needed to attack. But engaging them here, on the border, was risky. It would be a clear sign that we were aware of their presence, a move that could provoke Silas even further. Still, the thought of letting them go back with critical information was even more dangerous.
“Then we intercept them,” I said, my decision firm.
“We can’t risk them returning to Silas with what they’ve found.”
Dante nodded, his gaze sharpening.
“We need to act quickly. They’re already moving.”
Without another word, we rose from our position, moving swiftly but silently through the underbrush. I felt a surge of adrenaline, my senses on high alert as we closed the distance between ourselves and the scouts. We moved like shadows, each step calculated, every movement careful not to give away our position.
As we neared, Dante signaled for me to take the one on the right while he took the left. I nodded, positioning myself for a clear path to my target. The scout was unaware, his attention focused on the path ahead as he moved through the trees. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, then sprang forward, catching him off guard.
The scout spun around, his eyes widening as he saw me, but I didn’t give him a chance to react. I blocked his attempt to strike, deflecting his blow as I pressed forward, my movements quick and precise. We struggled, his strength almost matching my own, but I could feel his hesitation—he hadn’t expected a fight this far from their territory, hadn’t expected me.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Dante engage with the other scout, his movements smooth and calculated, his focus absolute. He fought with a skill that left no room for error, his strikes decisive, unrelenting.
