11

As Ethan and his mother burst into Centre Hall, the urgency in their voices echoed through the room, cutting through the air like a knife. "WHERE'S ALPHA CLAYTON? IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"

The occupants of the hall turned to face them, startled by the sudden intrusion. Ethan's mother, as the Luna, was immediately recognised, and she was swiftly led to the room where the alpha was meeting with some of the elders.

The tension in the room was palpable as Ethan and his mother entered, their faces drawn with concern. Alpha Clayton looked up from his discussion with the elders, his expression shifting from curiosity to alarm at the urgency in their voices.

"What's the meaning of this interruption?" one of the elders demanded, his tone laced with irritation. "We are in the middle of an important meeting."

Ethan's mother wasted no time in getting to the point. "Alpha Clayton, there's been a development. We've received word of a potential threat to our territory. Rogue wolves are planning an attack."

The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation sank in. Alpha Clayton's gaze hardened with resolve as he absorbed the news, his mind already racing with plans to address the threat.

The elders exchanged uneasy glances, their displeasure at the interruption evident on their faces. But in the face of the looming threat, they knew that unity and swift action were paramount. One of the elders spoke up.

"Received news? From who? Tell us the source!"

Alpha Clayton's gaze shifted to the elder who had spoken, his expression unreadable as he considered the question. "We must assume that the source is reliable," he replied evenly, his voice carrying a note of authority. "We cannot afford to ignore the warning, regardless of its origin."

The elder narrowed his eyes, clearly unsatisfied with the vague response. "And what exactly is the nature of this threat? How do we know it's not just a rumour or a false alarm?"

Ethan's mother stepped forward, her voice steady as she addressed the elders. "We have had reason to believe that rogue wolves were planning to attack for quite some time after monitoring their positions for the past month. The information comes from trusted sources and we cannot afford to underestimate the danger they pose."

A murmur of concern rippled through the room as the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on the gathered pack members. Alpha Clayton raised a hand to silence the growing unrest, his eyes scanning the room with a steely resolve.

"We will take every precaution to ensure the safety of our pack," he declared, his voice firm. "But we cannot waste time debating the validity of the warning. We must act swiftly and decisively to protect our territory and our people."

With a sense of urgency hanging in the air, the elders reluctantly acquiesced, recognising the necessity of immediate action in the face of the looming threat. As they prepared to mobilise the pack and fortify their defences, the gravity of the situation settled over them like a heavy shroud, reminding them of the precarious balance between peace and chaos in the supernatural world.

Alpha Clayton's urgent call for Ethan echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of the gathered pack. "Ethan, come with me," he commanded, leading his son through the door and away from prying eyes.

Once they were a good distance away from the bustling activity within the hall, Clayton turned to his son. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes betrayed a mixture of worry and determination. "Was it the Cat?" he asked, his voice low and intense.

Ethan met his father's gaze, recognising the gravity of the question. He nodded solemnly. "Yes, it was. Amaalie warned us about the rogue wolves and the impending attack."

Clayton's expression tightened with concern. "Do you trust her, Ethan? Can we rely on information from someone outside the pack?"

Ethan hesitated, his thoughts reflecting on the encounters with Amaalie. "I believe she's genuine, Dad. She risked entering our territory alone just to warn us. I don't think she has any reason to deceive us, especially about something this serious."

His father's gaze held a mix of approval and concern. "We can't afford to dismiss the warning, then. We'll take it seriously and prepare for the attack. But keep your guard up, son. The supernatural world is full of uncertainties, and not everyone can be trusted."

Ethan nodded in acknowledgement, understanding the weight of his father's words. As they made their way back to the hall, the imminent threat of the rogue wolves hung heavily in the air, and the pack prepared to face the challenges ahead with a newfound sense of urgency and unity.

As Alpha Clayton and Ethan reentered the hall, they were met with a cacophony of voices as the elders debated the best course of action in response to the impending threat. Ideas flew back and forth, each elder voicing their opinion on where the pack's focus should lie.

"We need to fortify our defences," one elder insisted, his voice firm with conviction. "Strengthen the perimeter, reinforce the wards. We must protect our territory at all costs."

Another elder countered, "Defence alone won't be enough. We need to take the fight to them. Launch preemptive strikes, show the rogues that we won't be pushed around."

A third elder interjected, "But what about seeking allies? Other packs, other races. We can't face this threat alone. We need to form alliances, gather support from those who share our interests."

The hall erupted into a flurry of arguments and counterarguments as the elders debated the merits of each approach. Some advocated for a defensive strategy, others favoured a more aggressive stance, while still others believed that diplomacy and alliance-building were the keys to success.

Alpha Clayton listened to the heated discussion with a furrowed brow, his mind racing as he weighed the merits of each proposal. Ethan stood by his side, silently absorbing the deliberations unfolding before them.

Finally, Alpha Clayton raised a hand for silence, commanding the attention of the gathered elders. "Enough," he declared, his voice cutting through the noise like a thunderclap. "We will consider all options carefully before making a decision. But for now, our priority is to prepare for the worst. Strengthen our defences, gather intelligence on the enemy, and be ready to act decisively when the time comes."

The hall fell silent as the elders nodded in agreement, their disagreements momentarily set aside in the face of their alpha's command. 

The elder, who had suggested seeking alliances with other wolf packs spoke up again, addressing Alpha Clayton with a sense of urgency. "But, Alpha. Should we not still seek an alliance with at least one of the other wolf packs? The ones nearest us would be Harvest Moon, and they would no doubt be next in line on the rogues' radar after us."

Alpha Clayton considered the suggestion, his brows furrowed in thought. "Alliances can be a powerful asset in times of crisis," he conceded. "Harvest Moon is a neighbouring pack, and their fate is intertwined with ours in this situation. We should explore the possibility of forming an alliance with them."

Ethan could sense the tension in the air as the pack members awaited their alpha's decision. The idea of reaching out to Harvest Moon for support seemed to resonate with some, while others maintained a more cautious approach.

"Send a messenger to Harvest Moon," Alpha Clayton commanded. "Inform them of the imminent threat and our intention to stand united against the rogue wolves. Let them know that we seek an alliance for the greater good of our kind."

The elders nodded in agreement, and preparations were set in motion to dispatch a messenger to Harvest Moon, conveying the urgency of the situation and the potential benefits of a collaborative defence.

As the pack mobilised to strengthen their defences, gather intelligence, and reach out to potential allies, the air in the hall hummed with apprehension. The supernatural world was on the brink of upheaval, and the pack braced itself for the challenges that lay ahead, united in their resolve to protect their territory and kin.

But there was still that one lingering question. Rogues do not work together. That was the point of their abandoning their packs. So someone had to be orchestrating their movement, The question was, who was it? And what was their goal?