Page 13 of Night with a Gamma (Golden Strings of Fate #2)

“Good morning, Little Bird” I say softly, and she turns to me, her smile a beacon of light that chases away the remnants of the night’s shadows.

“Good morning, my handsome mate,” she replies, her voice still soft with sleep. “Are you ready for today?”

I nod, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. “As ready as I can be. The pack is counting on us.”

Wren’s expression shifts, a blend of determination and concern. “We have to make sure they understand the gravity of the situation. This isn’t just about the rogues anymore; it’s about protecting our home.”

“Agreed,” I respond. “We’ll gather everyone and lay out our plan. We need everyone to be on the same page. And, by the way, I love that you said our home.”

After a quick breakfast, we make our way to the main hall where the pack is already gathering. The atmosphere is charged, a mixture of anxiety and determination swirling around us. I can see Wyatt and Dalton at the front, their expressions serious as they prepare to address the pack.

I step forward, Wren beside me, and the room quiets as all eyes turn to us.

“Thank you all for coming,” I begin, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface.

“We faced a dark entity in the forest last night, one that is behind the rogue attacks. It’s part of something much larger, and we need to prepare ourselves for what’s to come. ”

Whispers ripple through the crowd, and Wyatt raises a hand to silence them. “What do we need to do?” he asks, his brow furrowed with concern.

“We need to gather information,” I continue. “Dalton will reach out to other packs to see if they’ve experienced anything similar. We need to fortify our defenses, ensure our borders are secure, and remain vigilant.”

Wren steps forward, her presence commanding attention.

“I can continue to sense the energies around us and see if any dark magic is lingering. We need to keep our eyes open for any signs of trouble. Also, I can contact my coven to come put a defense shield around your territory, if you’re okay with that. ”

Dalton nods, determination shining in his eyes. “I’ll contact the other Betas and Alphas. We need to work together to uncover the truth.”

I glance around the room, meeting the eyes of my packmates. “We are strong together. We’ve faced challenges before, and we will face this one as a united front. We will protect our territory, our families, and each other.”

The pack murmurs in agreement, the atmosphere shifting as a sense of unity begins to take hold. I can see the resolve in their faces, and it fuels my own determination.

“Let’s prepare for the day ahead,” Wyatt says, his voice firm. “We’ll form patrols and ensure our borders are secure. We won’t let fear drive us; we will stand together.”

As the pack disperses to carry out their tasks, I feel a swell of pride in my chest. We are a family, bound by loyalty and strength, and together, we will face whatever darkness lies ahead.

Wren and I move to a quieter corner of the hall, the weight of the day’s tasks pressing upon us. “What’s next?” she asks, her eyes searching mine for answers.

“Let’s head to the borders and see if there are any signs of movement,” I suggest. “We need to be proactive about this.”

She nods, determination gleaming in her eyes. “I’ll use my magic to help us sense if anything is amiss.”

Together, we make our way to the borders, the trees lining our path a comforting presence. I can feel the energy shifting around us, and as we approach the edge of our territory, I instinctively scan the area for any signs of danger.

Wren closes her eyes, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I can feel something,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s a disturbance in the energy here, like something has passed recently.”

My pulse quickens as I look around, my instincts sharpening. “Can you tell how many?”

“Not exactly,” she replies, her expression tense. “But it feels… chaotic, as if they were desperate. We need to be cautious.”

I nod, feeling the weight of her words. “Let’s move further along the border and see if we can track them.”

We follow the edge of our territory, Wren guiding me as she senses the energy trails left behind. The forest is eerily quiet, and I can feel the tension between us, a shared understanding that we are walking into the unknown.

As we move deeper into the woods, the disturbance grows stronger, a prickling sensation that raises the hairs on the back of my neck. “It’s close,” I murmur, glancing at Wren.

“I can feel it too,” she replies, her voice steady despite the uncertainty. “We need to be careful.”

Just as we round a bend in the path, we catch sight of movement ahead. A group of rogue wolves is gathered, their eyes wild and frantic, pacing as if waiting for something — or someone.

My heart races as I recognize the urgency in their movements. “What are they doing?”

“I don’t know,” Wren replies, her expression tense. “But we should get closer, see if we can overhear anything.”

We crouch low, moving silently through the underbrush as we approach the rogue pack. I can feel the tension in the air, a mixture of fear and desperation that radiates from them.

As we draw closer, I strain to listen, trying to catch snippets of their conversation.

“They’re coming for us,” one rogue whispers, its voice trembling with fear. “We can’t stay here.”

“We have to find a way to protect ourselves,” another replies, its tone frantic.

Wren glances at me, her eyes wide with concern. “They’re scared. They don’t know what’s happening.”

“Maybe we can help them,” I suggest, my instincts urging me to intervene. “If they’re being manipulated, we need to find out who’s behind this.”

Before Wren can respond, a loud rustling interrupts us, and I turn to see a larger, more powerful wolf — dark and imposing — emerging from the trees. It exudes an aura of authority, and the rogue wolves immediately fall silent, their eyes wide with fear.

“Enough!” the wolf snarls, its voice deep and resonant. “You will not question your place. The time is coming when we will rise, and you will follow!”

My heart races as I realize this is no ordinary rogue. This is a leader, one who is rallying them for something far more sinister.

Wren’s grip tightens on my arm, her eyes wide with fear. “We need to leave. This isn’t safe.”

I nod, knowing that we can’t confront this leader without putting ourselves in danger. “Let’s go back and regroup. We’ll inform Wyatt and Dalton.”

We retreat silently, backtracking through the forest until we reach the safety of our territory. The adrenaline courses through my veins, and I can’t shake the feeling of unease that has settled in my gut.

Once we’re back at the packhouse, I quickly gather Wyatt and Dalton, sharing what we witnessed. “There’s a rogue leader rallying the others,” I explain, my voice filled with urgency. “They’re scared, and I have a feeling they’re being manipulated.”

Wyatt’s expression darkens as he processes the information. “We need to find out who this leader is and what their intentions are. If they’re rallying the rogues, it could spell disaster for us.”

Dalton nods, determination etched on his face. “I can send scouts to keep an eye on their movements. We need to know what they’re planning.”

Wren steps forward, her voice steady yet filled with concern. “We also need to keep our defenses strong. If they’re rallying, they may come for us.”

“I’ll increase patrols along the borders,” Wyatt replies, his voice firm. “We won’t let them catch us off guard.”

As we finalize our plans, I feel a sense of urgency settle over the pack. We are on the brink of something, and I know we need to be prepared for whatever comes next.

That night, as I lie in bed, I can’t shake the feeling of dread that lingers in the air. The rogue leader’s presence is a dark shadow, and I know that we must uncover the truth before it’s too late.

With Wren by my side, I feel a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty. Together, we will fight to protect our pack, our home, and each other.