"Are you ready for tomorrow?" JK asked me gently as we walked down the narrow path that led to his apartment. The moonlight draped everything in a soft silver hue, and the gravel crunched beneath our feet like a quiet reminder of what was to come.
"I don't even know," I replied truthfully, my voice low as I turned to look at him. His eyes met mine, and for a few heartbeats, we held each other's gaze in silence. The air between us was thick with uncertainty and something deeper—something unspoken.
"Have you fought a war before?" he asked, his tone a little hesitant.
I nodded slightly and shifted my gaze to the star-studded sky, as though staring at the cosmos would help me forget that bloody day etched into the corners of my memory. The screams, the pain, the blood—it all came rushing back. But I blinked the thoughts away and forced a calmness I didn't feel.
"Maybe that's why it feels like nothing to you. I have never been in one. I'm afraid," he confessed, his words soft but full of weight.
I stopped walking immediately and turned to face him. The vulnerability in his voice touched something deep inside me. "You don't have to be," I said, my voice steady but warm. "We prepared well for this, and we will come back victorious."
He took a deep breath and nodded slowly, as though trying to hold on to my words. "I hope so," he whispered, then his eyes locked onto mine again, a look so intense it made my toes curl. I didn't like that look—not because it scared me, but because it made me feel things I didn't want to feel. Without another thought, I pulled him into a tight hug.
"How do you know what I really need now?" he whispered into my ear, and for a moment, I just held him tighter. His arms wrapped around me, warm and reassuring. It was a quiet moment, but one that screamed everything words couldn't say. After a few minutes, I gently pulled away and gave him a small wave before turning around.
I rushed home immediately, my heart racing—not from fear, but from the emotions I had tried to suppress. I needed a good night's sleep before tomorrow. Once I got home, I slipped into the bathroom and took a long, refreshing bath. The warm water helped soothe my aching muscles, even though my mind refused to rest. I forced myself to eat something afterwards, even though food tasted like ash in my mouth. My appetite was gone, but I knew my body needed strength for what was to come.
After tidying up, I headed straight to Jasper's room, hoping to catch a moment with him—but he was nowhere to be found. The emptiness in his room matched the hollow feeling growing in my chest. I sighed and dragged my feet back to my own room, my shoulders heavy with the weight of all I didn't understand. Eventually, exhaustion won the battle and I drifted into sleep.
The next day came in a blink.
The loud, booming sound of drums shattered my dreams, yanking me back to reality. I bolted upright and rushed to the window, my heart pounding. Outside, soldiers I didn't recognize were parading the pack. Their uniforms were different, their faces unfamiliar. My brows furrowed in confusion and concern.
"Who are those people parading the pack?" I mind-linked JK instantly, my tone sharp with alarm.
"Some neighboring pack sent their soldiers over here to assist us with security," he replied, and while it made a bit of sense, it also raised more questions. Why on earth was I being kept in the dark? I was only ever told to train the soldiers—no more, no less. Every other piece of information seemed to be deliberately hidden from me.
Still disturbed, I hurried into the bath, washing quickly and dressing in my water clothing. I reached for my special sword—the one that had tasted victory and despair alike—and stepped out.
"Ahhhhh!" I let out, startled, as I collided into a hard surface.
I looked up and there he stood—Jasper, towering over me with a face as unreadable as stone. His presence alone could silence a battlefield.
"I gave Grey the map of the pack. He will lead you and your crew. I will be behind you all," he said flatly, already turning toward the door.
"Jasper, you can't just keep me in the dark like this," I called after him, frustration boiling to the surface. "You don't treat me like a slave. You have to brief me on some basic information about this war, the place we're going to, and other things I need to know. I just learned you employed soldiers from other packs for help—I wasn't even aware of it."
He turned, his face still expressionless, but his brow lifted slightly in challenge. "I gave you the information you needed to know," he said coldly, then walked out, leaving me standing there with my emotions in disarray.
After a minute or two of staring at the main door in helpless frustration, I gathered myself and walked out. My warriors were already assembled, standing tall and alert, waiting for my presence.
"Greetings, Chief," they chorused the moment they saw me, their eyes full of respect and quiet determination.
"Crystal warriors!" I called out, lifting my right hand with pride.
"Victory is ours!" they echoed with one voice, their energy pulsing like electricity through the air.
"Crystal warriors!" I hailed them again, this time with a wide, brave smile spreading across my face.
"Victory is ours!" they thundered in unison, their voices shaking the very ground beneath us.
"This is the day we bring victory back with us," I said, my voice full of conviction. They all nodded, fire lighting their eyes.
"Greetings, the rock and heart of Crystal Moon Pack," came Jasper's voice from behind. I turned and saw him striding toward us, his aura bold and magnetic.
"Thank you all for your efforts," he began, his voice firm and commanding. "Remember that we never lose a battle. We're invaders—we take charge of any territory we step into."
As he spoke, Grey walked toward him and whispered something into his ear.
"You all will be leaving in groups—fifty per group. You know the reasons for this. Grey will lead the doorway. Remember, we're born winners," he concluded, and the warriors bowed respectfully as he walked away.
"The first fifty set should follow me," Grey ordered, and the first group began moving. He signaled to me, and I joined them without hesitation.
"Can I see the map?" I asked as we began our journey into the thick forest.
"No," he replied curtly. I didn't press further. What was the point? We were already on our way. Soon, we'd be at the battleground.
"We need to shift right now," he instructed. Instantly, everyone began undressing. I took off mine, wrapped it carefully, and shifted into my wolf form, gripping the bundle tightly in my teeth.
"Let's go!" Grey mind-linked, and with that, he darted forward. We followed, our paws thudding against the earth in synchronized rhythm. Dust kicked into the air as we sprinted across the wild terrain.
After a while, a familiar forest came into view—and my heart skipped. Confusion clouded my thoughts. This… this isn't my father's pack. It looked more like a neighboring territory.
Still, I ran behind Grey with the others, my mind spinning in all directions.
"We're here!" he mind-linked again, and we spread out, forming lines across the soldiers at the gate of Lotus Pack.
My father's Pack.