The hallways of the pack house were quiet but not empty. Warriors moved silently through the corridors, some bearing bandages, others just the tired, hollow expressions of those who had survived. The night felt heavier than most—dense with exhaustion and the residue of bloodshed.
Eila walked beside Leonard, her steps echoing softly against the polished floors as they made their way to the dining hall. It was just as grand as the infirmary, with high vaulted ceilings painted in shades of moonlight and stars.
Long wooden tables carved with intricate runes stretched from wall to wall, and golden chandeliers flickered gently overhead. The air smelled of herbs and hot broth was soothing, despite everything.
Leonard spoke quietly beside her, his voice low and steady. "Nina is old, in the way witches are. She was a friend of Alpha Magnus's father before most of us were even born. She became close to Magnus as time passed, and later, to me. She's helped the pack through every major event—births, battles, transitions of power. If she hadn't been here today, I'm not sure how it would've ended."
Eila nodded slowly, absorbing his words.
"She's known Lukas and Zois since they were cubs," Leonard added with a small smile. "They used to tug at her skirts for magical trinkets and story charms. She spoils them."
"She seems so powerful," Eila murmured.
"She is," Leonard confirmed. "Our magic is nothing compared to hers. She enhances our defences, strengthens the manor's barriers, and weaves healing spells into our walls. The infirmary was prepared days before the battle even reached us—she saw it coming. Even though we tightened the security this kind of damage happened, and she is here to investigate the reason behind the flaw in our security spells and those unidentified creatures.
Eila's earlier flicker of jealousy vanished entirely, replaced with awe. How foolish she'd felt, competing in her mind against a woman whose strength was almost otherworldly.
Still, something lingered. Why had Nina taken such a deep interest in her? Eila didn't voice that question, though it tugged at the back of her mind.
The dining hall slowly filled with others—those not too wounded to eat, those seeking comfort in food and community. She was served a steaming bowl of chicken soup and a piece of thick, crusty bread. It was simple and nourishing. But with the weight of the last two days pressing down on her chest, each bite felt like swallowing gravel.
Leonard, ever observant, said nothing but sat beside her quietly, his presence grounding. Across the room, the twins moved among the gathered werewolves with confidence and authority, checking on warriors, offering words of reassurance, and even distributing food. It struck Eila then—how effortlessly they moved as leaders.
For all their teasing and torment, Lukas and Zois had transformed into something more: dependable, composed, and compassionate. She realized just how much they carried on their shoulders, how easily they stepped into roles many weren't ready for at twice their age. And Leonard, his quiet command, his unwavering control was the pillar they leaned on.
Word eventually reached them that Luna Priscilla's vitals had stabilized. Her breathing had evened, and her colour returned. Alpha Magnus, though still asleep, was recovering as well. The healers said his body needed rest more than magic—he had fought until the last of his strength had burned away.
The relief in the air was palpable, but Eila could not relax.
She was about to take another bite when it hit her like a bolt—her parents.
She froze mid-chew, then pushed the bowl away, heart plummeting to her stomach. She hadn't seen them since the night of the attack. The last she'd heard, they'd been called to the pack house at midnight. With everything that had happened since—her mark, the forest, the battle, the infirmary, Nina—she had completely forgotten why she came here in the first place.
Panic surged in her mind. How could she have forgotten?
She reached for the mind link, desperately calling out to her mother and father.
Mother? Father? Are you okay? Please answer me.
Nothing. She was met with an eerie silence on the other side.
Her heart twisted violently. The link was empty. Not broken—but quiet. Too quiet.
Without a word, she stood abruptly from the table, her chair scraping behind her. Leonard looked up in concern, but she didn't stop to explain. Her breath caught in her throat as she bolted out of the dining hall and ran toward the infirmary, her thoughts spinning.
Just because I have three mates now doesn't mean I get to forget the people who raised me.
What kind of daughter am I?
The corridor blurred around her as she pushed herself forward, one hand clutching her chest.
She had to know. She had to see them. She silently prayed to the goddess, "Please, Moon Goddess let them be safe."
The doors to the infirmary loomed ahead, and Eila didn't slow down.
Not until she found the answer.