A blazing bonfire roared in the huge clearing. All the Greywolf pack members, old or young, fit or frail, male or female, surrounded the bonfire whispering and chattering loudly. A mixture of emotions filled the air as wild speculations passed from one mouth to the next, taking all kinds of form. The night was tense, and the air hung in suspense. White flames leaped into the night, dark scary shadows danced violently in the firelight. Smells of burning logs enveloped the air. More dangerously, fear gripped and gnawed at the very hearts of the werewolves. On a night like that, there was a very thin line between enmity and friendship.

Lumina was still, she stood rooted to the ground, distant from the other members of the pack. Her arms were folded defensively across her chest. She surveyed her surroundings thoughtfully. Observing her pack members keenly. The normal cheerfulness and happy chattering was missing. Instead, the air was thick with wariness and tension of the dreaded enemy ever since Lumina had briefed them on the deaths of the five wolves and who was suspected to be responsible for the loss of lives.

Her eyes gradually drifted to the cold bodies now lying in the clearing. Save for the deep gushing wounds, they seemed to be peacefully asleep. Something stuck in her throat each time she glanced at the bodies. It reminded her that the danger was real. And it was near. Her heart ached as she watched the grieving families flock together, moaning painfully in the eerie night. Their voices rose and fell into a crescendo. The mothers were robbed of their only sons. Siblings robbed of their beloved brothers and sisters.

Lumina swallowed a hard lump, turning her eyes away, unable to see the raw pain. She feared she would crumble, then all hell would break loose. She needed to stay strong, to calm the men who stood with their hands balled into tight fists, doing everything in their power to control their rage. She had to be there for the women too, who closely held their beloved sons and daughters, lest they turn up dead like the others. Their eyes were red and swollen. Tension was brewing beneath the wild speculations, anger rose and tempers flared. She needed to control that, not her turmoil. It was very crucial.

She felt a familiar presence next to her. Carden Thorne had shifted his position and was now standing very close to her. He did not speak, only offered his comfort. His eyes were dark and danced wildly, his sea-green eyes sparkling in the fire light. His face was grim. His lips pursed tightly. His posture communicated a lot. He was a man without patience, he was ready to kill and destroy if it meant protecting Lumina and the pack. He was guarded. Lumina felt his distress. She noticed it in the way his shoulders stiffened and his tight-balled fists. She gently reached out and rested her hand on his arm. She hoped this little gesture could comfort his troubled heart.
He was slightly taken aback, and looked at her with affection in his eyes. It was brief, but it was there. He gave her a gentle nod. “All will be well. We will get over it."  His tone was low, barely a whisper that she only heard him.

Lumina nodded in understanding. However, the hard cold lump in her throat refused to disappear. “If only we could do more. Knew more of this enemy.” She muttered, her eyes slowly moving to Rhea who stood on the opposite side of the bonfire, her form clearly visible due to the firelight.

Rhea had not engaged anyone since they found out about the dead bodies in the forest. Her normally composed countenance was replaced by a withdrawn and silent nature. When called upon, she fully participated, providing help and support where new strategies, skills and ideas were required to counteract the enemy. Despite all her efforts, Lumina was still more than certain that she was hiding something.

“She's keeping something from us,” Carden angrily accused, his eyes focused on Rhea as well.“I know it in my heart.”
“I completely agree.” Lumina concurred, her heart squeezed in despair. “We have to catch her red-handed. We can't act now. Only observe.”

It was almost like Rhea felt watched. For she stared straight at Lumina, their eyes clashing. For a split second, Lumina imagined seeing an expression of guilt and remorse spread across Rhea's face, but it disappeared as quickly as it showed, her face was replaced by an impartial expression not leaving anything to chance. She stared back at Lumina resolutely.
The pack's second in command warrior, Eliam, stepped into the clearing courageously. He took instructions directly from Carden. His eyes shone brightly as he surveyed the silent wolves. His voice was loud, his expression contorted in worry. “We have heightened our security around the territory. We are prepared and ready to take them on, should they appear. Still, we should not underestimate them. This may be the toughest battle ever faced by the Greywolf clan.”

Members of the pack nodded their heads in agreement. As prepared as they were, the hideous stories of the Shadowclaw pack's violent murders shook them. Unspoken fear laced the air. Lumina saw the uncertainty in the eyes of her pack members as she observed them.  She spoke bravely, stepping into the clearing and standing next to Eliam. “We must have faith in one another, and believe we can do this. Despite the uncertainties of the future, we must stand united.” Her voice carried a tone that calmed the pack's worry for a while.
The members agreed in unison. Nodding somberly.

Rhea Silverclaw seized the moment and stepped forward. Her sharp storm gray eyes pierced through the members. “I've been where you are right now, and I know the kind of fear you experience.” Her tone was composed but stern. “The Shadowclaw is strong and dangerous. They thrive in ambushing their enemies, the element of surprise. We have something other pack members didn't have, not even my own.” Tension seized the air as the members waited eagerly to find out the secret weapon they held against the daunting Shadowclaw clan. “Me. I've faced them in war, I know their strengths and weaknesses. I know their strategy. We can beat them.”

There was a moment of pin drop silence as everyone digested the new information. Eliam spoke up, in a voice of respect but doubtful. “Thank you for your offer. But we really are not aware of the real reason why they would follow you all the way here? What is so special about you? And what are they really after?”

Rhea tightened her jaw, Lumina watched her keenly, witnessing the motions flicker through her sharp eyes. Pain, fear, rage, regret and hatred all flushed in her eyes seconds later. Her expression was hard and stone-cold. “Isn't it obvious? As a soul survivor, they want me to die, so I cannot disclose what I know of them. Alpha Kieran of the Shadowclaw pack is a vindictive, murderous bastard of a wolf that believes in annihilating a whole pack. Not a single soul is left alive. They are hunters, believing in complete dominance and power. My pack went up against them. I led my pack against them, and he swore to track me down and kill me. I barely escaped.”

Lumina gazed at her expression, hard. Searching for any slight misguided reaction that could reveal she was lying. Her story was believable, it made sense, still something was off, her tone indicated that she was not being completely honest.
“A violent pack, murderous and vindictive as you put it, just let you escape like that, without any harm?” Carden's voice was thick with doubt. His tone was commanding and sharp. “You are lying to us.” He stated categorically.

All the werewolves in the sacred clearing took seconds to digest this key information. Soon, scary howls filled the air. Ferocious wolves were snarling loudly, while slowly closing in on Rhea, closing the little gap between them and Rhea. She was a traitor. There was no other plausible explanation. Rhea surveyed the situation swiftly, her eyes darting between the ferocious wolves and Lumina Greywolf who stood at the side silently, her expression hard. Carden watched with satisfaction as the snaring wolves inched their way to Rhea.

Rhea seized the opportunity and approached Lumina and Carden swiftly, her steps small but hesitant. She fell on her knees. Her eyes flickered with pain, hurt and sparks of fear. It was now or never. Her voice was low and full of shame.

“Lumina. I loved him. I thought he loved me. But he betrayed me, used me to get to my pack. By the time I realized, it was too late. It was an ambush. We were badly wounded. I stood up against him, but it was no use. They killed them all. He let me live. I didn't understand why at first, but now I know, he has used me again to get a new pack he wants to slaughter.” Her voice cracked, tears streamed down her face. “I've brought death to your doorstep, I know. But I will help you kill him. More than anything, I want him dead. I know you suspect me. Allow me to show you that I'm on your side.” She spoke softly, her voice cracked in pain, but her eyes were fiery at sparkling with determination and rage. Her hands were balled into tight trembling fists.

Loud gasps erupted among the pack members at Rhea's confession, muttering and murmuring in confusion. Lumina's eyes widened in shock, her heart ached in pain, as her mind raced. Is that what she was hiding? Betrayal from a loved one was hard to talk about. She studied Rhea's face, looking for any signs of a lie, but she didn't find any. Rhea gazed at her earnestly, her shoulders slumped heavily. She seemed to carry a heavy burden of guilt, her head hung low in shame. Lumina held her first firmly in the air, gesturing for silence, all the murmur and chatter died down.

“How can you be of use to us? It seems more like he knows you and can manipulate you.” Lumina's voice was stern and measured. Even though her heart ached and felt pity for Rhea, she had been dishonest with them from the beginning, trusting her was not a wise choice. She was more of a liability than an asset to the pack.

Rhea paused, her gaze slowly drifting around the pack members, studying them. Her tone is low, with a somber expression. “Lumina, there is so much more you don't know about. I believe there is a traitor among us.”

The pack members erupted in anger yet again, cursing and snarling at Rhea. Lumina raised her arm, gesturing in the air, gesturing for silence yet again, her mind raised, and her heart clenched in her chest. She was at a loss for words herself. Her eyes slightly balled out in shock, yet she maintained an impartial expression. Carden was pale, he remained as still as a pole, his sea-green eyes as cold as Antarctica.

“Speak.” Lumina commanded.
Rhea continued, in a stern voice. Her voice was clear throughout the whole clearing, eyes scrutinizing the pack members. “I've heard things, seen things I shouldn't have, while out in the forest. I witnessed someone from the pack talking to a rogue werewolf. When they sensed my presence, the rogue wolf disappeared into the dense woods. The other wolf arrived. His face was partially hidden by the tall dark shadows of the trees, so I didn't see his face, but the crescent moon tattoo the Grey Wolf pack shared was on his neck, as clear as day. I did not want to disclose this until I was completely sure who the traitor was.”

Carden was beside himself with rage. He stepped in front of Rhea, his cold eyes piercing Rhea's intently. “Is that enough to declare someone from the Greywolf pack a traitor? You didn't even see their faces! For your information, tattoos can be imitated.”
Rhea stared back at Carden unwaveringly. Her voice is cool but stern. “Even though the Shadowclaw clan is ruthless. They do not just ambush another pack blindly.

They infiltrate. I'm sure Alpha Kieran has already infiltrated this pack. How else did they know the time the warriors patrolled the area managed to kill all five of them?”
Pack members nodded vigorously, concurring with Rhea. They muttered beneath their breaths asking, wondering how they knew, their unanimous spirit they had a moment ago when they were about to attack Rhea, dissipated slowly, each person withdrawn and in deep thought.

A cold shiver ran down Lumina's back. Disbelief spread across her face. “This is hard to believe. Everyone here is very loyal and committed to the pack.”  She whispered to herself, her voice uncertain.

A hint of desperation rising in her voice, Rhea spoke softly to Lumina. Eyes earnestly searching Lumina's. “If you choose not to believe me, I will not hold it against you. If I were in your position I would have the same questions if not more. Please consider that I have not done anything to deliberately put the pack in harm's way. I only kept quiet about my past with Alpha Kieran because I thought I had placed him behind me. I did not think even for a second he would follow me here. I want to help. Let me help please. So your pack does not end up like mine.”

“Are you certain there is a traitor within the pack?”  Lumina raised her eyebrows, her voice skeptical.  She considered how unwavering Rhea had been since she approached her pack, helpful in building defenses against the enemy.

Rhea's eyes widened as she looked at Lumina sincerely, her voice firm with determination. “A hundred percent. And I can help you catch them.”

“For free?” Lumina's voice was skeptical. “I doubt you are that generous.” Her eyebrows were raised.

Rhea's voice carried a tone of heavy pain and desperation. “I only want to start fresh. A home. I have nothing, and I'm lonely. No one to stand by my side. I have a chance to get that here.”

Lumina felt a tinge of remorse for the woman, her expression remained hard and impartial.

“Fine.” Lumina's tone was conversant. “Rhea, if you stab us in the back, you'll die, so I hope you are honest, for us all.”
“Agreed.” Rhea's voice was cool but respectful. Her face was unreadable. She inclined her head respectfully. Her mind raced with solutions she could provide to the pack.

Lumina turned her attention to her pack. Her eyes swept over them slowly and keenly. Scrutinizing each and every face, a pinpoint silence fell over the pack, as Lumina walked in measured steps, slowly, within the clearing. Her eyes burned with ferocious determination, her face stern yet convincing. “My pack, my family. We've gathered here as one, clouded by pain, shredded into pieces by loss of our children, fathers, brothers and sisters. But we are here, we are still standing.”
The pack members watched her, they chattered amongst themselves. Lumina continued.

“We have faced highs and lows. We have come against the worst enemies, and we emerged victorious by trusting and believing in one another.” Lumina's tone grew low and silent as she let her speech settle in the hearts of her pack members. She watched their faces, searching for resolve and power in them. Her powerful voice boomed across the pack members, even though her tone was low. “Yet now, it feels like our world is crumbling down. A traitor within us, daring to break our loyalty apart, ferociously murdering our kin. We feel like we have nowhere to run and nobody to turn to.” Her voice was thick with emotions that drove home her points in the hearts of the pack members.
Members nodded vigorously, commenting in agreement. Fierce ambition simmered in them, waking a hot desire for justice. They howled in unison, responding to Lumina's speech.

Lumina's voice rose higher and higher, her hands balled into tight fists, veins popping on her neck. “We will not fall! Let the traitors see us now. That we are not cowards with hidden tails! We stand tall to fight and protect our own! We will uproot them and our strong bond will not die! We are the Greywolf pack!” She finished strongly with a powerful voice.
Ear-piercing howls filled the air. Ferocious snarls vibrated in the dense forest. The night was charged with rage and fearlessness. Every Greywolf member was ready to seek retribution for the loss of their dear ones. The Greywolf family was one.

A wave of relief washed over Lumina. At that moment she believed in her friends, she knew they were fully behind her, and they would be willing to do anything for her, just as she was ready to do anything for them. She would do all she could to give her pack the best.