The night was cold and quiet as the pack moved through the forest, paws brushing softly over the dirt trail while the trees whispered above, tall and dark under the pale moonlight. You walked in the center of the long formation, surrounded by women and children, your body heavy with the weight of your unborn pup as you kept your pace steady, breathing slow despite the ache in your legs.

Ahead, the elders led the way, their ears turning carefully with every sound, and just behind them the younger warriors walked with sharpened focus, ready to leap into action if needed, while behind you, the guards stayed close, their presence like a shield. Far back, following at a distance, your mate, Kael—the young Alpha—moved like a shadow, always watching, always calculating, the burden of leadership pressing on him since the fall of your last home.

You remembered what he said before the journey began, when he rested his head against yours and whispered, “No matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe.” It had only been a few hours of travel when the front line suddenly stopped, every elder freezing in place at the same moment, and the entire line behind them went still in silence, their ears perked, their bodies tense. You froze too, and at once, a sharp ache pulled through your belly, deep and sudden, making you lower your head as your breath caught. Then his voice came from the rear, calm but firm,

“Hold your ground. Stay sharp. They won’t get past us.”