Chapter 46
The tension in the war room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Everyone sat around the long table, their faces somber as we discussed the plan. My stomach churned with nerves, but I pushed the feeling aside. There was no room for fear tonight.
Helena leaned over the map spread across the table, her finger tracing the path leading to the cave. “This is where they’ve been traced to,” she explained, her voice steady. “Deep in the woods near Alpha Alexander’s border. From the reports we’ve gathered, this appears to be the source of their activity.”
One of my father’s men, a grizzled veteran named Garrick, stepped forward. “I was there during the last encounter with these creatures,” he said, his voice gravelly. “We thought we killed them all back then, but it seems some survived. They must’ve hidden and bred in secret. Now they’re stronger—and more numerous.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “How many do you think there are?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Garrick’s gaze was grim. “Hundreds. Maybe thousands.”
Gasps echoed around the room. My father’s expression remained calm, but I saw the flicker of regret in his eyes. Jeremiah, however, wasn’t as composed.
He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His sharp, dark eyes were locked on my father, and the intensity of his glare made me shift uncomfortably. There was something in that look—something cold and hateful—that I couldn’t quite understand.
Helena cleared her throat, breaking the tension. “We have an advantage,” she said, looking at me. “Astrid’s power.”
All eyes turned to me, and I swallowed hard. Over the past few weeks, Helena had been working tirelessly to test my abilities. Every time I screamed, my eyes would turn a brilliant violet, and the banshee would weaken, its black veins bursting into a bloody mess. It was as though my voice had been imbued with a divine force, something Helena believed was a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself.
“I’ll weaken them,” I said, finding my voice. “And while they’re vulnerable, we’ll burn them.”
Jeremiah frowned, his jaw tightening. “It’s not that simple,” he said, his tone clipped. “You’re putting yourself at risk. If something goes wrong—”
“I know the risks,” I interrupted, meeting his gaze. “But this is our best chance to end this. I won’t stand by and let others fight for me.”
His glare softened slightly, but his frustration was still evident.
Helena continued, “We’ll set up teams. Some will enter the cave with Astrid to weaken the creatures, and others will remain outside to ensure none escape.”
The council members murmured their agreement, though their faces were pale with fear.
Lucy stepped forward, her hands resting protectively on her swollen belly. “You’ll be careful,” she said, her voice trembling. Her eyes darted between my father and me. “Promise me you’ll stay safe.”
“We will,” my father said, his voice steady as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her. “I’ll come back, Mother,” I whispered. “I promise.”
She pulled me into a tight hug, her hands shaking slightly. “You’re so brave, Astrid,” she said softly. “Your brother is lucky to have you as his sister.”
When I pulled away, her gaze shifted to Jeremiah. “Protect her,” she said, her voice firmer now.
He inclined his head. “With my life,” he promised.
Her lips quivered as she gave a small nod, but the tears in her eyes betrayed her fear.
As we prepared to leave, Lucy stood at the door, watching us with a mixture of pride and sorrow. “Come back to me,” she said, her voice breaking slightly.
“We will,” my father assured her, his tone resolute.
Jeremiah placed a hand on my lower back as we stepped into the cool night air. The moon was high, casting a pale glow over the forest as we moved in silence.
The journey to the cave was tense but oddly peaceful. The woods were alive with the sounds of crickets and the rustling of leaves, yet there was an unnatural stillness that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
As we walked, I couldn’t help but glance at Jeremiah. His expression was hard, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a predatory intensity. But every so often, I caught him stealing glances at my father.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Jeremiah,” I said quietly, walking beside him. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t look at me. “Nothing.”
“You’ve been glaring at my father all night,” I pressed. “If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”
His jaw clenched,
“Jeremiah…” I began, but he cut me off.
“Not now, Astrid,” he said sharply. “We have bigger things to focus on.”
I bit my lip, frustration bubbling inside me. But I let it go—for now.
When we finally reached the cave, we crouched behind a cluster of trees, peering into the darkness. My breath caught in my throat as I saw them—hundreds, maybe thousands of banshees, their pale, twisted forms moving like shadows in the dim light.
“We were right,” Helena whispered. “This is the source.”
My father’s face was grim as he surveyed the scene. “We’ll need to be fast,” he said. “Astrid, are you ready?”
I nodded, though my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst.
Jeremiah’s hand found mine, his grip firm. “You don’t have to do this,” he said softly.
I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his. “Yes, I do.”
He held my gaze for a long moment, then gave a small nod. “Then let’s end this.”
As we prepared to move into the cave, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain: I would do whatever it took to protect my family, my pack, and the world we called home.
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