Vanessa bursts through the door, calm despite the energy buzzing around her. "You have two minutes to pack a bag. Evacuation is now."

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I grab my messenger bag, with Grimoire inside. Lisa stands ready beside me, already with a bulging backpack slung over her shoulders.

"Kellan had a ’go bag’ ready for me since I moved in with him," she explains sheepishly.

I nod, impressed by Kellan’s foresight. My own preparations feel woefully inadequate in comparison. Hastily, I stuff a couple of extra outfits into my bag.

Turning to Vanessa, I gesture towards Aurum’s massive form on the bed. "We need a way to carry him. He’s not waking up."

Vanessa frowns as she assesses the situation. "We’ll figure something out. Maybe a stretcher."

Movement to the east, Selene’s voice interrupts, her tone distracted and tense. They’re trying to find a way around the wards.

"We don’t have enough vehicles for everyone. Most of the pack will have to go on foot. We’ll need to split the evacuation—humans in the cars, shifters on foot."

My heart sinks at her words. That means I’ll be separated from the pack. "Is that safe? Splitting up, I mean?"

Vanessa’s eyes meet mine, a mix of determination and worry in her gaze. "It’s not ideal, but it’s our best option. The shifters can move faster through the forest, and we need to get the humans to safety as quickly as possible."

I nod, understanding the logic even as fear gnaws at my insides. My gaze drifts back to Aurum, his golden fur rising and falling with each breath. How are we going to move him?

"What about Aurum?" I ask, unable to keep the concern from my voice.

"We’ll use one of the trucks. Don’t worry."

Vanessa instructs the guards outside the door to carry Aurum on a stretcher to the truck. To their credit, they ask no questions, obeying in efficient silence. Only minutes later, we’re in the heart of the pack with the others. Humans are divided into cars, as many as they can fit. Their fear is so strong, even I can smell it in the air.

"Ava." A familiar voice cuts through the chaos, and I turn to see Marcus approaching. Relief washes over me at the sight of his weathered face.

"Marcus!"

His eyes never stop scanning the area. "I’ll be sticking with you and Lisa. We need to keep the human evacuees safe."

Having Marcus here, solid and dependable, makes the impossible task ahead feel manageable.

All around us, wolves move with practiced efficiency. It’s a sight to behold—every pack member helps at least one other before shifting into wolf forms, securing packs to each other’s backs. The chaos I expected is surprisingly absent, everything moving along in orderly fashion.

"They’re all pros by now," Vanessa says, following my stare.

"What about the wounded?" I ask, dreading the answer.

She smiles, her worried eyes lightening at the question. "We have no wounded. Everyone’s healed since the last attack."

Thank God for small favors.

I watch as three groups of wolves dash out into the night. Their coordinated movements speak of countless drills and, likely, real-life experience.

"They’re going to reinforce the scouting party," Vanessa explains, her voice eerily calm given the circumstances.

Contact is made, Selene’s voice echoes in my mind, sending a jolt of fear through me.

"How far out are they?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Only half a mile from camp."

I strain my ears, expecting to hear the sounds of battle, but there’s nothing. Is a half-mile really that far away? "I can’t hear anything."

A presence materializes behind me, and Sister Miriam’s voice drifts over my shoulder. "They’re probably suppressing the sound of fighting so they don’t scare us off."

I turn to face her, taking in her enigmatic expression. "What about you? What are you going to do since we’re all evacuating?"

She reaches out, patting my head in a gesture that feels both comforting and patronizing. "I need to make sure all loose ends are cleaned up so no reports of this camp get back to their headquarters."

Her fingers brush my hair behind my shoulders, and her eyes meet mine. "Don’t worry, little Luna. You and your people will remain safe."

Before I can respond, she vanishes from view, leaving me staring at the empty space where she stood.

In and out, with a few words.

I let out a sigh. "She’s so unpredictable."

"She’s a good ally," Vanessa says, her tone matter-of-fact.

"I know," I agree, just as a piercing scream tears through the air.

Chaos explodes into our orderly evacuation with another scream.

Marcus curses. "Vamps. They’re here."

They’re running toward us, speeding blotches of black hundreds of yards in the distance.

My voice barely audible over screams and howls. "Humans, evacuate now!"

I spot several she-wolves herding children, their bodies low and protective as they run in the opposite direction of the invaders. "Marcus! Make sure some are guarding the children as they escape."

"Yes, Luna!"

We need to buy them time to get to safety.

All around me, wolves leap into battle, intercepting the vampires before they can reach the most vulnerable members of our pack. It’s too dark to see from such a distance, but there’s a certain sound when they finally clash, and a few wolves yelp and scream.

"Get in the truck!" Vanessa yells at me. "We need to get you to safety!"

I shove Lisa in first, as Marcus directs some wolves to aid the evacuees.

Selene dashes by us all, joining the wolves in the fight. Her determination is fierce inside my head, her full attention on the vampires.

So much happens in the matter of seconds.

Are you running or fighting? Grimoire’s voice is calm and collected despite the mayhem.

Marcus’ hand clamps down on my arm as he lifts me into the truck. "We need to go, Luna."

The sight of my pack fighting for their lives, for our survival, makes something fierce and protective well up inside me. How can I leave them?

More screams. More growls. The scent of blood fills the air, apparent even to my weak nose.

I can help you fight, Grimoire’s voice comes again, more insistent this time. We can save lives, but you need to make a decision.

Marcus shoves me forward. "Ava, we need to go. I can’t protect you here."

I look into his eyes, seeing the grim determination there. Then I glance back at the battle raging around us. My pack needs me. They need their Luna.

"No," I say, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. "Marcus, I need you to guard Aurum. Make sure he’s safe."

"Luna—"

But I duck under his arm and jump out of the truck, hoping I’m not making another horrible mistake.

I’m exhausted. My magic is spent. But Grimoire’s confidence has me clinging to it like a lifeline.

"Help me," I whisper, reaching into the messenger bag at my hip. The moment my fingers touch his cover, a surge of magic floods through me. It’s foreign; it doesn’t come from the world around me. There’s a different feeling to it, as though it’s more refined. Sleek. Concentrated.

Every drop of magic feels five times more powerful than what I draw from within myself.

This is Grimoire.

My senses sharpen, the world around me coming into crystal-clear focus.

You are my bond, Grimoire says, every word in my head rumbling with the power he holds. You have my power.

A vampire breaks through our defensive line, his eyes locked on a group of evacuees.

Without thinking, I thrust my hand out. A bolt of pure energy erupts from my palm, striking the vampire square in the chest. It flies backward, crashing into a tree with enough force to splinter the trunk.