CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE - The Night of Reckoning

Anna looked at Rowan, battered but alive, then at Erik and the rest of the team. Despite the danger they had just faced, she felt a surge of pride and love for her pack. "Let's go home," Erik said softly, and together, they made their way back to the mansion. As they approached, Anna could see the lights of the mansion shining like a beacon in the night. Pack members rushed out to meet them, cheering at the sight of Rowan and the successful rescue team. Anna helped Rowan inside, where the pack's healers immediately set to work on his injuries. As the adrenaline of the rescue began to fade, she found herself overwhelmed by emotion. They had done it. Against all odds, they had rescued Rowan from the heart of enemy territory. The days following Rowan's rescue were filled with a tense anticipation. Anna and Erik knew that Ragnar wouldn't let this slight go unanswered. They had struck a blow against him, rescuing a prisoner from the heart of his territory, and his pride would demand ret