Chapter 104

I stood at the edge of the clearing, watching as the pack gathered before me. Taking a breath, I spoke. “You’ve all come through a dark time,” I began, meeting their eyes one by one. “You’ve all lost, endured, and fought to survive. But now you have a chance to rebuild, to become something stronger—something united.” I could feel the crowds hesitation, the remnants of pain that Derek’s reign had left in each of them. They’d learned to look out for themselves, to trust no one. I needed to show them that a different way was possible. “To do this,” I continued in a steady tone, “we’ll need to work together. We’ll need food, supplies, and defences so that no threat can ever leave us so vulnerable again.” The tension in their faces began to ease as I laid out the plan, explaining that we’d form hunting parties, repair our homes, and organise patrols to protect us. I described the look out system I envisioned, with rotating shifts and a rapid response team to ensure no one could strike witho