Chapter 48 Tortures and Breaking points.

The night air was thick with tension as we gathered in the heart of the forest. Noah stood at the center, his expression grim, his mind working furiously to find a solution. I could see the weight of leadership bearing down on him more than ever before. Liam’s life hung in the balance, and the entire Ashwood pack was on the line. We had received the message earlier, delivered by a hunter who had managed to slip through our defenses. The words were simple yet devastating: "Surrender the Ashwood pack, or Liam dies." The ultimatum had sent shockwaves through the pack, but none felt it more acutely than Noah. "Noah, we can't give in to them," Evelyn said, her voice low but fierce. "If we surrender now, it won't stop. They'll keep coming after us until we're all gone." Noah's jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck straining with the effort to remain calm. I could see the battle raging in his eyes—a fight between his duty to the pack and his loyalty to Liam. He took a deep breath, exhali