At Montgomery pack Harley assembled all the pack members, standing resolutely in front of them as the pack leader he was. His voice was heavy with sorrow as he began to speak to the pack members.
"I know everyone's contributions to the last battle and battles before. I am deeply sorry for everyone we've lost in the last battle to our rival pack the Laufey pack and to the attack made on us" he said, his eyes scanning the crowd, meeting the gaze of each member. "I don't want to lose any more brothers and sisters because you are my family blood. That's why I believe we should make peace with the Laufey pack, to stop losing anyone anymore."
As the words left his mouth, murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd. Some members were whispering, clearly displeased and hungry for revenge.
Zack, who was a few steps away from Harley, notices that he stepped forward closer to him, and whispers to his ear. "Harley, let them vote," he urged
Harley nodded, understanding the need for a democratic decision. "If you want to make peace, move to one side. If you want to continue the fight, move to the other."
The pack hesitated for a moment before slowly dividing. When the movement ceased, Zack noticed that the numbers on both sides were perfectly equal. Tension crackled in the air, and all eyes turned to Marinetta, who was quietly playing with a teddy bear on the sidelines.
Harley turned to her, his voice gentle but firm. "Marinetta, you need to decide. Which side will you choose?"
Marinetta looked up, her innocent face betraying none of the turmoil within. She walked slowly to the side advocating for peace, her teddy bear clutched tightly in her hand. But behind her serene exterior, she was already crafting a plan, a plan she kept hidden from everyone.
"Peace it is," Harley declared, though he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something more was at play.
As the pack dispersed, whispers of doubt and suspicion lingered. Marietta, with her seemingly innocent decision.
Harley was relieved by Marinetta's decision. After the meeting, he sat alone, pondering how to forge this peace. His thoughts were interrupted by Maranda, who approached with a concerned look.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Harley sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Is my decision the right one, Maranda?"
Maranda nodded slowly. "Yes, it is. But something feels off, though I can't put my finger on it."
"Can you cast some spells? Maybe you can see what's wrong?" Harley suggested a hint of desperation in his voice.
Maranda shook her head. "I can only see the future if Mother Goodness reveals it to me. But now I can't" she said and continue
" I'll accompany you to the peace talks in case there is anything."
"Thank you, Maranda," Harley said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I need to arrange a peace meeting."
He stood and walked over to where Zack, Liam, Lexy, and Marietta were gathered talking.
He approaches them and said
"We need to send a delegation to the Laufey pack to inform them about our meeting."
Monica takes over Marietta. Marinetta stepped forward confidently. "I'll go."
Harley frowned, shaking his head. "No, Marinetta, you can't go. It's too risky."
Zack notices this, he knows it will not be ok if Marinetta goes and immediately speaks up. "I'll go."
Liam added, "And I'll go with him."
Harley nodded, appreciating their willingness. "Thank you. Be careful, both of you. This is a crucial mission."
As Zack and Liam prepared to leave, Monica watched them with a knowing smile, her mind still weaving plans that no one else could see.
As Zack and Liam were preparing for their journey, the spy that Lola paid for their pack made his move. Slipping through the shadows he was planning to inform Lola about the Montgomery pack ahead, but he was about to leave when he ran into Maranda near the bushes, not far from the pack territory.
" up to something? Oh sorry you are going to the laughy pack, to tell them about the plans, but you shouldn't betray your packs"
Recognizing the threat Maranda posed to his secret, the spy lunged at her, intent on silencing her for good. But Maranda was quicker. She raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, the spy froze in his tracks, unable to move. His eyes widened in horror as he felt his blood begin to boil.
Sweat poured down his face, and he started to beg, "Please, Maranda, spare me it was a mistake I didn't know what I was thinking"
Maranda's eyes were cold as she spoke. "You will go to the Laufey pack just as you plan and tell them our pack is coming to make peace. Deliver the message as the spy you are, and once you're done, you are to leave and never return."
The spy nodded frantically, the pain becoming unbearable. "I will! I swear!"
With a final, stern look, Maranda released her hold on him. The spy collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Without another word, he scrambled to his feet and ran off into the night, heading towards the Laufey pack.
As Maranda watched him disappear, she felt a pang of unease. The spy would deliver the message, but his presence had added another layer of uncertainty to their mission. She knew she had to warn Harley and the others, but for now, she turned back towards the pack, her mind racing with the possible outcomes of the upcoming peace talks.
At the Laufey pack, Silas woke to find himself lying on the floor of his room. The events of the previous night came rushing back. He tried to recollect that he had taken the red liquid when he was feeling strange, then collapsed. As he struggled to remember more he stood up, he felt different, almost as if he had just awakened his wolf. But something was off.
He checked himself in the mirror, noticing subtle changes in his eyes and demeanor. After freshening up, he headed out, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
Meanwhile, Lola received a message from her spy in the Montgomery pack. She frowned, reading it. "Why would they want peace?" she muttered to herself. "I need to find out."
Zack and Liam arrived at the Laufey pack to deliver the details of the peace meeting, providing the venue and time. Silas took the message and convened with the elders to discuss the proposal.
As they debated the merits and risks of the peace talks, the room was tense with uncertainty. Just then, Thalia burst in, her eyes wild with urgency.
"They plan to kill us during the meeting!" she exclaimed, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.
Everyone turned to her, shocked and confused. Silas felt a chill run down his spine. "What are you talking about, Mom?" he demanded.
Thalia's eyes darted around the room. "I have a source—someone close to the Montgomery pack. They've uncovered a plot to ambush us. This peace talk is a trap!"
The room erupted into chaos, voices overlapping in a cacophony of fear and anger. Silas tried to process the information, his mind racing. Was Thalia's source reliable? Could they risk going, or was this truly a death sentence?
As the elders argued, Silas felt the effects of the red liquid still coursing through his veins, amplifying his senses and heightening his paranoia. He needed to make a decision, but every option seemed fraught with danger.