Ignite [Wattys 2024 Shortlist] | ✔

15

Embers of Bravery

HADEN

        Dimmed lights caressed the room, a hushed ambiance enveloping us as we sat huddled together in my office. Tension hung thick in the air, and the furrowed brows and thoughtful looks clouded our faces as we gathered to discuss our strategy.

Together, we sat around the polished table by the window, Bryon, James, Conner, Alex, and I deeply immersed in our thoughts. The Rogue King's threat loomed over us like a storm cloud, with thunder and lightning waiting to strike at us at any moment.

We had to think of something – a plan to draw him out into the open; something unexpected, something that he wouldn't be prepared for.

Then vengeance would be mine.

In the center of the table was a map of all the werewolf territories, kindly provided by Abigale. Pride swelled within me at the size of our lands, hell even Alex was impressed at how it had grown since he left.

As we strategized, the map of werewolf territories took center stage on the table, a visual representation of our collective strength. Abigale's contribution, the intricate map showcased the entire American territories with each section outlined by pack.

Pride swelled within me at the size of our lands, a testament to our pack's growth and resilience over time. Hell, even Alex was impressed at how it had grown since he left.

The room echoed with the sound of our voices, the map becoming a canvas for our tactical discussions. We all knew what was at stake and we knew that we would have to be careful in reviewing every detail. The collaborative efforts around the table didn't surprise me, each participant willing to contribute to the end of the madman that had cost us everything.

Our collective gaze shifted between territories, suggestions spurting out as we calculated how best to approach this intricate tussle of power. Bryon, always the strategist, began outlining possible scenarios, his fingers tapping at different sections of the map.

"His last sighting was right about here. That's where he destroyed the Pinecrest Pack. Before that, it was the Zeni Clan, the other was the Dawn Drifted. All these packs are in the north so it's safe to say that he's targeting northern packs before he ventures down and takes over all of the Americas. We need to find a way to expose his vulnerabilities. Someone like him had to have one," he stated, his eyes darting from one face to another.

I nodded in agreement.

"To draw him out somehow." James chimed in, his expression serious. "But how do we find those weaknesses? No one has ever fought him and lived to tell the tale."

"Our father has," Alex added pointedly looking at me. We shared a look and I immediately shook my head.

"No, dad has been through enough with the Rogue King. I'm not going to make him relive everything he went through."

"It's not entirely up to you now is it, little brother."

I growled softly at him and he matched it.

Conner leaned forward, his brows furrowed in thought as he looked down at the two areas where the destroyed packs were.

"What's so special about those packs? See this here? He left this area untouched. The... Saros Shadows Pack. It just doesn't make any sense. If his mission is to fully destroy all packs, why leave them to travel all the way down here to attack the Pinecrest Pack? It doesn't add up."