The Chosen One •

22

🐺 Kun 🐺

The engine hummed softly as we pulled into the pack house, the familiar, looming building coming into view. But even as we parked, I couldn't shake the unease gnawing at me. Isabel was gone, out of my reach, and every part of me wanted to run to her. To make sure she was safe. To protect her.

Tara broke the silence from the backseat, her voice a little softer than usual. "You okay with Isabel being so far away?"

I glanced at her, trying to force a smile, but I could feel the tension in my jaw. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, turning my attention back to the road ahead. I wasn't fine—not by a long shot.

Jacob, sitting next to me, finally spoke up, his voice pulling me back to the moment. "You ready to start training the pack, Kun? We've got to prepare. We don't know how many more rogues are out there, or what they're planning."

I nodded, straightening up. Training was the only thing that made sense right now. Our pack had to be prepared for whatever came next. "We need to focus on more than just strength. We need strategy."

Tara snorted, teasing as usual. "You're always about the strategy, Kun. But, of course, I'm ready for a fight."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Of course you are. You'd fight anything that moves."

She grinned, but I could tell her usual cockiness was tempered with some uncertainty. We both knew things were escalating fast. We weren't just training for an ordinary fight anymore.

Once we were inside, Jacob helped Tara bring her bags upstairs to his room. I watched them go, feeling the weight of what was ahead pressing down on me. I was supposed to lead this pack, and I wasn't sure I was ready. But I had to be. There was no choice.

I made my way to my father's office, the door creaking as I entered. It felt like stepping into a war room. Maps, notes, and all sorts of strategy gear lined the walls, and the table in the middle was already covered in papers and plans.

My father was sitting behind the desk, his eyes scanning over a map of the region. He glanced up when I walked in, nodding for me to sit. I dropped into the chair across from him, my mind focused and alert.

"Alright, Kun. What's the plan?" My father's voice was low, but the authority in it was unmistakable.

I leaned over the table, tapping a few points on the map. "First, we train for endurance. We need to push everyone harder than we have been. If these rogues are as strong as we think they are, we need our pack in top physical condition. No one gets left behind."

My father nodded, his fingers tracing the lines of the map as he considered my words. "I agree. We also need to make sure the pack is unified. Rogue wolves operate in packs, and if we're going to survive, we need to be more than just individuals. We fight as one, or we don't fight at all."

I leaned back in my chair, taking a breath. "Exactly. We'll also focus on their weaknesses—speed, agility, and strategy. Our wolves are strong fighters, but if we don't work on their tactics, we're going to get caught off guard."

He grunted in approval. "Good. I'll make sure the other alphas are on board. We'll send a message to all the neighboring packs and prepare a joint defense if needed."

I thought for a moment before adding, "We need to make sure our pack knows how to fight smarter, not harder. We don't have the numbers to match brute strength. We need to use everything at our disposal—whatever it takes."

My father's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Right. That's why we need to focus on magical training too. Since these rogues are enhanced, they might have magic as well. We need to make sure our wolves are somehow trained to counter it."