bChapter /bb252 /b

    Caleb’s P.O.V

    We were all gathered, the air thick with anticipation. My father was leading the way, his stern gaze never wavering. The rest of the soldiers stood with us, silently adjusting their gear, the hum of nervous energy buzzed in the air. Alpha Jackson stood at the forefront with Silvia by his side, both of them looking like they were born for this moment. The trees ahead were dense, dark with shadows that seemed to stretch on forever. A deep, unsettling feeling gnawed at me, but I kept my focus, knowing what was at stake.

    “Stay alert, Caleb,” my father’s voice broke through the tension, and I nodded, ncing at him. His face was like stone, no hint of emotion betraying him. I couldn’t help but feel that the weight of what was toe hung heavily over us all.

    “Alpha Jackson,” I called, stepping up beside him. “We need to move faster. We can’t afford to let the eclipse catch us off guard. We have to get there before it begins.”

    Jackson turned to me, his face grim. “I know. That’s why we’re moving as quickly as we can. The forest is tricky, but we’ve got a good guide,” he said, ncing at Silvia who was leading the way.

    Silvia didn’t acknowledge thepliment, but she didn’t need to. Her sharp, focused eyes never wavered from the path ahead. She may be little, but she seemed to be just as determined as any of us.

    “We’ve got a narrow window,” Alpha Jackson added, looking towards the still clear sky. “The eclipse is no small matter. It’s a powerful time for witches, and if we’re not there when it begins, we could lose everyone.”

    My father’s gaze hardened. “I know exactly how dangerous it is. Trust me, I’ve seen what happens when witches harness the power of an eclipse.” He paused, and I saw the flicker of something dark in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen before. “But we need to get through the coven first. They’re the wild card.”

    “Then let’s keep moving,” I urged, unable to shake the urgency building in my chest. “We have no time to

    waste,

    We moved quickly, the trees around us seeming to close in as we pushed deeper into the woods. The sound of crunching leaves beneath our boots was the only thing breaking the silence, and it felt like we were being watched–like eyes were tracking us from the shadows. My instincts were screaming that we were being followed, but I didn’t dare speak up, not with the pressure mounting on all of us.

    As we neared the Lunar Coven’s territory, Jackson spoke again, ihis /ivoice softer this time, like he was considering his words carefully, “We checked this ce thoroughly, but there’s nothing here. If you want to check again, you may do so.”

    My father clenched his fists at his sides, the tension in his posture making it clear he was ready for whatever came. But I could see the doubt in his eyes, and it unnerved me. We couldn’t afford to lose any more time–not now, not when everything was on the line.

    3:24 pm

    “Then we make sure we reach the destination first,” I said firmly. “We don’t need to double check, Alpha Jackson. We have faith in your judgment. We need to get to the house first and save my mate.”

    I wasn’t sure if it was going to be that easy, but it was the only n we had. The sun was rising, and we had less time than I cared to admit. The eclipse wasn’t just some mystical event–it was a ticking clock, and once it hit, things would spiral out of our control.

    Silvia turned to us briefly, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp de. “We’re close. The coven’s influence will be stronger the closer we get to the center. Brace yourselves.”

    I nodded, my gaze meeting my father’s onest time. I knew he was as ready as I was for what we had to do. “Just remember, we need to stay focused,” I said, my voice low but determined.

    “There’s no room for hesitation now.”

    And with that, we pressed on, the thick forest swallowing us whole as we continued toward our destination, the shadows of the Lunar Coven creeping closer, and the eclipse drawing near.

    Suddenly…I felt my mind snap into sharp focus, my wolf letting out a howl of victory. For a moment, I was confused as to what was going on. But then I realized it…Aurora…the mating bond had suddenly snapped into ce.

    “We’re near, father.” I said eagerly, my eyes scanning the shadows. “Aurora is close. I can feel it.”

    I felt my father’s eyes on me, sharp and calcting as he asked, “Why do you feel this way, Caleb?” His voice was calm, but I could sense the concern beneath it. I shifted uneasily, trying to put into words something I couldn’t quite exin.

    “I don’t know,” I said finally, my voiceing out quieter than I intended. “It’s just… this strange feeling, like something’s off.” I paused for a moment, ncing at the woods ahead of us. The air felt thick, charged, like the world itself was holding its breath. “The deeper we go into these woods… It’s like the feeling just gets stronger. Like we’re getting closer to something, closer to Aurora,”

    My father studied me for a long moment, his jaw tight. “We should keep moving,” he said after a beat, but his words wereced with something… uncertain. Maybe it was because he felt it too, or maybe he was just trying to push through his own growing unease.

    Caroline, walking just a few paces behind us, stepped forward then. “You’re not the only one,” she said, her voice almost a whisper as if she didn’t want to admit it. “I feel it too.” She took a deep breath and nced around at the shadowed woods, a subtle tremor in her voice. “And it’d not just Aurora’s presence. Like something’s about to go wrong. Like we’re walking straight into it.”

    3:24 pm