bChapter /b68

ra’s bPOV /b

“Now? Have they crossed into our territory yet?” There’s voice was a snap of frustration

“No, not the border,” the guard stammered, eyes wide with panic,

“They attacked Fox Town–tonight It’s barely 50 miles out, and the whole vige is ash Alpha, you need toe. You need to see thép

ra’s breath hitched.

Fox Town? How? How had the rogues crossed so deep into theirnd, unseen? More questions wed at her mind, like ws on stone. This couldn’t be a coincidence. They were preparing to send forces to the border, and the rogues had already struck. Were they waiting for this? Or did some tip them off?

The thought made her stomach twist into knots.

“ral” Thome’s sharp cry broke through her spiraling thoughts.

“I have to go, now,” he ordered.

“I’m consing with you!” ra’s voice cut through the air, firm and unyielding

Thorne’s frown deepened, but he didn’t waste time arguing. He turned on his heelb, /band ra followed his every step. They rushed down the stairs together, the urgency of the moment painting every breath.

Once on the ground floor, Thorne barely nced back bas /bhe spoke. “Get your best men. Meet me at Fox Town. Be quick”

“You too, ra replied, her voice taut

She bolted out bthe /bdoor, her heart pounding in time with her steps. First, she dialed Vessa. The bline /bclicked, and at first, she heard nothing but there of someone shifting in bed.

“bVessa/b, get the soldiers together. Fox Town’s been hit. We’re leaving now!

Vessa jolted awake, her voice sharp. “Rogues? Fox Town? Tonight?” The sound of clothing rustling filled the line. “But how-”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll exinter,” ra said, her feet pounding against the bground /bbas /bshe crossed the silent training field. She reached the warehouse, wrenching open the door. With one hand, she held the phone to her shoulder, the other grabbing weapons.

“Gather a team and meet me at the North Gate in five minutes. We’re heading to Fox Town,” she ordered.

“Got it!” Vessa’s voice clipped the air before the line went dead.

bra /bmoved fast, collecting enough supplies for a team of ten. She sprinted back across the field, barely pausing when she collided with someone at the edge.

“ra!” His face registered shock. “I saw the light at the warehouse. What’s going bon/bb?/b”

“The brogues /battacked For Town. They’re burning it to the ground,” ra answered, her voice hard with the weight off bwhat /bshe’d just learn

“WHAT? How did=”

“I bdon’t /bhave time to exin!” ra cut him off. “Just tell Roman and Theo what happened. Come with us if you want, but we need to go now!”

She was already pushing past him before he could say anything else.

At the North Gate, Vessa’s group arrived at the same time as ra. They all gratibed their weapons, shitting into their wolves in sme. They moved o racing into the forest toward Fox Town

bra’s /bheart hammered in her chest, every footfall a loud drumbeat in her ears, Worry wed at her, a cold weight settling in her gart. Was this rest? went she actually running toward a battle? Or was this some twisted nightmare

Then, the caught the first scent in the air–smoke

“Gamma, look!” Jory gasped behind her.

ra didn’t need to be told. The night sky had turned a horrifying shade of crimson, mes licking at the horizon. The air was thick with the crackle of fire and the sound of distant screams. The heat was unbearable as they pushed forward.

The scene before her was unrecognizable for Town–once a small, quiet vige was now a chaotic inferno. The air was thick with the bitter sting of smoke and the smell of burning wood.

“Gamma, what should we do? Vessa’s voice cameb, /bbreathless from the run,

“Take five soldiers and help put out the fire. Rescue anyone you can,” ramanded, urgency surging in her veins. “The rest of you,e with me. We need to find the rogues!”

They split off, each moving to their assigned btasks/b. ra charged down the wreckage–strewn road, eyes darting for any sign of the attackers. But all she found was the devastation–ruins, ash, silence.

Jory’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Gamma! Over there there’s someone in that house!”

She turned, her heart leaping into her throat. The roof of the bhouse /bhad copsed under the weight of the mes, but weak, desperate groans Eltered through bthe /bremains

Together, they worked quickly, lifting debris to pull the man free.

Sir Can you hear me? Where are the rogues?” ra knelt beside him, shaking bhis /bshoulder.

The man’s eyes were wide with terror, his body trembling. “No… No, please! Don’t–don’t kill me… I beg you.”

“It’s okay,” ra said softly, trying to steady his frantic breathing. “We’re here to helpb. /bJust tell me where are the rogues?”

He recoiled, covering his face with his handsb. /b“– don’t know! Please, stop! Please don’t hurt me

bra /blet out a quiet breath, frustration mounting “Take him to Vessa. Get him treated and safe,” she ordered, her voice tight.

The soldier nodded and lifted the man, ca

carrying h

thim away.

ra and Jory continued their search, rescuing nearly twenty more people, each one too injured or terrified to offer anything useful. Every face was the same–shock, fear, pain. But no banswers/b.

Awhileter, Bex and his men arrived, breathless and ready for action.

“ral” Box’s voice cracked with concern. “Any sigh of them?”

“No. Nothing. It’s like they vanished,” ra snapped, her frustration reaching a boiling point.

“Shit. What now? The fire’s still spreading. We need to focus on the binjured/b, get them bout /bof here-

I’m not giving up po this. We’re not stopping until we find those bastards.”

ra clenched her fists. “I’m not

She couldn’t afford to back down, not with so many questions unanswered. How had the rogues crossed the border undetected? How had they known

10:52 Wed, 30 Jul G

the perfect moment to strike? And why did they choose for Town!

Her stomach churned as one cold thought cut through her mind Someone on the inside was helping them

“I we stop now, we’ll never find out who’s working with them,” ra muttered, her voice barely abov

“You can’t be serious,” Bex said, stepping in front of her “it’s too dark, too dangerous. You’re going in blind”

“I’m going. I’ll find them,” ra snapped, determination in her eyes

“You can’t search the whole forest. It stretches for miles, and you’re one person

But just then, a sound cut through the night–howling. It wasn’t the usual wall cry. This one was off, unfamiliar, a different tone

“it’s them!” Bex said, eyes wide “But what does it mean? Do we understand theirnguage?”

“To the west.” Jory’s voice broke through, urgent.

ra turned to find him standing behind her. “They ‘n

‘re calling for reinforcements. We need to go–now”

Without another word, they shifted, and ra’s heart raced as she led them into the night

C