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Luna Selena’s gaze meets mine. Keep recording.

I turn back toward my pups. Damian is still playing his game while Darlene watches, Teddy tucked securely beneath her arm.

“Mommy, Damian won.”

“I did!” Damian looks up at me with a huge smile.

“I saw, baby.” I adjust the glasses, take Darlene’s hand, and go back to work.

DARIAN'S POV

Alpha. My mate and pups are secure. Where do you need me?

Rylan answers immediately. East northeast border. Fifty rogues. Ten Pack Warriors are holding twenty. Joshua and Michael are heading toward the remaining thirty. Take as many alive as you safely can. I want answers, but protecting Silver Moon comes first. Use whatever force is necessary.

Understood.

I run. Trees blur around me as I push harder. The sounds of fighting grow louder with every step, and the scent of blood reaches me before I reach the border. My wolf pushes forward. Faster. I give him what he wants.

When I break through the trees, ten Silver Moon Pack Warriors are already holding one section of the line against at least twenty rogues. The fighting stretches across the defensive line, but another large group is pushing toward an opening farther north. If they break through there, they’ll have a path deeper into Silver Moon territory.

I shift and hit the ground running. The first rogue barely turns before I slam into him. We hit the ground together, and I roll before his claws can tear across my stomach. He lunges again. I meet him, drive him backward, and put him down.

Another attacks from my left. I turn into him, but his claws rake my shoulder before I catch him and throw him hard enough to send him skidding across the ground.

Movement flashes through the trees behind me. Joshua reaches the line seconds after I do and takes in the rogues in front of us. Then his eyes flick toward me.

“No holding back this time.”

I bare my teeth. “Wasn’t planning to.”

Michael crashes into a rogue coming from our right, and then there isn’t time for anything else.

Three rush me at once. I meet the first head on, twist beneath the second and feel claws tear across my ribs when the third catches me before I can turn. Pain burns through my side. I drive my elbow backward, hear a grunt, then turn and strike again.

“Hold the line! Don’t let them split us!” Joshua shouts.

I adjust immediately. Two rogues move toward the opening between Joshua and me, and I cut them off before they reach it, forcing them back toward the trees. One lunges. I take him down. The second backs away just long enough for another rogue to rush me from the side.

I hear Michael curse and turn my head. Three wolves are pressing him while another circles behind him. Michael doesn’t see the fourth.

I do.

I leave the rogue in front of me and intercept the one moving toward Michael’s back. We collide hard enough to send both of us rolling through the dirt. His claws rake across my chest. I get on top and strike, and he stops moving.

Something hits my back. I go down with teeth snapping inches from my face as I catch the rogue by the throat and shove him away. Another launches toward me before I can regain my feet, but Michael hits him in midair.

They crash beside me. Michael tears him away before he reaches my throat, and our eyes meet for half a second. I nod. Michael nods back.

Then we move.

Joshua is fighting two when I see a third coming from behind him. I’m already running before I think about it. I slam into the rogue before his claws reach Joshua’s back.

Joshua glances at me, only for a second. Then another wolf attacks him, and his attention snaps away.

“Left!” Joshua shouts as the line shifts.

I move left. Michael moves with me.