  “Retreat! Honey, come back first. It&#39;s too dangerous over there!” Ethan&#39;s order came through the link, with an unquestionable urgency. The Hunters had stabilized their positions, their fire growing heavier. Continuing the assault would only lead to unnecessary casualties.
  My squad members agreed to withdraw in stages, regrouping with Ethan and the others first. But as we crept back along our original path, nearing the edge of the core living area, Jacob accidentally kicked an empty metal can. That damn tin made a deafening clang in the silent corridor.
  “Movement over there!” Nearby hunters were instantly alerted. Spotting us, they raised their guns and fired.
  “Watch out!” I transformed instantly. The white wolf lunged sideways, knocking the lead hunter flying. Jacob and Xaver charged simultaneously, their claws and fangs unleashing terrifying lethality in the confined spa

  The answer came swiftly.
  Before the headlights faded, gun barrels thrust through the windows, unleashing a hail of bullets like a torrential downpour.
  I ducked behind rocks to dodge the assault, but caught the scent of lycotine.
  At the same time, several loud howls of wolves came from the other side, followed by a figure brimming with violence and the aura of an exile pouncing out and charging directly at us! 
  “Evil Wolf! They&#39;ve teamed up with the hunters,” I gasped, rage filling my heart as the white fur on my neck bristled.
  These evil wolves&nbsp;clearly made some kind of dirty deal with hunters, for which they even hunted their own kind. 
  The hunters provided cover fire from a distance while the evil wolves used their melee prowess to pin us down.
  They fought fiercely and didn&#39;t rely on emotions to fight. They cooperated very well and were excellent warriors, 

  Lily&#39;s Perspective
  Moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, leaving only the scattered searchlights of the hunter base piercing the darkness,&nbsp;like the pupils of beasts surveying their territory. Ethan crouched behind damp rocks, his nostrils flaring. The air was filled with thick blood, gunpowder and... &nbsp;the painful aura of his own kind. 
  It seemed the hunters had returned with their spoils. They&#39;d captured so many members of Kyle&#39;s pack that the transport trucks were crammed beyond capacity, the wolves utterly helpless.
  “They tossed my kin around like cargo,” Kyle&#39;s voice echoed in my ear, strained with seething fury and bone-deep sorrow. The death of his mate, Lena, had transformed this Alpha into a blade thirsting only for vengeance.
  My hand rested lightly on Ethan&#39;s tense arm, the cold touch snapping him back to focus. “The defense map hasn&#39;

“Retreat! Honey, come back first. It&#39;s too dangerous over there!” Ethan&#39;s order came through the link, with an unquestionable urgency. The Hunters had stabilized their positions, their fire growing heavier. Continuing the assault would only lead to unnecessary casualties.
  My squad members agreed to withdraw in stages, regrouping with Ethan and the others first. But as we crept back along our original path, nearing the edge of the core living area, Jacob accidentally kicked an empty metal can. That damn tin made a deafening clang in the silent corridor.
  “Movement over there!” Nearby hunters were instantly alerted. Spotting us, they raised their guns and fired.
  “Watch out!” I transformed instantly. The white wolf lunged sideways, knocking the lead hunter flying. Jacob and Xaver charged simultaneously, their claws and fangs unleashing terrifying lethality in the confined space. The fight was brief and fierce; several hunters were quickly taken down. But the gunfire had un

Chapter 179