Chapter100: Hung in the balance

KELLY THOMPSON'S POV  The encroaching darkness of the forest seemed to close in on us, mirroring the shadow that our discord cast over the alliance. Elara Windrider's eyes flicked between Alpha Markus and me, her expression taut with concern, while Gamma Thorne's steady gaze bore into us both, a silent plea for cohesion against the looming threat. Eden shifted restlessly at my side, his youthful face etched with the fear of the unknown. "Markus," I said, my voice cutting through the tension like a claw through flesh. "If we cannot stand united, The Black Faes will tear through us like we are nothing but scattered sheep." His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he looked out toward the darkening horizon. "I know my pack, Luna Queen. I know their strengths, their weaknesses. My strategy protects them-our way of life. The cost of unity might be too high, if it means sacrificing what makes us who we are." I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of his words. In the distance, an