Ethan's urgency spilt into a torrent of questions as he grappled with the gravity of Amaalie's warning. "They're coming? What do you mean they're coming!? How many are there? When? We need details, Amaalie!"

Amaalie held up a hand to quell his rising panic. "Calm down, Ethan. I don't have all the specifics, but the spies we sent out have picked up chatter among the rogue packs. There's a coordinated effort, a gathering force heading this way. They couldn't get a clear count, but assured that it's more than just a small band of rogues."

Ethan's mind raced as he processed the information. The idea of a coordinated attack from multiple rogue packs was a nightmare scenario for any werewolf community. "Why would they do this? What are they after?"

Amaalie's eyes narrowed with a sense of foreboding. "I don't know their exact motivations, but there's talk of territory disputes and power struggles among rogue alphas. They might see our territories as a strategic target, and with the majority of the races unaware of it even happening, it's the perfect opportunity for them."

A tension-filled silence hung in the air as Ethan absorbed the dire reality of the situation. "We need to warn the pack, prepare for a possible attack. Are there any specifics on when they plan to strike?"

Amaalie shook her head. "I couldn't pinpoint an exact timeframe, but it's imminent. We can't afford to be caught off guard. The rogues are cunning; they'll exploit any vulnerability they find."

Ethan's mind raced with thoughts of his pack's safety. "I need to get back and alert the alpha, gather the pack. We need to fortify our defences. Amaalie, thank you for the warning. I'll do everything in my power to keep our territory secure."

Amaalie nodded in acknowledgement. "Just be careful, Ethan. The supernatural world is about to get more complicated. I'll keep an eye out and let you know if I pick up anything else. Stay vigilant."

“WAIT!”

Ethan's voice cut through the air with an urgency that made Amaalie pause in her tracks. She turned back to face him, a questioning look in her eyes. "What is it, Ethan? Is there something else?"

Ethan hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with the weight of his next words. "I... I just wanted to say thank you. For warning us. For putting yourself at risk to keep us safe."

Amaalie's expression softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You don't need to thank me, Ethan. We may come from different races, but we're still connected in ways that go beyond our differences. Your safety, and the safety of your pack, matters to me."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ethan nodded, a sense of gratitude swelling within him. "I know. And I promise, we'll do everything we can to protect our territory. But... if things get too dangerous, if you need help..."

Amaalie placed a gentle hand on his arm, her touch grounding him amid uncertainty. "I'll keep that in mind, Ethan. Thank you for your offer. But for now, focus on preparing your pack. We'll face whatever comes our way together."

With a shared understanding, Ethan and Amaalie exchanged a final nod before parting ways once more. As Ethan made his way back to the territory, his heart felt lighter knowing that they had each other's backs in the tumultuous times ahead. And with Amaalie's warning ringing in his ears, he knew that staying vigilant would be more important than ever.

Ethan burst through the front door of his house, his heart pounding with urgency. He nearly collided with his mother, who had been on her way out, and she turned to him with a concerned expression. "Ethan darling? Weren't you just off to school? What has you so... disgruntled?"

Breathless from his hurried return, Ethan struggled to find the right words to convey the gravity of the situation. "Mom, we need to gather the pack. There's trouble coming. Rogue wolves, they're planning an attack on our territory."

His mother's eyes widened in alarm, her hand instinctively going to her chest. "Oh Goddess, are you serious? How do you know this?"

Ethan quickly recounted his encounter with Amaalie in the woods, relaying her warning and the imminent threat they faced. His mother listened intently, her expression growing more somber with each passing moment.

“Are you sure we can trust her words, Ethan? Feelings aside, are you absolutely sure that this information is accurate?”

Ethan met his mother's gaze with unwavering determination, understanding the weight of her question. "I know it's hard to trust someone from the other side, Mom. But Amaalie wouldn't risk coming into our territory unless she believed the threat was real. Her warning felt genuine, and I don't think she has any reason to deceive us, especially when it comes to something as serious as this."

His mother nodded thoughtfully, her brows furrowed with concern. "You're right, Ethan. We can't afford to dismiss her warning, especially with the safety of the pack at stake. We'll take her words seriously and prepare for the worst."

Though a flicker of doubt lingered in the back of her mind, Ethan's conviction reassured his mother that they were making the right decision. Together, they would do whatever it took to protect their territory and their pack from the impending threat of the rogue wolves.

Ethan's mother, her expression a mix of urgency and concern, nodded in agreement. "Very well. We need to alert your father and gather the pack. We can't afford to waste any time. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Ethan. Let's get to work."

As they prepared to take action, Ethan couldn't shake a nagging thought. "But isn't Dad here?" he asked, furrowing his brow in confusion.

His mother's gaze briefly flickered with realization, and she sighed. "Your father went out after you left to attend to some pack matters. He's most likely at Centre Hall so he won’t be back yet. We need to proceed without him for now and make sure the pack is informed and ready. Let’s head there so we can update him on the situation.”