Eva sat at the head of the table, her eyes sharp and unreadable. She wore a dark cloak with her family crest stitched across the shoulders. The weight of her parents’ death still clung to her like frost, but her back remained straight, her hands calm. She wasn’t the same girl from a week ago. Grief had reshaped her into something stronger—harder.
“We believe the rogues came from the east,” one of the Crescent scouts said. “Scouts found tracks near the ravine, along the border.”
Max stood at the opposite end of the table, arms folded, jaw tense. He’d barely spoken since the night they brought back the bodies. But now, as the room fell quiet, his voice filled the space.
“The attacks will only get worse. The rogues are growing bolder. You’re vulnerable, Eva. And you know it.”
Eva didn’t blink. “Silverstone is not a weak pack.”
“I didn’t say it was weak,” Max replied. “I’m saying it’s exposed. You’ve lost your Alpha and Luna. Half your warriors are still recovering. You need help. Our parents made a vow to your parents, Dany and I are here to protect you.”
“We’re managing,” Eva said calmly.
Max stepped closer to the table, voice firmer now. “I’m not offering backup for a few days. I’m offering something permanent. Merge with Crescent. You’ll have our strength, our borders, and my protection.”
A quiet gasp came from one of the younger Silverstone wolves. Tiana, standing beside Dany near the window, narrowed her eyes.
Eva rose from her seat, slow and deliberate.
“This pack,” she said clearly, “is my family’s legacy. Not something to be absorbed.”
Max looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Eva, this isn’t about pride. It’s about survival. I know you want to honor your parents, but this isn’t the time to make emotional decisions.”
Her voice sharpened. “And what would you know about emotion, Max? You lead with logic. With fear. You calculate every move like the battlefield is a chessboard.”
“It works,” Max snapped. “I’ve kept my pack alive because I don’t let emotions cloud my judgment.”
“And yet you’re here, offering protection to a pack you once ignored.” Her words cut like ice. “You think I can’t see what this is? You didn’t look at me when I didn’t have a title. But now that I’m Queen, suddenly Crescent wants a piece.”
“That’s not fair,” Max said, jaw tightening.
“No,” Eva said, stepping around the table, “what’s not fair is thinking I need to be rescued by the very boy who didn’t believe I’d ever become more than a footnote.”
A heavy silence followed.
Dany cleared his throat gently. “Eva… maybe a temporary alliance wouldn’t be so bad.”
Eva turned to him. Her voice was softer, but no less fierce. “Dany, I appreciate the offer. Truly. But I will not hand over this pack like a wounded creature begging to be carried.”
Max’s voice was lower now, more careful. “You’re risking your pack’s lives.”
“Then let them leave,” Eva said sharply. “I won’t stop them.”
The room went still.
Tiana’s eyes widened. “Eva—”
But Eva continued. “Anyone who thinks they’ll be safer under someone else’s command is free to go. But I won’t lead through fear, Max. I won’t force loyalty. I want warriors who fight because they believe in me—not because they’re afraid of what happens if they don’t.”
Max looked at her for a long time. There was something behind his eyes—regret, maybe. Or respect. He didn’t speak again.
Moments later, a scout burst into the room, panting. “Alpha Queen! There was a movement near the southern border. Three shadows. Fast.”
Eva turned instantly. “Rogues?”
The scout nodded. “Smelled them before I saw them. They didn’t attack. But they were close. Watching.”
Max stepped forward. “Send Crescent warriors. We’ll secure the perimeter.”
Eva raised her hand. “No.”
Max frowned. “What?”
“We’ll handle it,” she said firmly. “Silverstone territory will be protected by Silverstone wolves.”
Dany took a cautious step toward her. “Eva… these aren’t just wild loners anymore. You saw what they did to the packhouse. Let us help.”
“I said no,” Eva repeated. “We’ll post a double watch. Tighten border patrols. I’ll increase training rotations.”
Max’s voice dropped into something almost pleading. “Don’t let your pride get in the way of protecting your people.”
Eva turned to him, and for the first time, her voice trembled—not with fear, but with fire. “My pride isn’t the problem. My problem is trusting anyone outside these walls ever again. You were here when the attacked happened, and yet my parents still both ended up dead.”
No one argued after that.
She left the war room without another word, her footsteps firm, her head high. Behind her, Tiana looked at Max and shook her head.
“She’s not the same. Maybe she’ll change her mind,” she said quietly.
Outside, snow began to fall again, covering the bloodstained earth in a new layer of white. But the scars beneath the surface were still there.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: Comrade
