Chapter 25: River Pack Diplomacy
Aiden Silver POV
The arrow whizzed past my ear so close I felt the feathers brush my hair.
"Get down!" I shouted, pushing Lily behind the fallen log as more arrows rained from the trees around us. We’d been walking the forest road to meet the River Pack leaders when the attack started.
"Who’s shooting at us?" Lily whispered, pressing close to my back.
"I don’t know, but they’re not trying to miss." Another arrow thudded into the wood above our heads. My mind raced through options. Rogues? River Pack fighters testing us? Or something worse?
The arrows stopped suddenly. In the quiet that followed, I heard footsteps approaching through the underbrush. Multiple sets, moving carefully but not trying to hide their position.
"Come out, Silver Pack wolves," a deep voice called. "We know you’re there."
I recognized the voice - River Pack Alpha Jake Morrison. Luna’s uncle. My stomach tightened with worry. Why was he hitting us?
"Stay behind me," I told Lily, then stood slowly with my hands exposed. "Alpha Morrison. This is unexpected."
Jake stepped into view with five River Pack warriors, all holding bows with arrows ready. His face was grim, eyes cold in a way I’d never seen before.
"Unexpected?" he snarled. "You bring that cursed omega to our territory and call it unexpected?"