Chapter 339 The army

Chapter 339: Chapter 339 The army

Talia’s POV

The cheers had faded, and the hall had grown quiet again.

I could see the questions forming in the eyes of the pack members. They had heard the warning, but now, it seems some of them wanted to understand.

I knew that they would want to know what they were facing. The fear was still there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be acknowledged.

An elder stepped forward, with his white fur gleaming in the torchlight. His voice was steady, but I could hear the tremor beneath it. He had seen many battles in his long life, but I could tell that this was different.

"Luna," he said. "You have told us of Malachai, and you have told us of his power. But what of his army? What are we truly facing?"

I looked at my mother, and I saw the grief flickering in her tired eyes. She had seen his army, and she had watched it destroy everything she loved.

My mother stepped forward, and I watched her take a breath. She was still weak, but she was standing strong. She had survived fifteen years in a cage, and now she was standing in front of the pack, telling them the truth.

"Malachai has an army," she said, and her voice was heavy. "They are not just rogues, and not just wolves who have lost their way."

She paused, and I saw the pain in her eyes. I could see the memories flickering behind them, like the images of destruction and death.

"He has corrupted wolves," she continued. "Wolves who gave up their souls for power. They cannot be reasoned with, and they cannot be saved."

I heard the murmurs spreading through the crowd, and I saw the fear returning to their eyes. They had fought rogues before, and they had faced enemies. But this was different.

Another elder stepped forward, and I saw the worry on his face. His voice was quiet, but it carried across the hall.

"Corrupted wolves?" he asked. "What does that mean, Luna? How does a wolf become corrupted?"

My mother looked at him, and I saw the sadness in her eyes. She had seen it happen, and she had watched wolves she once knew fall into darkness.

"They give up their souls to Malachai," she said. "They trade their freedom for power. They become hollow shells, empty of everything except his will. There is nothing left of who they were."

I saw a warrior grip his sword tighter, and I heard a mother pull her pup closer. The fear was spreading, and I could feel it pressing down on us.

An elder’s voice was shaking. "And there is no way to save them?"

My mother shook her head slowly. "No. They are lost."

I watched the pack’s faces, and I saw the realization dawning on them. This was not a battle they could win with mercy, and this was not a fight they could end with reason.

"Corrupted wolves are not like rogues," my mother continued. "Rogues are desperate, lost, and sometimes they can be brought back. But corrupted wolves are dead inside, and they have no souls left to save. They will fight until they are destroyed, and they will feel nothing."

I saw the fear spreading through the pack like wildfire. I saw the mothers clutching their pups closer, I saw the warriors gripping their weapons tighter, and I saw the elders exchanging worried glances.

I stepped forward, and I raised my voice. "I know you are afraid. I am afraid too."

I looked at the pack, and I felt the determination rising in my chest. I had faced Malachai’s guards, I had walked through the Ashen Lands, and I had broken silver with my own blood. And I had survived.

"But we are not alone," I said. "We have each other. We have our wolves, we have our strength, and we have the truth."

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears in her eyes. She was watching me with pride, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest.

"Malachai’s army is powerful," I continued. "But we are stronger. We have the strength of the pack, we have the courage of our ancestors, and we have each other."

I raised my voice, and I felt the power surging through my veins. "We will not give up, we will not surrender, and we will not let him win."

I saw the warriors straighten their shoulders, I saw the mothers hold their pups with fierce determination, and I saw the elders nod slowly, with their faces filled with grim resolve.

The hall erupted in cheers again, and I felt the hope rising in my chest.

The fight was coming, but we were ready.

I looked at Kaelen, and I felt his hand on my back. He was beside me, and he was not going anywhere.

"We will do this," I whispered to him.

He squeezed my hand. "I know we will, Talia. I have always believed."

I looked at the pack, at the wolves who had followed me into the darkness and brought me out. They were cheering, and I felt the hope rising in my chest.

The fight was yet to come, but we were ready.