Chapter 26

• Elara stood beside him, feeling the weight of his words in her chest. This was more than a battle for territory—it was a battle for survival. And while she wasn’t naïve enough to believe they could win without sacrifice, she also knew that there was no other choice.
• “Marcus, you’ll take the west flank,” Damien continued, pointing to their strategist. “Lila, you’re with me. Elara, you’ll stay behind the lines. I need you to protect the pack from here. You’re our eyes and ears.”
• Elara’s heart sank. She wasn’t naive enough to argue, but the thought of being sidelined, of not being able to stand beside Damien in the heat of the battle, gnawed at her.