Frank’s POV: The instant the alarm blared in my mind, a chill ran down my spine, and my fur bristled. Eight Alpha auras sliced through the Grayclaw Tribe’s defenses like blades, radiating an overwhelming power that made my teeth grit uncontrollably. The taste of iron and blood filled my mouth. “Raise the smoke! Raise the smoke!” I yelled toward the totem pole, my voice reverberating so loudly that the silverware on the altar rattled as if it were nothing more than dust. The tribe’s warriors quickly shifted into combat form, their claws twitching nervously, growls rumbling in the air. I knew this would be Grayclaw Tribe’s most perilous battle—though it hardly seemed like one. As I was about to order a retreat, my father appeared, leaning heavily on his bone staff. His ancient eyes glowed with a faint, unsettling green light in the dimness, and his voice was a raspy murmur. “Stay calm, Alpha.” “But Father, those are eight high-ranking Alphas!” I protested, my voice trembling with fear. “Their strength is enough to wipe Grayclaw Tribe off the map!” My father’s gaze shifted past me, locking onto the approaching silver wolves. “It’s the Silvermoon Alliance,” he said quietly. “Only they have the power to bring such a force.” “The Silvermoon Alliance?” I blinked, stunned. “We’ve never had any issues with them before!” My father chuckled darkly, his worn fangs showing. “They’re not here to wage war. Look at our border guards—they’re untouched. If the Silvermoon Alliance wanted a fight, there would be bloodshed everywhere by now.” That’s when I noticed the sentinels along the borders, perfectly unharmed. A wave of anger and humiliation surged within me. “Even so, their presence is an insult to the Grayclaw Tribe!” My father slammed his staff against the ground with a sharp thud. “Enough of your foolish pride, son. This is an opportunity—an opportunity to forge an alliance with the Silvermoon Alliance. They’ve come without warning, which means they must want something. If we handle this correctly, we could gain their favor.” An alliance with the Silvermoon Alliance?! I was taken aback by my father’s foresight. If we secured their alliance, the Grayclaw Tribe could dominate the entire northwest! The eight imposing wolves were closing in, and then, a thought suddenly hit me. I turned to my father. “Wait, I just remembered. The Silvermoon Alliance has eight Alphas, and none of them have found their destined mates yet. What if one of their mates is here, in our tribe?” My father’s eyes widened with surprise. “That’s possible.” I could see the calmness in his eyes fade, replaced by something else—anticipation. If one of those eight Alphas had found their mate here in Grayclaw Tribe, it could change everything for us. This connection could be the key to our rise. A sudden realization struck me, and I quickly turned to my father. “The Silvermoon Alliance is almost here. I need to retrieve that brat from the yard before they arrive. We can’t let them see her, or we might offend them.” As soon as I finished speaking, a deafening crash echoed through the air. The gates were smashed open, and eight enormous wolves charged into the courtyard!