I Am His Wolfless Luna Chapter 183

Ethan's POV

The mood shifted from celebration to war in minutes. The command center buzzed with activity as our warriors rushed in, faces grim and ready for battle. My father's funeral was barely over, and already Victor was striking.

I leaned over the map, my finger tracing the attack points along our northern border. My stomach knotted as I saw the pattern.

"This isn't random," I said, the realization sending ice through my veins. "He's testing us, probing for weakness."

Beside me, Aria studied the same map, her amber eyes narrowed. Her body, completely recovered from giving birth, was tense with battle-readiness.

"If we coordinate with my Silver Moon warriors here," she said, pointing to the eastern section, "we can trap them between our forces."

I nodded, impressed with her thinking. "Do it. Victor won't expect both packs to respond so quickly."

As Aria stepped away to make calls, David moved closer, lowering his voice. "Victor's leading the largest group himself. We've spotted several of his lieutenants with other groups."

My jaw tightened at the confirmation. This was personal, then. "Don't waste resources trying to capture Victor alive," I told him, feeling Felix rumble agreement deep in my chest. "He's too dangerous."

I gathered our warriors before departure, looking into faces that had known me since childhood. Some had watched me grow from a rebellious cub to their Alpha. The weight of their trust sat heavy on my shoulders.

"This isn't just another border fight," I told them. "Victor has been testing us for months. Now he attacks on the day after my father's funeral – a deliberate insult we can't ignore."

I took a deep breath, feeling their eyes on me. "We fight for both our packs today. For our families. For our future."

A low rumble of approval spread through the room. These weren't just my warriors anymore – they were my family's protectors.

On the drive to the confrontation point, Aria and I sat in tense silence. The weight of what lay ahead hung between us.

"When this is over," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "we're taking that honeymoon we never had."

Aria raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "And who exactly is watching our three children?"

"Elite grandma squad," I replied seriously. "My mother and Vicky are already on standby."

Her small laugh was worth everything, even if it faded quickly as we reached the staging area.

Our scouts reported back with troubling news. Victor had positioned around thirty rogues in fortified positions, with signs they'd been preparing for days.

"Split up and surround them," I ordered our fighters. "David, take your team east. Martinez, circle west. Aria and I will approach from the front once you're in position."

As our teams moved silently into the forest, I caught Aria checking her knife. Her face had taken on that warrior focus I'd seen in her training sessions.

"Having second thoughts?" I asked quietly.

She shook her head. "Just remembering the last time I fought rogues. Things are different now."

"We're stronger together," I said, feeling Felix stir beneath my skin.

When both flanking teams reported they were in position, Aria and I moved forward. Through the trees, I spotted the rogue camp – and Victor himself, standing on a raised platform of logs. My uncle's silver hair caught the sunlight, and even from this distance, I could see the unsettling resemblance to my father.

I was about to signal the attack when Victor's voice rang out.

"Nephew! Why hide in the shadows? Come greet your uncle properly!"

He stood with arms spread wide, a mocking smile on his face as he turned in a slow circle. "I know you're there, Ethan. I can smell you... and your lovely mate too. What a delightful family reunion!"

Aria and I exchanged glances. Our surprise was gone, but we could still buy time for our teams to get into better positions.

"Hold," I murmured into my comm before standing and stepping out of cover, Aria rising fluidly beside me.

We walked forward with measured steps, every sense alert. Thirty pairs of hostile eyes tracked our movement.

"Victor," I called, stopping a safe distance away. "This ends today."

His smile widened, eyes gleaming with malice. "Oh, I couldn't agree more, nephew." His gaze shifted to Aria, something predatory in his assessment. "And you must be the famous Aria. Emma has told me so much about you."

"Where are your lieutenants?" Aria asked, her voice cool despite the tension radiating from her body. "Hiding while the real wolves fight?"

Victor's smile faltered slightly. "Making themselves useful elsewhere."

I needed to keep him talking. "Was it worth it, Uncle? Living like an outcast for decades just to pursue this hate?"

He laughed, the sound harsh and brittle. "Your father took everything from me! Speaking of dear Alexander, how is he these days?"

"Dead," I replied bluntly, watching his reaction. "He passed yesterday."

Something flickered across Victor's face – satisfaction, yes, but something else too. For just a moment, I caught what might have been genuine grief before it vanished under a cruel smile.

"So I outlived him," he mused. "Pity. I would have preferred he live long enough to see you fail to protect what he built."

I felt Felix stir angrily within me, but kept my composure. "You still don't understand. This isn't just about my father anymore. Shadow Fang and Silver Moon stand together now. Your grudge means nothing to the future we're building."

Victor's smile vanished. "United packs? How progressive." His tone dripped with scorn. "Your father was a self-righteous fool, and you're just like him."

He snapped his fingers, and suddenly weapons appeared in the hands of his rogues.

"I offered you an alliance once," he continued, his voice falsely casual. "When you were a cub, I approached your mother about sharing custody. You could have known both sides of your heritage."

The claim hit me like a physical blow. "You're lying."

"Am I?" His smile turned sharp. "Ask her yourself... if you survive today."

I'd had enough talk. "Surrender now, and your followers will be spared."

Victor threw his head back and laughed. "Surrender? To you?" He extended his hand toward us. "I've waited decades for this moment. Did you really think I came unprepared?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath us exploded. What seemed like solid forest floor collapsed into a concealed pit lined with silver spikes.

Aria and I leapt back just in time, but two of our warriors weren't so lucky. Their screams cut through the air as they fell.

"Now!" Victor roared, and the forest erupted with movement as dozens more rogues poured from hidden positions.

"It's an ambush!" I shouted into my comm. "All teams converge!"

The battle exploded around us with ferocious intensity. Aria and I moved instinctively back-to-back, our movements perfectly synchronized. She was magnificent – each strike precise and devastating.

"Just like old times," she called over her shoulder, dropping a rogue with a powerful blow.

"We need to get to Victor," I replied, feeling the satisfying crunch as my elbow connected with an attacker's face. "He's the head of the snake."

I spotted Victor on his platform, barking orders but staying safely above the fight. Typical – letting others take the risks.

"Cover me," I told Aria, nodding toward Victor.

She immediately shifted position. "Go! I'll be right behind you!"

I charged forward, feeling Felix surge beneath my skin. My partial transformation came smoothly – claws extending, teeth sharpening, muscles hardening with power.

I was halfway to Victor when a chilling howl cut through the battle noise – a distress signal from our home territory.

"Alpha!" David's voice came through my comm. "Eastern perimeter breach! They're attacking the pack compound!"

Horror froz             e me mid-stride. This whole battle was just a diversion. The real target was our home – where Lucas and the twins were.

Victor's smug face confirmed everything. "Did you think I didn't know about your children, nephew?" He raised a radio to his lips. "Alpha team, proceed as planned. Target the heirs."

A cold voice crackled through the speaker: "With pleasure. Moving in now."

Pure, white-hot rage exploded inside me. Felix howled, the sound tearing from my throat as I transformed completely. Where I had stood, a massive black wolf now snarled, my Alpha form unleashed in all its terrible power.

Across the battlefield, Aria's scream of maternal fury joined mine as she too transformed. Cassandra emerged in a blur of silver-white fur, tearing through rogues as if they were paper.