Chapter 377 The Decision made 2

Chapter 377: Chapter 377 The Decision made 2

Talia’s POV

I pulled on a simple tunic and trousers, and I braided my hair back. Then I looked at myself in the mirror, and I saw the determination in my own eyes.

Kaelen stood, and he walked to the door. He stopped, and he turned to face me, but he was not looking at me, because he had reached for the mindlink.

I felt the warmth of the mind link spreading through my mind because of our bond.

"Cain," Kaelen called through the mind link. "Can you hear me?"

Cain’s voice came through, low and steady. "I hear you, Alpha."

"I need you to call the pack to the great hall," Kaelen said. "We have news. We need to tell them what is coming."

There was a moment of silence, and I could feel Cain’s presence through the link.

"How urgent?" Cain asked.

"Very," Kaelen replied. "Talia has made her decision. And she had a vision that Malachai might be coming faster than we thought."

I felt Cain’s surprise through the link, and I could almost see his eyes narrowing.

"How much faster?" Cain asked.

"Weeks," Kaelen replied. "Maybe less."

Cain was quiet for another moment. "I will gather them now, and we will be ready." Cain said.

"Thank you, Cain," Kaelen replied. "We will be there shortly."

Kaelen ended the mindlink, and he looked back at me. Then he took my hands in his.

"They will be waiting for us," Kaelen said.

I nodded, and I felt the determination burning in my chest. "Then let us not keep them waiting." I replied.

We walked to the great hall together, and I saw that the pack was already gathered.

They filled the hall, with their faces curious and uncertain. They did not know why they had been called, and they were waiting for answers. I could see the worry in their eyes, and I could see the hope.

I stood at the front of the hall, and I felt the weight of their gazes on me. Kaelen was beside me, and I felt his hand on my back. My mother was in the front row, and I saw the worry in her tired eyes. Piper was beside her, and Jax and Silas were standing near the back. Cain was at the door, with his eyes scanning the crowd.

"Everyone," I said, and my voice carried across the hall. "Thank you for coming. I have something important to say."

The hall fell silent, and I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears. I looked at the faces of my pack, and at the wolves who had stood by me through everything, and I felt the love swelling in my chest.

I looked at the pack, and I felt the weight of the words I was about to speak.

"First, I need to tell you something," I said, locking my eyes with the crowd of wolves. "I had a vision of Malachai. I saw his face, and I saw his army. He is coming faster than we expected. And he may attack in weeks, not months."

A young wolf in the front row stepped forward, and his voice was shaking. "Weeks, Luna? We thought we had two months."

A female warrior beside him shook her head. "How can he move that fast? We have not even finished training the new recruits."

An older wolf, one of the elders, spoke up. "We are not ready, Luna. We need more time."

I held up my hand, and the murmurs quieted.

"We need to quicken our preparations," I continued. "We need to be ready sooner than we thought. And that is the first reason why I called this meeting.”

I paused for a moment, and let out a slow deep breath.

"Also, I know that you all are afraid of the coming battle, but know that you are not alone. I have been struggling with a decision," I said. "I have been thinking about running, and about taking my mother and disappearing. I convinced myself that no one would blame me, because I am the last Silvertongue, and I have a duty to survive."

I paused, and I saw the fear and the understanding flickering in their eyes. I could see the worry on their faces, because they had heard the rumors, and they had seen the scouts return. They knew what was coming, and they were afraid. But they were also ready.

"But that is all in the past now. I am not going to run," I continued. "And I am not going to hide. I am going to fight, I am going to stand with my pack, and I am going to stand with all of you."

The pack erupted in cheers, and I felt the warmth spreading through my chest. I heard their voices rising, and I saw the hope in their eyes.

I looked at my mother, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. She was smiling, and I saw the pride in her eyes.

I had never seen her look like this before. She was crying, but they were not tears of sadness. They were tears of relief, and tears of pride, and tears of love. She had been so afraid for me, and now she was watching me choose to fight.

I looked at Piper, and I saw the tears on her face. She was nodding, and I saw the determination in her eyes.

I could see the fire burning in her eyes, the same fire that had kept her alive in Cresswood, and it was the same fire that had made her refuse to give up on me when everyone else had.

I looked at Kaelen, and I saw the love in his gray eyes. He was smiling, and I felt his hand squeeze mine.

It was a small smile, but it was everything. It was the smile of a man who had watched me grow, who had watched me struggle, and who had never stopped believing in me.

The pack surrounded me, and I felt their hands on my shoulders, and their voices in my ears.

"We stand with you, Luna." A young wolf shouted.

"We fight with you." A female warrior said.

"We will not let you down." A tall warrior added.

I smiled, and I felt the tears streaming down my face, but I did not try to stop them from cheering. I had made my decision, I had chosen to fight, and my pack was with me.

My mother walked to me, and I saw the tears on her face. She pulled me into her arms, and I felt her warmth against me.

"I am so proud of you, Talia," my mother whispered. "You are the strongest person I have ever known."

I held her tighter. "I learned from you, Mother." I replied.

Kaelen walked to me, and I felt his hand on my back. "Are you okay?" Kaelen asked.

I nodded, and I felt the peace settling over me. "I am, Kaelen. I am better than okay."

Kaelen pulled me into his arms, and I felt his warmth against me. "Together. Remember?" Kaelen said.

I nodded, and pressed my face into his chest. "Together."

The pack was with me, my mother was with me, and Kaelen was with me. And that was more than enough.