Chapter 178

Lily’s Perspective Moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, leaving only the scattered searchlights of the hunter base piercing the darkness, like the pupils of beasts surveying their territory. Ethan crouched behind damp rocks, his nostrils flaring. The air was filled with thick blood, gunpowder and… the painful aura of his own kind. It seemed the hunters had returned with their spoils. They’d captured so many members of Kyle’s pack that the transport trucks were crammed beyond capacity, the wolves utterly helpless. “They tossed my kin around like cargo,” Kyle’s voice echoed in my ear, strained with seething fury and bone-deep sorrow. The death of his mate, Lena, had transformed this Alpha into a blade thirsting only for vengeance. My hand rested lightly on Ethan’s tense arm, the cold touch snapping him back to focus. “The defense map hasn’t been updated yet. Carl must be gloating right now. Hunters are most vulnerable when their guard is down.” I spoke through the wolf pack link, my voice carrying the warrior’s calm and resolve. “We must strike now.” Ethan turned, his gaze sweeping over the companions lurking in the shadows behind him. Jacob’s brown eyes glinted faintly in the darkness, sharp as an eagle’s, his entire being focused on avenging Celena. Xaver and Keith stood like two silent mountains, the twins rarely put away their laughter, their muscles bulging, ready to pounce at any moment. “Move.” Ethan’s command was short and forceful. Agile figures moved like ghosts, exploiting every blind spot marked on Brett’s map to slip silently around the base perimeter. The initial assault proved effective. The hunters were caught completely off guard. The wolves’ howls, the hunters’ screams, and the crack of breaking bones instantly shattered the night’s camouflage. Jacob transformed into a massive brown wolf, his claws slicing clean through a hunter’s throat. I followed suit, striking with lightning precision to snap the neck of another guard attempting to sound the alarm. The smell of blood stimulated the nerves of every Wolf, and the thrill of revenge was burning. But the hunters reacted faster than expected. They were true desperados. The shrill alarm eventually echoed throughout the base. The remaining hunters weren’t a disorganized mob; they swiftly retreated into the sturdy buildings, using narrow windows and crossfire positions to put up a stubborn fight. Bullets poured down like rain. Although not the terrifying new lycotine rounds, conventional ammunition and old-style lycotine still inflicted damage on us and slow down our offensive. “Lily, take your squad to find Stephen!” Ethan roared from behind a wooden plank, bullets tearing shards from the wood beside him. I nodded, signaling Jacob, Xaver, and the twins to follow. Guided by Brett’s directions, we bypassed the main battlefield and infiltrated the living quarters. Stephen’s door was locked tight. Jacob slammed it open with brute force, only to find the room empty yet chaotic, filled with a pungent, strange mix of tobacco and alcohol. The drawers, the bed and even the floor were all quickly searched, but there was no sign of the key at all. “Damn it!” Jacob growled, punching the wall and leaving a clear crack. Frustration washed over us like a cold tide. If we couldn’t rescue our captured comrades, this raid would lose most of its meaning.