Emma pov

　　I cross my arms in front of my body as I watch the unconscious bodies lying in the pickup truck bed.

　　"What are we going to do with them?" Jordan questions, breaking the prevailing silence. I shift my weight from one leg to the other, thinking.

　　"Try to get some answers, maybe?" I reply uncertainly. "Honestly, Jordan, I don't know... I've never experienced an attack like this before, and I just found out I have a new wolf," I confess, letting my shoulders drop with the weight of exhaustion. "It's all so new."

　　"Damn, you have a new wolf? That's why you managed to turn Lycan then," Jordan says enthusiastically, his arms coming toward me for a tight hug.

　　My body hums with the excitement Jordan radiates, and I allow myself to feel thrilled about it again.

　　"Yeah, I found out today. I'm still trying to process it," I explain wearily, running my fingers through my short hair, and combing it back.

　　"We can put them in the girls' room for now," Jordan suggests. "Someone can stand guard, keeping watch."

　　I place my hands on my hips and nod in agreement, "Let's do that. It's the best we can do." I reply thoughtfully.

　　Jordan takes the prisoners to Faylen and Amelia's room. In that moment of solitude, my heart feels heavy with today's events.

　　"How am I going to handle this?" I question myself, not directing the question to anyone in particular.

　　"Together," Accalia responds softly, and I feel comforted.

　　I look at my territory, the vast plains, and the distant mountains. The rocks provide protection for the land despite the wide-open space in all directions. To reach us, one must pass through the road lined with many dry trees.

　　"How did they know about Charlotte?" I murmur quietly.

　　By the goddess, Charlotte came here to see me. Matthew must be worried sick. It took me nearly three days on foot to get here, how did Charlotte manage it all alone?

　　I turn my attention back to the house of my wolf pack. The smell of paint permeates everything, and I feel proud noticing that Kylian and Amelia had painted an entire wall by themselves while we were away.

　　I didn't want to involve them in the fight, thinking they were too young to face unnecessary confrontations. I enter the house and notice the scent of antiseptic being used and curses being muttered.

　　"You have the touch of an elephant!" Faylen complains from the bathroom.

　　"If you stayed still, I wouldn't have to mess up the stitches so much," Amelia retorts irritably.

　　Their argument makes me laugh. If they are bickering, it means Faylen's injury isn't too serious. Kylian and Jordan are standing in front of the girls' room door, both with arms crossed in front of their chests, their physical differences stark.

　　Jordan, a muscular black man, while Kylian, a sixteen-year-old boy with skin the color of fertile earth after rain and tousled straight hair, looks tiny next to Jordan.

　　"If any of them wake up, let me know, please. I'll be in your room monitoring Brunno and Charlotte," I declare. Before heading to the room, just five steps away, I stop and add, "Kylian, how about preparing lunch? I think we're all starting to get hungry."

　　Kylian's dark brown eyes light up with the request, and he promptly runs to the kitchen. Jordan chuckles at the boy's reaction.

　　"Did you hear his complaint?" Jordan asks humorously, raising an eyebrow.

　　"No, what complaint?" I ask curiously, leaning against the boys' room door frame.

　　"That this whole craziness was going to delay lunch, and he was starving," Jordan reports, and I laugh.

　　"Well, it did get delayed, and I'm starving too," I respond before winking at Jordan and entering the room.

　　Brunno is still unconscious, lying in his own bed. It's been almost three hours since we finished the attack and returned home. Kylian gave the few healing potions we had to him and Charlotte. I watch attentively, concerned about the small wolf's breathing as she still sleeps.

　　I pull a chair and sit beside the head of Charlotte's bed. Her pink backpack is at the foot of the bed, and her stuffed animal, Mr. Spell, is beside her small, fragile body.

　　"Emma..." Charlotte's sweet, sleepy voice reaches my ears. I lean closer, gently holding her hand.

　　"Hey, little wolf, hey. I'm here," I say emotionally, stroking her face, and moving some hair away from her forehead.

　　"I'm sorry for coming here without telling you. I didn't want to bring trouble," Charlotte says, her voice tearful and sad, her light green eyes filling with tears.

　　I sit on the bed and pull her into my lap, hugging her body with care and affection.

　　"Charlotte, don't be like that. It's not your fault, don't worry about it. You didn't bring any trouble, I swear," I comfort her gently, stroking her back. "I'm just so happy you're okay, little wolf."

　　Charlotte's short, chubby arms wrap around my neck, hugging me with all the little strength she has. She lays her head on my shoulder, and I feel her tears streaming.

　　"I was so scared, Emma," Charlotte confesses between sobs.

　　A lump forms in my throat at her words. Charlotte has never been through something like this; Matthew has always been responsible and protective of his younger sister.

　　"It's over, sweetheart. I promise it's over. You're safe now, I swear," I comfort her with the softest, calmest voice I can muster, gently stroking her hair and back.

　　I let Charlotte cry in my arms, not rushing her to stop. I keep repeating that it's okay, that she did nothing wrong, and that she's safe.

　　Faylen and Amelia appear at the bedroom door after a few minutes. Charlotte turns to see them, feeling a bit shy.