Chapter 694: The Sound of A Battle

While Sophia was caught in the vision, the sound that echoed through the pack made most people stop.

It wasn’t just any sound. It was that of a horn. It sounded only once, but to those who knew what the sound meant, it was enough.

Every conversation died instantly.

The crowd that had gathered around Sophia turned sharply toward the direction of the gates, confusion spreading almost immediately as tension swept through the square like wildfire.

Sophia still remained unconscious in Orion’s arms, her body limp against his chest, her breathing even.

Around them, unease spread rapidly.

"What was that?"

"Why did they sound the horn?"

"Are we under attack?"

Several voices rose at once, panic beginning to creep into the edges of the crowd.

Most of the frightened faces belonged to the members of Silver Creek and those from the black market who had only recently joined the Nightshade Pack. They looked utterly lost, glancing around for answers while the older members of Nightshade had already begun shifting into motion.

Warriors moved immediately—hunters reached for weapons, guards straightened with sharpened focus.

The difference between the old members and the newcomers was painfully obvious.

Ronan stepped forward before the fear could spread any further.

"Everyone remain calm," he called loudly, his voice cutting cleanly through the rising panic.

The authority in his tone was immediate enough to silence most of the crowd.

Snow drifted quietly around the square as hundreds of eyes turned toward him.

"For those of you who recently joined us from Silver Creek and from the black market," Ronan continued steadily, "this may be unfamiliar to you, but there is no reason for panic."

He gestured toward the towering walls surrounding the pack.

"The horn simply means that beasts from Nirvana have approached the territory."

A murmur immediately spread through the newer members.

Some faces paled.

Others looked even more confused than before.

One woman clutched her child tighter against her chest.

"But you are safe," Ronan continued firmly before fear could take root again. "Nightshade has dealt with creatures like this before. I’d say we are quite accustomed to them. The guards and hunters are already moving into position."

His eyes swept across the crowd carefully.

"If you do not know how to fight and are not officially permitted to use one—which basically means if you are not a warrior—remain in the square and follow instructions. Do not wander. Do not attempt to leave the protected areas."

The older Nightshade members were already guiding people backward calmly, organizing the civilians with practiced ease.

Orion barely heard any of it.

His attention remained fixed entirely on Sophia.

Her face looked pale against the fur lining of his cloak, her brows faintly drawn together as though whatever she was seeing inside the vision was disturbing enough to reach her even here.

Then footsteps approached quickly.

Brynhild.

Ronan moved slightly aside as she stopped near Orion.

Brynhild tilted her head faintly toward Sophia.

"It’s a vision, isn’t it?" she asked him.

Orion nodded immediately.

"I think so, but I haven’t heard anything," he said.

"What do you mean?" Brynhild asked him.

Orion exhaled slowly.

"Sometimes when Sophia sees visions... I hear her. I heard her when she called for you the first time she saw the vision about you, and also when she saw Ronan and the others in Nirvana," he said.

Brynhild nodded. "That’s quite the bond."

"Jealous?" he asked her.

Brynhild shook her head. "Not really, it sounds like a lot of burden."

Then she added softly, "And you and Sophia already have a lot."

Orion was quiet, then he looked toward the gates, his instincts already screaming at him to move.

The horn had not sounded without reason.

The beasts approaching the territory would not be weak creatures either.

He shifted Sophia slightly in his arms.

"I’ll go with you."

Brynhild immediately frowned.

"No."

Orion looked at her sharply.

"Brynhild—"

"You should remain here."

"I’m not leaving you all to handle this alone."

"You are not," she replied calmly. "You are staying with your mate."

Orion opened his mouth immediately, ready to argue further.

Then Brynhild spoke again, softer this time.

"She needs someone beside her when she wakes. Don’t be a fool. As much as you want to fight with us, you have a duty to your partner."

That stopped him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Snow continued drifting steadily from the gray sky above them while tension swallowed the square whole.

Brynhild folded her arms loosely.

"And besides, the rest of us can take down those beasts. You may be the strongest warrior, but there are others that are strong too. Me, for example," she said.

Orion chuckled at that. "True."

Ronan approached them then.

"Brynhild is right. It’s better you stay here with my sister-in-law than go with us."

"I wasn’t arguing that fact. I’ll stay in the square until Sophia regains consciousness," Orion replied. "And I don’t plan to steal Brynhild’s shine, she’s—"

"Now hold on, Orion. You are not going to steal it. I just need to blow off some steam," Brynhild said to him.

Orion chuckled just as Brynhild turned to face the crowd.

But she didn’t even speak because the warriors had already begun moving toward the gate. And then she smiled, then tapped Ronan.

"Time to go, brother," she said delightedly.

And before Ronan could even blink, Brynhild exploded forward.

Ronan sighed. "Sometimes, I don’t know if I’m more scared of her or my sister-in-law."

"They are both your sisters-in-law," Orion corrected.

Ronan paused just as a loud hiss was heard from beyond the gates. A few growls followed after that.

"True," he said to Orion with a smile, and then he too followed after her, transforming almost immediately, his wolf surging forward through the snow.

Orion just shook his head as he watched them go, then Madam Tyler approached him along with Daniel.

"Is she having a vision?" Madam Tyler asked.

And just then Orion heard a gasp.

Soon everywhere became blurry, sounds became distant.

There was no doubt about it.

Sophia was having a fucking vision.