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The underground bunker smelled like damp concrete and canned food. I sat on a metal bench with my back against the cold wall, knees pulled up, raking my fingers through my hair over and over. The room was packed with women, pups, and older people. Most of the men had gone topside to join the warriors. Linda stood near the center in her beta form, taller, shoulders broader, eyes sharper. She paced slow, checking on everyone.
A little girl tugged my sleeve. “Luna, are we safe here?”
I forced a small smile and squeezed her hand. “Yeah, kiddo. We’re safe. The alphas are handling everything up there.”
She nodded but her lip wobbled. “I miss my dad.”
I pulled her onto my lap. “I know. He’ll be back soon. Promise.”
Linda walked over and crouched in front of us. “Hey, how about we play something to pass the time? Keep the little ones distracted.”
An older woman next to me nodded quick. “Good idea. What you got?”
Linda straightened up and clapped her hands once. “Okay everyone, listen up. We’re playing Never Have I Ever. Pups version-no gross stuff. Just fun. Who’s in?”
A bunch of kids raised their hands fast. One boy shouted, “Me! I go first!”
Linda laughed and sat cross-legged on the floor. “Alright, shoot.”
The boy thought for a second. “Never have I ever… eaten a whole pizza by myself.”
Half the kids giggled and put a finger down. I kept mine up and looked at Linda. “You?”
She grinned and lowered one finger. “Guilty. Late night after patrol.”.
The girl on my lap bounced a little. “My turn! Never have I ever climbed a tree and fallen out.”
I laughed and put a finger down. “Busted. Just today actually.”
Everyone turned to look at me. Linda raised an eyebrow. “Wait, that’s why you fell earlier? You were climbing trees?”
I shrugged and raked my fingers through my hair again. “Tried to impress the pups. Bad idea.”
A woman across from us snorted.
I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Yeah yeah. Lesson learned.”
The game kept going. Someone said never have I ever snuck cookies before dinner, every pup’s finger went down. Ar Successfully unlocked! I ever been scared of the dark,
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most of the little ones kept their fingers up, looking proud.
Linda leaned closer to me while the kids argued about the next one. “You holding up okay?”
I shifted the girl on my lap and sighed. “Trying. It’s weird being down here while they’re up there fighting.”
She nodded. “I get it but you’re doing good with the pups, they need that right now.”
I looked around at all the worried faces. “I just want Damien back safe, nd the others.” Linda squeezed my knee. “He’ll be back. He always is.”
A pup interrupted us. “Luna! Your turn!”
I thought for a second. “Never have I ever… wished I could shift into a wolf.”
All the pups kept their fingers up. A few moms laughed softly.
One girl tilted her head. “Why not? Shifting is cool.”
They giggled. Linda stood up and stretched. “Okay, next round. Never have I ever wanted to punch an alpha in the face.”
I put my finger down fast. Linda laughed loud and lowered hers too. “Same, girl. Same.” The tension in the room eased a little. Kids kept shouting turns, moms joined in, older people smiled from the corners. I held the little girl closer and tried to breathe.
My hand still tingled from where Damien squeezed it earlier. I hated how much I kept thinking about it.
A loud explosion cracked from outside. The whole bunker shook. Dust rained from the ceiling. Pups screamed and clung to their moms. Older women gasped and grabbed each other. I jumped up from the bench and raked my fingers through my hair.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” I shouted over the noise. “Everyone stay calm. We’re safe down here.”
No one listened. Kids cried louder. A little boy ran in circles yelling for his dad. I grabbed his arm gently. “Sit with me, okay? We’re fine.”
He pulled away and kept crying. I looked around. Everyone was panicking. My chest felt tight.
Alice stepped into the middle of the room. She growled low and deep. Her alpha blood rolled out thick. The sound cut through every scream. Pups froze. Moms went quiet. Even the older ones stopped moving.
Alice raised her hands. “Listen to me. That was outside. We’re deep underground. Nothing gets through these walls. You’re safe. Breathe. Stay together.”
The room settled fast. Kids sniffled but stopped screaming. Moms pulled their little
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ones close and whispered thanks to Alice. She nodded once and walked over to me and Linda.
Linda stood up and crossed her arms. “That was quick.”
Alice kept her voice low so only we could hear. “It means it’s officially started. Damien’ s strike just hit them.”
I furrowed my eyebrows and shifted on my feet. “You sure?”
Alice nodded. “That was our signal. One big hit to draw them out.”
A second explosion rocked the bunker. Lights flickered. A few pups whimpered but no one panicked this time. They looked at Alice and stayed quiet. She really had calmed
them.
Alice looked at Linda then at me. She lowered her voice even more. “I’m going out to see what’s happening.”
Linda’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”
Alice leaned closer. “Damien said there was only going to be one strike. If that’s a counterattack, they need all the alphas they can get up there.”
I was shocked, if it was a counterattack who knew all the things they would be dealing with up there, I couldn’t imagine it.
I grabbed her arm before she could turn. “Wait. I’m coming too.”
Alice looked at me with raised eyebrows. Linda stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
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