Chapter Seventeen

Marco's POV

Michael's words hung in the air, his voice heavy with the weight of the news he carried. My heart sank as the realization of the tragedy that had unfolded in Ashwood Pack settled upon me. The stolen weapons, the attack—they were all interconnected, and our mission to retrieve the weapons had taken on a new level of urgency.

"Michael, what happened?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. "Tell me everything."

He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. "The enemy forces launched a surprise attack on Ashwood Pack earlier today. They were merciless, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in their wake. Our people fought bravely, but the sheer scale of the assault overwhelmed them."

Guilt gnawed at my insides, knowing that our efforts to retrieve the stolen weapons had not been swift enough. "Michael, we must take responsibility for this. Our delay may have contributed to the devastation."

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "