At around 8 p.m. in Polje, a hundred decipios led by a very excited Rafael join the werewolf and lycan monarch, ministers, warriors and rogues.

Toby muttered in Lucianne’s way, “You got to admit, if they weren’t on our side, what we're seeing now is shit scary.”

Lucianne murmured, “Not if you think about what’s at stake, how many creatures we have to protect.”

Those words shifted Toby’s perspective, and the cold night suddenly became less cold.

After exchanging bows and acknowledgments, Rafael and Toby got their species to partner-up, one decipio for every two lycans or werewolves. Rafael then threw out a stern reminder, “As I’ve mentioned before, we’re...