Hunted by the Shadow Division

Chapter 1

Ryan POV

I love days like this.

The smell of the earth as the rain washes over it, the smell of the trees and grass, and the warm cup of coffee was in my hands. My bones itched to be released, to run with the wind, through the trees with the rain pelting my coat. But I barely do that anymore. Not that I can in the city.

My family belonged to the Blue River pack back in Atlanta, bordering the forest. Anytime my six-year-old sister and I became restless, Dad would run us into the forest to burn off the excess energy. It never worked, but we loved it. Dad would change into the most powerful wolf I had ever seen and chase us through the trees. My sister and I would end up in a fit of giggles as he caught up with us.

There was no inkling of fear, only an encompassing feeling of love and safety.

Even though we were raised on the outskirts of the pack, our parents maintained friendships with other pack members. Our pack was small with only around three hundred wolves and had always seemed filled with happy people.

It never lasted, though.

Unfortunately, nothing ever does.

…

One night, during a moonless sky, we woke to howling in the distance.

Our pack was under attack, forcing my parents to take us and run. They were farmers, not warriors, so we retreated with the rest of the old and young.

It was horrible. In the distance, we heard constant screaming and growls while we ran through the woods. Mom held my sister and I to her chest while my Dad placed his body in front of us, partially hiding us while protecting us at the same time.

We ran as far as we could and found a small alcove in the hill in which to hide. Thinking we were far enough from danger.

Mom tried to soothe us with her voice, like she did when she put us to bed at night.

"Hush little ones," she repeated, trying to keep us quiet.

The fighting seemed to be getting closer, which meant the pack house had been overrun. What happened to the warriors? The Alpha? Everything seemed in chaos.

We smelled the smoke before noticing the fire in the distance. Our home. The fire seemed to be close to our home.

Suddenly, out of the brush, he tumbled two wolf mere meters from where we had hid. Snapping, growling, and biting at each other.

Mom placed her hands over our mouths to keep us still. The slightest movement would alert the wolves to where we hid. Dad slowly moved his body in front of us, shielding us as best he could. Shifting now would surely bring unwanted attention.

The two wolves continued to fight. Tearing fur and spilling blood.

We noticed others running further into the woods almost immediately, followed by attackers, snarling at their backs, running for the kill.

These wolves smelled weird. Not like rogues but barely like wolves at all. Their scent mingled with something else. Something chemical and cold that did not belong in any forest.

My sister screamed, and one of the fighting wolves turned his muzzle our way as he simultaneously dealt the killing blow to the one beneath him, licking his muzzle as he did

Immediately, my Dad began to growl and partially shift as a direct challenge to the killer. The attacker paused, but only for a second.

What followed would never leave me.

Mom closed my eyes with her hand and tried as much as she could to hold onto my sister, whose instincts to run were overwhelming her. Dad and the attacker began to s***h and snap at each other, both trying to end it quickly. Dad stood taller than the wolf in his half form, perhaps to gain the advantage.

I heard a second scream as out of sheer fear my sister tried to escape Mom's grip, momentarily distracting my Dad from his fight, leaving the attacker with a clear opening.

With my eyes covered, I heard the s***h of claws through flesh and the fresh smell of blood. The usually strong scent of my Dad fading as Mom began to whimper. I wriggled, trying to see what had happened. I wanted to find my Dad, I needed to help him to try, but Mom's grip tightened. I no longer heard my sister's screams, but I felt her arms around me replacing that of my Mom's.

Uncovered, my eyes fell on Dad's mangled body in the grass. The same grass he had chased us through not too long ago. The same grass we would find him and Mom kissing in.

No longer green.

No longer filled with love and laughter.

Instead, the grass was a deep red, now stained with my Dad's blood. His jaw laid skew as his tongue lolled out, eyes open.

Lifeless.

Mom jumped to her feet and began to slowly approach his body, still whimpering as the other wolf began to circle her, clearly choosing his next victim. She didn't notice or didn't care, as she moved toward her disfigured mate. The attacker hunched low and readied for the attack.

Mom never shifts.

As far as I could remember, she never had the chance. I watched as he leaped into the air directly at her.

I couldn't move.

I was stuck with fear as time seemed to slow.

Suddenly, right before impact, Mom turned her eyes to my sister and almost imperceptibly nodded her head. On that signal, my sister grabbed my arms and began to run deeper into the forest.

No!

Mom!

No!

I was made to run with little chance of looking back. My sister's hand on my arm, pulling it nearly out of the socket. Running as fast as she could.

As I ran, I noticed that the grass had become green once more and I could smell the earth.

"Nat, where are we going?" I asked between sobs. "What about Mom?"

No answer. It's just more running.

"Nat?!" I screamed, and she continued to run.

I began to cry. I couldn't help it. I was only five.

"Shhh little one," Natalie crooned, trying to soothe my tears while continuing to pull me forward. "We need to get away fast. We can't go back, Ryan."

…

I take another sip of my coffee and let its warmth wash away the memories of that night as I continue to watch the rain silently fall outside.