Charcoal Moon

The Dark Wood

4 months later.......

Dear Mom and Dad,

Everything has been going well, Im still here so obviously I managed to impress the King and Queen Luna again because they bumped me up! I just wanted to let you know that I am doing really good here, I train every day with Koda, he is an top officer and will be Gamma when Prince Onyx takes over as Alpha King. No mom he is NOT my mate but we are good friends, Jace is still watching me like a hawk but he has gotten friendlier since our first meeting. The castle grounds are beautiful and I know you would love it here, Dad Corinn said thank you for the awesome knives you sent us too! 

Today I am going on forest patrol for the first time which seems pretty exciting, there is a lot of rogues lately and you know how I love fighting! I was partnered with Luis and Marissa, I dont really like her but ya know.

Anyway I love you both so much, write back soon!

--Keelin.

I dropped the envelope addressed to my parents in the mail bin after I changed into my uniform which is basically black leather outfit with straps for weapons, the leather is thick to guard from attack, Mine has a hood because I am classified as an assassin now due to the fact no one has survived a death match with me and my stealth is on another level. Everyone carries multiple knives and a sword but I also carry a bow for stealth missions, every uniform has the royal crest on the chest to be identified easier. Every guard and army member was given a charm to wear on duty it had been charmed so we could still shift without ripping our clothes and when we shifted back they would appear on our bodies.

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"Marissa would you be quiet." She made some weird sound with her throat in retort.

"Keelin would you not be a b***h" She smirked like she had done something exciting.

"This is a stealth mission and your annoying ass voice is the opposite of stealthy, goddess why are you on my team." Ugh I groaned in irritation, the snow was about knee deep and she would not shut up about how her pants were getting wet. 

"Alright 5 miles, this is where we stop" Luis quickly chimed in before the arguing could continue, 5 miles out side of the pack border which happens to be 15 miles away from the castle. The Royal pack has a territory far bigger than any other pack and has about 800 members as most packs having around 400.

"No one is around to stop us from going in Luis" Marissa's eyes were staring into the dark woods ahead.

"Its called the 'Death Wood' for a reason" Luis retorted, my eyes were fixated on something passed the trees but I cant figure out what it is. It feels like something is calling to me, trying to draw me in. Like invisible fingers coming from the trees and pulling at my wrist, tempting me to take a step further. 

"Keelin" a soft hushed voice called from the fog.

"Keelin Blake"

"KEELIN BLAKE" the voice screamed sounding deep, dark, and angry.

"Hey Kee!" Luis shouted and shook my shoulders, I shook my head and took my focus off the voice coming from the woods.

"Dude what the hell!" I pushed him back.

"You were zoned for like ten minutes, Marissa's stupid ass said it wasnt scary and went in. Your eyes looked fogged over and I was shaking you, like what the hell Kee!! You scared me!" Just as he finished speaking an ear piercing scream rang out from the dark foggy woods, I looked at him and he knew what I was going to say before I said it. 

"Don't."

"Mind-link the Jace and Koda, I'm going to get her." Before he could say anything I ran in the direction of the screaming.

Koda POV

I was running faster than I ever had before, once Luis linked me about Keelin going into the Death Wood after Marissa I panicked. I cant let anything happen to her, in a flash Jace was running by my side with an angry look on his face. Shortly after we made it to Luis's location several other guard members and a very angry Beta Francis were behind us. So many people shouting trying to figure out what to do.

No one was to enter the Dark Wood for any reason, it was a direct order from Alpha King Grey.

"Look!!" Someone shouted. Marissa's slim figure was staggering slowly out of the woods, her roommate James quickly scooped her into his arms and mind linked a doctor and started to run to the castle.

"Not yet." Jace stopped James before he could go farther.

"But shes hurt just look at her!" His words so full of fear. She looked awful, her blonde hair was matted to her face with sweat, blood, and tar. most of her face was purple and blue and she was riddled with cuts and gashes, the uniform was destroyed. 

"Where the hell is Keelin" Jaces icy blues stared into Marissa's muddy ones. She didnt answer and he let out a low growl.

"Where the f**k is she Marissa?!" I stepped in front of Jace and lifted her by her tattered shirt. "Luis already told us she went in to save your stupid ass, now WHERE. IS. SHE?" my words came out like venom. James was screaming at me to put her down, only result he got was getting punched in the face by Jace.

"S-s-s-she saved m-my life" At her words she pointed a long bony finger in the direction she came from.

"IS SHE ALIVE?" I screamed but she had passed out in fear and exhaustion.

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