THE ALPHA WHO REJECTED FATE

KAEL They say curiosity kills the cat, but no one mentioned what it does to a rebellious Lone Alpha with daddy issues and a nose for trouble. Well, I'm about to find out—the hard way. B I'm Kael. A lone Alpha werewolf who left home because it was too small for a spirit like mine–too many rules, not enough freedom. But here I am, stuck in the woods in the middle of Moon Goddess-knows-where, being chased by wolf hunters. Yes, wolf hunters. I know we all hate them—or maybe it's a personal feeling. But either way, I hate them with every fiber of my being. I can sense danger nearby. I need to hide—quickly. My inner wolf is screaming danger at every corner. The last time I checked, using my heightened wolf's vision, I counted about 11 hunters. Now the problem is to get out of here in my half-human, half-wolf form without them noticing. This is a rare ability I possess. Most Werewolves can't shift partially. It's either full human or full wolf. My nose tingles. I smell blood—familiar blood. Oh s**t, it's mine. I checked my body and spotted the wound on my arm, but it's healing already-–thankfully. A gunshot wound. One of the hunters must have hit me. But luckily, it wasn't a silver bullet which would have been a much bigger problem. It doesn't heal quickly. Suddenly, something whizzed past my face and thudded into the tree behind me. An arrow, silver-tipped. Wow, that was very damn close. That bastard was aiming for a headshot. I sensed more coming—I ducked (thanks to the Moon Goddess for my super wolf speed), and rolled to the other side. How did they find me here?, I wondered. This is seriously bad, and I need to get out of here—now. I can't change into my full wolf form because it'll be easier to spot me. And hey, don't get funny ideas. I'm not a weak Alpha. Being packless doesn't make me weak. I'm just bound by my father's Principles—the ones he drilled into me since I was young, which I can't seem to break free from. Not that I can't, but it seems like the right thing to do. Mercy, control, and honour. I can easily snap these puny human necks with my bare hands, but I won't. It's the only thing stopping me from going rogue, and I've vowed to abide by it. The sound of a gunshot yanked me back to reality. I scan my surroundings and bolt into the thickest part of the woods. One thing I have over them—night vision. I swear I'll kiss the Moon Goddess if I survive this. I can't head for the city, they might track me down and it will lead them to where I live. No, I can't risk it. I hear rustling—footsteps closing in. Don't these motherfuckers ever give up? I'm tired already. Arrows and bullets were flying around me. I keep on running, charging forward, ducking—never stopping for a second. A bullet missed me by a few inches. I spotted a big tree and hid behind it to catch my breath. I strained my ears—silence. Maybe I lost them. Panting, I scanned the area and spotted an opening nearby. My ears were picking up faint sounds. I listened carefully—engines. Yes. Vehicles. I must be closer to the city than I imagined. Now would be the best time to move. It was at that moment that I realized my mistake. As I step towards the opening, pain tears through my lower abdomen. Shit!. I'm hit. I growled loudly in pain which drew their attention to my side. Sneaky bastards I cursed under my breath. “It's in that area!” one of the hunters shouted. “It”? Really? Very demeaning. Y'all can't even assume a gender?. I can't afford getting caught. Ignoring the pain, I started racing for the opening, but paused. Wait, if I make it out to the city, they'll track me. I'm bleeding too much. Too risky I pivoted and dashed in the opposite direction. It's a gamble—but I have no choice I keep running through the woods, desperate to shake them off. But they are persistent. I ducked behind a tree and checked my wound—Silver bullet. Shit!. That explains the burning pain. Weakness creeps in, anger too. Then I heard them again—closer. More of them. Damn it! I'm surrounded, I muttered quietly. Ain't no way I'm getting out of here without hurting a few of these douchebags. Well, what must be done, must be done. But I need to attack them without revealing my face. I must be fast. Precise. Despite the pain. Judging from their positions, they won't shoot wildly to avoid hitting each other accidentally. That's my edge. I spotted three hunters to my left, five to my right. The rest are farther back. Great. The fewer I have to injure, the better. I launched at the trio on the left, catching them off guard. I punched one in the gut, which sent him flying. The other two raised their weapons, but I darted aside—planning my next move. Gosh! This pain is killing me. But I keep pressing on. They ceased shooting, trying to make out my position. I rushed forward, landing punches on the other two faces— a clean and swift knockout. The commotion draws the rest. I dodged a crossbow bolt and leapt onto the tree nearby, bounding from branch to branch. I dropped into their midst—kicking one aside. I winced in pain, getting slowed by the pain, which gave them an edge to attack me. I dodged a bullet— but not the sword strike from behind. Shhhck! It cut deep into my arm. Silver. I roared painfully and slapped the bastard away. Two down, three more to go. “Die beast!” One of the hunters cursed loudly. “Be gone you abomination!” Another added. I growled at them angrily. They charged at me furiously. Dodging every blow, I ducked and swept one off the ground with my foot, instantly knocking him out. The last two charged, one with a gun, the other with a crossbow. I rolled, grabbed a log, and hurled it. One ducked. The other took the hit and crumpled, pinned to the ground. I grabbed the other one and flung him into a tree. Bones cracked. And he screamed in pain. I didn't wait to confirm, for I bolted towards the opening I saw earlier. After five minutes of limping through trees, pain stabbing at every step, I see lights ahead. I stagger closer, more exhausted with each step. Finally, I reached the road. My legs buckle. My body—weak. Shifting back to my human form, I collapsed. Can't move. Can't fight. My vision fades. Darkness creeps in. Then… I heard my mum's voice. Soft. Familiar I reached for her—but she vanished. And then, a silhouette appears—walking towards me. Before I could think— Darkness. . .