Chapter 2
1214 Words
Drifted towards the dark horizon.
“Shadow Crest”
For the first time in years, someone had said exactly what Lena wanted to hear.
The words followed her all the way home. They echoed in her mind as she prepared for bed.
As she lay awake staring at the ceiling.
She listened to the distant sounds of pack life settling into silence.
" Your mate is coming”
Lena had learned that years ago. Every birthday, someone told her to be patient. Every mating ceremony, someone promised her time would come.
Every year still ends the same way.
Alone. So why was this different?
Why couldn't I stop thinking about what Grandmother Rose said?
With a frustrated sigh,she rolled onto her side. Sleep eventually claimed her.
Far beyond shadow Crest territory, another wolf was still awake.
The training grounds of Blood Moon pack were lit by moonlight and scattered torches.
The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed across the field.
A warrior crashed into the dirt.
“Alpha Damon Blackwood.”
The young warrior wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and staggered to his feet.
Around the training ground, dozens of wolves watched in silence. No one laughed. No one spoke.
The only sound was the warrior’s heavy breathing.
Across from him, Damon stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Calm, Unmoved.
“Again,” he said
The warrior’s face paled.
A few recruits exchanged nervous glances. One of them whispered,
“Moon Goddess help him.”
Damon’s eyes flicked in their direction.
The recruits immediately lowered their heads.
“Did I say training was over?"
The Alpha’s voice wasn’t loud. And it didn't need to be.
The entire field straightened instantly.
" Answer me."
" No Alpha."
" Then why are you standing around?”
The wolves rushed back into position. Only then did Damon turn his attention back to the warrior before him.
" Ready?”
The warrior swallowed hard.
"No, Alpha.”
For the first time, the corner of Damon’s mouth twitched.
"Good answer."
A few of the older warriors chuckled.
The younger ones looked shocked.
Most had never seen their Alpha smile,
Not even for a second.
Damon stepped forward.
“Now attack."
The warrior hesitated.
Then charged .
A roar tore from his throat as he lunged forward. His first shot went towards Damon’s face.
Fast, Powerful.Desperate Several recruits leaned forward,eager to see what would happen.
Damon didn't move immediately, He waited One second. Two,
At the last possible moment, he stepped aside. The punch sliced through empty air. The warrior stumbled.
A flicker of panic crosses his face.
Damon saw it. He always did. The young wolf tried to recover . Too late.
Damon’s hand shot out.
He caught the warrior’s wrist and twisted it.
The movement was simple.
Effortless.
The warrior lost his balance instantly.
A second later, his back slammed into the dirt.
A groan erupted from the crowd.
The recruits winced.
The older warriors merely shook their heads.
The outcome had never been in doubt
Damon released the young wolf and stepped back.
Again,”
The warrior stared at him.
For a moment, he looked ready to argue. Then he glanced around the training ground.
Every warrior was silently watching, judging. With a sigh, he pushed himself back to his feet.
A few of the older warriors smirked.
He simply folded his arms and waited for the young wolf to get back into position.
“What was my mistake?” The warrior asked. Damon didn’t say anything, he just had a smile.
A few warriors chuckled. The young wolf groaned.
Then the laughter died immediately.
Damon stepped forward and circled the warrior once. Like a predator studying its prey.
“ He started illustrating.”
You dropped your guard. The warrior frowned. I was attacking.
And while attacking, you forget to defend. Damon tapped two fingers against the side of his own head.
“If I were a rogue, you’d be dead.”
The young wolf swallowed his spit after
hearing this .
Damon continued to teach him.
You also telegraphed your attack.
The young warrior blinked.
“I did?"
A few of the older warriors exchanged knowing looks.
Damon nodded.
Your shoulders tensed. Your eyes locked on your target. By the time you attacked, I already knew what you were planning.
Understanding dawned on the warrior's face.
Around them, several recruits shifted uncomfortably.
They had made the same mistake.
Damon noticed, He always noticed.
A voice suddenly cut through the training ground.
" Still terrorising your warriors “
Several wolves turned back, but Damon didn't need to turn around. Only one person in the Blood Moon pack was foolish enough to speak to him like that.
Beta Ethen.
The Beta approached with a folded letter in his hand.
The amusement on Damon’s face disappeared the moment he saw the seal pressed into the wax.
Shadow Crest.
His wolf stirred.
Again, a strange sensation crawled beneath his skin. Unfamiliar, Unwelcome. Damon frowned,
" What is it?”
Ethan's teasing expression faded.
“Their Alpha responded.”
The training field immediately felt silent. Even the recruits stopped moving. Damon held out his hand, Ethan passed him the letter.
Before he could take the letter, his eyes scanned the contents quickly. Then he folded it and tucked it into his pocket.
"They have accepted."
A few warriors exchanged glances.
The alliance has become the talk of the pack over the last few weeks.
Shadow Crest sat between Blood Moon territory and rogue lands.
An alliance would strengthen both packs. At least on paper.
Ethan folded his arms. And said
“We leave at dawn?”
Damon nodded “We leave at dawn."
The Beta hesitated.
That alone caught Damon's attention. Ethan rarely hesitated. " There's something else.” Damon’s eyes narrowed. What?
A grin slowly spread across Ethan’s face.
“The rumors.” Damon sighed. “Which rumors?”
Ethan's grin widened. “The mate girl?"
“Shadow Crest has one."
Ethan leaned against that training fence.
“Twenty three years old. Still hasn't found her mate."
Damon shrugged. "And? “
And apparently the entire region knows about her, because of her wolf less power and not having a mate
A few nearby warriors chuckled.
Damon looked at them, instantly laughter died. Ethan raised both hands.
I'm just telling you what people are saying.”
Since when do you care about gossip?
Since the gossip became more interesting than border reports.”
Damon tuned and started walking towards the training grounds exit
Ethan quickly caught up with him.
You’re impossible."
Damon ignored him
He had spent years dealing with border disputes, rogue attacks,and alliance negotiations.
The mating status of a woman he'd never met ranked very low on his list of concerns.
We are discussing pack business, Damon said. " Not gossip"
" Sometimes gossip becomes business."
Ethan immediately raised both hands.
" Fine. Fine. I'll stop.
Silence settled between them as they continued toward the pack house.
Damon thought the conversation was over.
Then his wolf stirred.
A strange sensation brushed against his mind. Brief and Unexpected.
Damon frowned, Ethan noticed.
“What now?”
‘Nothing."
But even as he answered, Damon’s gaze some reason, the name refused to leave his thoughts.
- Writer
