ALPHA OF THE FORGOTTEN PACK

Chapter 10: Hunt for the Black Alpha

By dawn, the council hall was already tense with the weight of what Selene had to say. The fire burned low in the center pit, casting long, restless shadows on the faces of the gathered Alphas. Some looked curious, others wary, but most looked tired—none of them expecting that the peace they had signed only weeks ago might already be crumbling. Selene stood at the head of the table, Cael and Ronan at her sides. “Last night, we scouted the Ridge of Crows. What we found was no stray band of hunters. It was an organized encampment—more than thirty fighters—and they were under the command of Garron Vey. A stir rippled through the room. Keira of Shadowpine sat up straighter. “Garron Vey died. "I saw his body myself.”“You saw him fall,” Selene corrected. “Not the same thing.” Marek’s voice was low, measured. “If Garron lives, he’s dangerous. "But not enough to threaten us all.” Selene’s gaze swept the room. “This isn’t Garron’s doing. "He’s a soldier. "Someone else is leading him—someone they’re calling the Black Alpha.” The name drew uneasy glances. Some shifted in their seats; others looked at the fire as if it might hold answers. Nalia spoke next, her voice steady. “I heard whispers in the villages. The Black Alpha doesn’t just want power—he wants to tear down every council, every alliance, every blood oath that holds the packs together. He believes wolves should follow only the strongest, and the rest should serve or die.”“That’s old-world thinking,” Marek muttered. “It died centuries ago.”“It’s back,” Selene said sharply. “And it’s gathering followers fast.” Silence fell for a moment before Keira leaned forward. “What do you propose?” Selene didn’t hesitate. “We send a strike force before they grow stronger. "If we wait, they’ll outnumber us, and the alliance will fall apart under fear.” Not everyone agreed. Marek crossed his arms. “Or we should defend our borders and let him waste his strength attacking. If you go hunting him, you risk walking into a trap,” Selene held his gaze. If we stay still, we will give him time. And time is the sharpest weapon an enemy can have.” Cael broke the tension. “Then we vote. Strike first or defend.” The vote was close—too close for comfort. In the end, a narrow majority agreed to act, but only if they could locate the Black Alpha’s true camp. Until then, they would double patrols, guard the borders, and prepare for a coordinated strike. Later, Selene walked the training grounds, watching warriors spar in the pale winter light. The air smelled of frost and steel, the rhythmic clash of practice blades carried across the yard. She stopped to watch two young fighters circle each other, their movements quick but unsteady.“Too heavy on the front foot,” she called. The fighters adjusted instantly. Cael appeared beside her, his tone low. “You’ve got them working like they’re marching into war.”“They might be,” she said simply. He hesitated, then asked, “Do you think it’s him? "Drevon? She wanted to say no. She wanted to believe the man she’d fought and seen fall was gone forever. But the way the shadows seemed to grow longer each night told her otherwise. “If it is,” she said, “then this time, I finish it.” That night, sleep came slowly. When it did, it was filled with dreams she couldn’t escape. She stood in a field under a blackened sky, the moon hidden behind thick clouds. The crows circled overhead, their cries sharp and cold. And then he stepped from the shadows—taller than she remembered, his eyes burning gold, a dark cloak trailing over the ground. You can’t kill what the moon has claimed. The Black Alpha’s voice echoed, deep and sure. Selene reached for the Moon’s Edge, but her hand closed in the air. He smiled. You’re already too late. She woke with a start, breath sharp, the cold sweat on her skin refusing to fade. The blade lay beside her, the runes faintly glowing in the darkness. In the quiet hours before dawn, Selene went to the MoonHowl Shrine again. She knelt before the altar, the frost biting at her knees, and whispered to the silver light above. “If this is the fight you’ve chosen for me, then give me the strength to end it.” The wind stirred, carrying the sound of distant wings. And somewhere, far off but drawing nearer, came the deep, resonant howl of a wolf she had never hoped to hear again. The next morning, Selene called her most trusted warriors into the war tent. The air inside was thick with anticipation, the maps spread wide across the table, inked lines tracing the jagged lands beyond the Ridge of Crows. The council agreed to act, but finding the Black Alpha’s true location would take precision and risk.“This will be the most dangerous mission we’ve faced since the war,” she began, meeting each gaze in turn. We can’t send an army. It would be seen before it crossed the border. "We need speed, silence, and the ability to vanish if things go wrong.” Ronan leaned over the map, tapping a point near the ridge. “Our scouts saw a supply route running through there. Small caravans. "If we intercept one, we might learn where it’s headed—and who it’s supplying.” Nalia frowned. “And if we’re wrong?”“Then we melt into the trees, and they never knew we were there,” Selene replied. “But I don’t think we’re wrong. Garron Vey wasn’t building an army for the show. "He’s moving toward something bigger.” Cael’s voice was steady. “Then I’m going with the team.” Selene shook her head. “No. "You stay here with me.” She could see the protest building in his eyes, but she didn’t give him the chance to voice it. “If they don’t come back, I’ll need someone I trust to lead the defense. "This isn’t about keeping you safe—it’s about keeping the pack safe.” By midday, the infiltration team was chosen: Nalia for her speed and silence, Jarek for his uncanny ability to track even through snow, and two of Ronan’s handpicked fighters. They left under clouded skies, their forms melting into the white and grey of the winter forest. Hours passed with no word. Selene paced the training grounds, her thoughts circling like restless wolves. The Moon’s Edge hung at her side, the runes faintly warm against her leg. It felt almost alive, as if it, too, was waiting. The first sign of trouble came just before dusk. A lone figure emerged from the treeline, stumbling toward the gates. It was Jarek, blood soaking his side, his face pale as bone. Selene was at his side in seconds. “What happened?”“They knew,” he gasped. “They… they were waiting for us.” His voice cracked as he met her eyes. “We didn’t even reach the caravan. They came out of the mist—black cloaks, silent as shadows. Nalia… she stayed behind so I could get away. Selene’s hands clenched. “How many?”“Too many,” he whispered. And they had… they had a wolf with them. Bigger than I’ve ever seen. Eyes like gold fire.” The image struck her like a blow. She didn’t need Jarek to name him. The Black Alpha had been there. Ronan appeared, his jaw tight. “They’ve got Nalia.”“We don’t know that,” Selene said sharply, though the words felt hollow. Cael stepped forward, his voice low. “Then we went back to her. Now.” Selene hesitated. Charging into enemy territory without a plan was suicide—but leaving Nalia in the hands of the Black Alpha was unthinkable.“We will go,” she said finally. But not tonight." We prepared. "We moved fast, struck hard, and we took her home.” That night, Selene stood outside her tent, the cold wind biting at her face. She drew the Moon’s Edge, letting the moonlight spill over the silver blade. The runes glowed brighter than before, a pulse that matched her own heartbeat. The hunt began, the whisper came, low and certain. She didn’t know if it was a promise or a warning. But either way, she was ready.