Mated to the enemy pack

The Enemy’s Territory The forest was quiet, but Nova did not trust it. She moved through Bloodmoon territory with steady steps, her boots soft against the damp earth. The night air was cold and heavy with pine. To any wolf watching, she looked calm, loyal, and alert. She had perfected that look. Six years inside the enemy pack. Six years of careful smiles, controlled words, and measured strength. Six years of pretending she belonged here. Nova adjusted the sword strapped to her back and scanned the tree line. Two warriors followed behind her, both younger than her, both laughing softly about something foolish. They trusted her. That was the point. “Anything on the east border?” one of them asked. “Nothing unusual,” Nova replied. Her voice was steady. “But stay sharp. Rogues don’t announce themselves.” The younger wolf nodded quickly. “Yes, Nova.” Respect. She had earned that too. When she first arrived at eighteen, she had acted quiet and obedient. She trained harder than anyone. Fought better than most. Took every punishment without complaint. Slowly, the Bloodmoon Pack stopped seeing her as an outsider. Now she was one of their strongest warriors. If only they knew. Nova stopped at the ridge that overlooked the valley. Below, the Bloodmoon pack house stood tall and dark against the moonlight. Torches burned near the entrance. Guards rotated every two hours. She knew every schedule. Every weakness. Every blind spot. Her real Alpha had trained her for this since she was a child. Wake before dawn. Train until collapse. Learn control. Learn silence. Learn patience.Revenge is not rushed, he would say. She could still hear his voice clearly in her mind. Bloodmoon slaughtered your family. They burned your home. They laughed while it happened. That memory was carved into her bones. Even now, when she closed her eyes, she could see smoke. Hear screaming. Smell blood. She did not remember everything from that night. She had been six. But she remembered enough. And she remembered the name. Blackwood. Ryder Blackwood. The heir of the Alpha who ordered the m******e. Nova rested her hand on the cold hilt of her blade. He is the enemy. He dies soon. A sudden shift in the air made her tense. The warriors behind her straightened immediately. Footsteps approached from the lower path. Heavy. Confidence. Unhurried. Nova did not need to look to know who it was. Alpha Ryder Blackwood stepped into view. He wore black training clothes instead of formal attire. His dark hair was slightly damp as if he had just finished sparring. His presence alone changed the air. Conversations died. Spines straightened. He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. “Report,” Ryder said. The two warriors beside Nova lowered their heads respectfully. “No rogue movement, Alpha,” one of them answered quickly. Ryder’s gaze shifted to Nova. It lingered. Her pulse stayed steady. Years of training made sure of that. She lowered her head slightly, enough to show respect but not weakness. “The western ridge?” he asked her directly. “Secure,” she replied. “Though the scent markers near the river need refreshing.” A small pause. “You noticed that.” “Yes, Alpha.” Silence stretched between them. His eyes were darker up close. Sharp. Observant. Not careless like she had imagined as a child. He stepped closer. Too close. Nova could feel the heat of him. The quiet strength in the way he stood. He was taller than most wolves, broad shouldered, and controlled. Dangerous. “Walk with me,” he said. The other warriors stayed behind. Nova followed him down the narrow path. Every instinct inside her remained alert. She had stood near him before, but never alone like this.You’ve improved,” Ryder said after a moment. Nova blinked once. “Alpha?” “In training. In patrol strategy. The younger warriors listen to you.” “I only do my duty.” “That is rare.” She did not respond. He glanced at her again. “Where did you train before joining us?” The question was casual, but not careless. Nova had rehearsed this story for years. “A small northern pack,” she answered. “We were destroyed by rogues. I was one of the few survivors.” Not a lie. Just not the full truth. Ryder’s jaw tightened slightly. “Rogues are cowards.” Nova almost laughed at the irony. “Yes, Alpha.” They reached the edge of the cliff. The moonlight painted the valley silver. For a moment, neither of them spoke. “You are loyal to Bloodmoon?” he asked suddenly. Nova did not hesitate. “With my life.” It was the answer he expected. It was also the answer that would destroy him one day. He studied her face as if trying to read something deeper. Then he nodded once. “Good. I reward loyalty.” His hand brushed briefly against her wrist as he stepped past her. The contact was accidental. Still, something strange flickered under her skin. A spark. Quick and unsettling. Nova stiffened. Ignore it. He is the enemy. Ryder began walking back toward the pack house. “Dismissed for the night,” he said over his shoulder. Nova remained where she was until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she allow herself to breathe properly. Magnetic. That was the word that fit him best. Not the monster she had imagined. Not reckless. Not cruel. Controlled. Calculating. It did not matter. Monsters could wear calm faces too. She turned and made her way back through the forest alone. Instead of returning to the pack house, she took a different path. A hidden one. Deep between two large oak trees stood a hollowed trunk. No Bloodmoon wolf knew about it. Nova knelt and reached inside. Her fingers found a small metal capsule.Her heart beat once. Hard. She opened it carefully. Inside was a folded piece of paper, marked with the familiar seal of her true Alpha. She unfolded it slowly. The message was short. Your twenty-first birthday approaches. It’s time. No signature was needed. Nova stared at the words for a long moment. Six years of patience. Six years of preparation. The final stage had arrived. She folded the paper back carefully and returned it to the capsule. Above her, the moon hung full and bright. Soon. Very soon. Ryder Blackwood would die.