His obsession

His purpose

ared races through the gloomy forest as quickly as his body will carry him. His enormous paws strike the earth's surface, kicking up a haze of dust behind him. All he can think about is eliminating the threat to his mate. The thought of that repulsive blood-sucking leeches hands on her makes him see red; he is seething with rage, almost tasting the need to kill on his tongue.

Anger surges through his vessels as smoothly as lava erupting from a volcano, flowing freely. He would love nothing more than to rip Silas and the rest of the abominations apart with his bare hands. Adrenaline pumps through his body like an electrical current, pushing his muscles to push harder and run faster to the packhouse. He knows when he is close when the smell of his pack members reaches his nose—the earthy smell of home, friendship, and loyalty.

Slipping behind a tree allowing the familiar sensation of heat flowing from his veins, through his muscles and bone to take control of his body before the cracking and rearranging of bones take place, transforming him back into his human form. Tugging on a pair of basketball shorts hidden for times like this, he strolls into the packhouse to be greeted by his brothers, his pack mates. His heart swelled with pride from seeing how his family drops everything for their brothers in need.

Ace, his alpha, stands at the center of the group; Jared bows his head in respect for his Alpha before addressing him.

"Alpha, we have a matter we need to discuss immediately," he explains in an anxious voice laced with concern with his hands in fists. "It must be of considerable significance for you to call on us," Ace says in a kind and fatherly tone, tilting his head slightly with his hands clasp behind his back. He then reaches out, squeezing Jared's shoulder in a gesture of friendship before they grasp each other's forearms in a formal address between packmate and alpha. Deciding just to come out and say it, Jared looks at his Alphas. "I found my mate," he breaths out, and she is human; everyone stays silent with surprised looks mixed with excitement for him. Feeling like a thousand pounds lifted from his body, he breathes with a sigh of relief.

Ace looks at him for a moment in utter shock; as he composes himself taking in a deep breath, " It has been over 200 years since a werewolf, and a human mated. If this gets out, Ace pauses. Silas will not be our only problem, he says as he shakes his head, rubbing his temples. When did you meet her, and why didn't you tell us? Ace Asks with concern written all over his face.

"She came into the nightclub a few nights ago with a friend of hers. Ariana took her friend out of the club because Her friend had too much to drink when Silas set his sights on her closing his eyes and running his fingers through his hair. She has no clue this world exists; clenching his jaw taking a deep breath, he whispered; He entranced her with his eyes; looking from one of his brothers to the other with fear for her, Jared continues; Silas has placed a claim on her as she was leaving with her friend, but I was able to get to them before Silas made his move he says throwing his hands up into the air.

"That is definitely a cause for concern, We will have eyes on her and her friend at all times, but you will have to go to your mate and reveal the truth. She needs to know so you can bring her to pack lands where we can protect she will be safer here". Ace starts pacing with his eyebrows furrowed, concocting a plan to be carried out; running his hands through his shoulder-length blonde hair, he glances our way as he gives out orders to each of us. Alec and Jace go to the cove and keep surveillance of anyone coming and going. Jared, I want you to go to your mate and keep distance at first to make sure Silas is not in the area and take along jody, Riley, and Luke. Be sure to stay far enough away so Silas and his minions will not be able to detect your presence if he is near. Do not take any action against Silas unless she is in danger, all we need to do is get her back here safely while avoiding the blood-suckers. I will be mind linking the council members requesting the aid of the warriors from neighboring packs immediately; we need men whom the cove has not met or even seen so we can get closer to him without breaking the treaty. Sighing, Jared makes his way to the forest; he moves with the stealth of a lion. Inclining his head to his Alpha in appreciation and respect, I am in your debt; I will always be grateful, and I will always be here for you and the pack Alpha, he says with sincerity. Turning, Jared takes three long strides, launching himself into the air, shifting before landing gracefully on all fours.

The black wolf sprints toward the tree line, entering the darkened forest as his packmates fall in line behind him, entering the darkening forest at such a high speed he is a blur of shiny midnight black; the waiting wolves take a moment to catch him as Jared jumps logs, dodges low hanging branches, and zigzags around trees, desperate to get to his mate, he needs to know she is safe. The pounding of warrior paws provokes all the critters of the forest to take cover.

Jared's wolf takes the lead with one white wolf to his right, a light grey wolf to his left, and a solid brown wolf bringing up the rear in warrior formation. Four of the most fierce and feared wolves in history. They run with purpose, sending a cloud of dust floating through the air left behind as they push forward; they are a unit running as one.

Halfway to Ariana, they sense something isn't right. "Do you smell that? Riley asked through their mind link, lifting his snout in the air, inhaling; something is off, luke adds through the link, mimicking Riley but it's too late when seven vampires are emerging from the midst of the forest behind trees and boulders going in for the kill. The vampires rushed them, attempting to take the four wolves out, but they were faster, dodging them as they try to strike from every angle at speeds that the human mind could not comprehend; their senses are much more powerful, enabling them to keep up with the vampire's superhuman speed. Jared and Riley begin circling three of the seven bloodsuckers with red eyes and blood dripping from their elongated fangs, their claws as sharp and imposing as eagle talons. The wolves proceed to circle the vampires with their eyes narrowed, ears laid back flat to their heads, fur standing on end, tails straight parallel to the ground as they bare their teeth rumbling growls escaping their jaws prepared to tear them apart bit by bit with their attention on every action the vampires made, the movement behind them caught Jared by surprise when he is suddenly hurled through the air slamming into a tree. His body slid down the tree, he lets out a grunt as he crashed to the forest's floor with a thud knocking the air from his lungs. He attempts to get up on shaky, weak legs but stumbles again and again. The others fight for their lives as he fights to get up but stumbles again until thoughts of Ariana laying motionless in a pool of blood materialized in his mind; panic and desperation flooded his entire being. They attacked to slow them down.

Alpha, we have been ambushed! Ariana is in danger. Someone needs to get to her now. Jared screams with fear squeezing his heart through his mind link. "The warriors are getting close to her home now; Ace informs a panic-stricken Jared. Overwhelmed with rage flowing through his veins like Lava from an erupting volcano an explosion of newfound strength, he forces himself to move forward; he rushes the vampire that threw him latching on to his undead throat, throwing his head left and right, digging and clawing while the vampire screams trying to knock him to the ground. Jared tears the vampire's head clean off; the vampire hits the ground with a satisfying thud lying motionless, drenched in his oil-looking blood. Gagging from the odor and taste of death on his tongue, he shakes his head as the furious growls and yelps of the other two wolves send Jared into action.

He takes a jumping leap, landing on the back of the vampire covered in Riley's blood from his vicious attack. Jared clamps down on the shrieking vampire's throat, snapping his neck, silencing his screams ending him right there; before the vampire hits the ground, he is leaping through the air, clamping down with his massive jaws around one of the other vampires throat-ripping out his jugular, an expression of shock crosses the vampire's features as he hits his knees falling to the ground like the others. Jared looks around to see the other vampires motionless while the other three wolves pant from the exertion of the fight. He notices with panic how Riley's breaths are short and raged. "Alpha! We have one injured badly; we need Jane Now!!! it's Riley. He doesn't look good," he says in a panicked voice through the mind link.

"She is already on her way; I sent her with several other warriors to your location; she should be there any second. I am getting close to your mate's house now." Ace notifies Jared before cutting off the link. Jared feels some relief knowing his Alpha is seeing to her safety personally. The sounds of howling reach his ears; they are here, he thinks to himself, hoping they can save Riley. The wolves come into view, Jane shifts, coming to aid Riley after she is clothed. Riley, in human form, manages to look up and whispers, "Go to her now."

Worry consumes Jared but he nodes to his best friend. They clasp forearms formally, meaning they come back as one forever one, never without one. He stands and turns to leave, looking back one last time before shifting and running to find his mate.

Anger and fear flood his system for the pain that a sadistic vampire has caused. He runs faster than he ever has; he needs to reach his mate. The vampire Silas has a death sentence; I will find him to carry out the punishment, he thought to himself as he pushed himself to the limit, expanding his senses to avoid any more surprise attacks. Worry is starting to get to him; he has not heard anything from Ace. Has something happened? Did she disappear or worse? That thought causes unease to filter through his veins. Please, moon goddess, I beg you, please let her be ok. He prays.