THE NEWS
1067 Words
TAMLIN
Three years later.
If there was a possibility that Helion had replaced her, Tamlin didn't ask. She knew the answer would shatter the new life she had built.
Instead, she poured everything into her training. She passed every exam with flying colors. Her senses sharpened to a preternatural edge. She could shift into a wolf in ten seconds and back to a human in fifteen—a record few tracers in werewolf history could claim.
She was proud of herself.
Her parents showed their support with gifts—roasted rabbit, her favorite dish, or clothes for the daughter who still loved to dress up. The Alpha and Luna sent protection beads, specially crafted by the witches of the Redmoon pack. Her new mentor, Beta Williams, became her staunchest supporter, pushing her to her limits.
For the last three months, she had been moving from one internship to another. Today was no exception.
A new file landed on her desk: missing twin pups. Their mother had taken them on their first hunt. After the first kill, they went to clean their fangs and paws. By the time their mother looked up, they were gone.
"Will you take it, or should I assign the other case?" Beta Williams asked.
"I'm tempted, but cases involving pups are always sensitive," she replied, scanning the details.
"I know, but it will increase your experience with pups," he said with an encouraging smile.
Releasing a heavy sigh, she met his gaze. "Okay. I'll take it."
"Perfect. As soon as you're back, you're scheduled for another internship." He nodded. "I'm deploying two hunters, another tracer, and two warriors. You are the team leader. They're expecting you at the Warriors' Organization."
"The pups are seven years old, last seen four hours ago. Both redheads, with the Silvernight pack mark on their left arms?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I'll brief the team and we'll begin the search."
"May the goddess guide you."
---
Fifteen minutes later, she approached the large gate of the Silvernight Order of Warriors (SOS), her backpack holding a change of clothes. She still wore her uniform—night blue joggers with the academy stamp on her pullover and the giant wolf emblem of the Silvernight Organization of Tracers and Hunters (SOTH) on the back.
A woman greeted her at the entrance with the customary hand-to-chest salute.
"Sarah," she introduced herself, shaking Tamlin's hand.
"Tamlin."
"The other tracer. I didn't expect you to be this young."
"Well, here I am," Tamlin replied with a confident smile.
Inside, four intimidating men waited in the office. Sarah made the introductions.
"I'm Azriel, a hunter." The first man had a familiar hairstyle—two braids with curls falling over his shoulders—and shiny brown skin. The sight sent a painful constriction through Tamlin's heart.
"If only our mate wasn't a bastard. He's much more handsome than all of them," Zina whispered.
Tamlin ignored her, shaking his hand. "Tamlin. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Danny, a warrior. This is Nathan, a hunter, and Li, a warrior." Danny was blond and tall with mesmerizing blue eyes. Nathan was Black, equally tall with a charming smile. Li, the tallest, had a typical Chinese face and deep dimples.
"As you can guess, I'm from a northern pack," Li said, smiling as he caught her looking. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet everyone. Let's solve this case."
Sarah spread a map on the table. "They disappeared here, on the west side. Patrols have found nothing. They couldn't have gone far into other territories due to heavy patrols, unless a rogue took them."
Tamlin took charge. "We'll divide into two groups. Each group has a hunter, a tracer, and a warrior. I'll lead one team with Nathan and Li. Sarah, you'll lead the other with Azriel and Danny. Start from opposite sides of the search zone. If you suspect a k********g, notify us immediately. Do not engage. Priority one is confirming the pups are alive. Understood?"
A unified "Aye" echoed in the room.
---
The search began. Calls of "Ella! Zoe!" and encouraging howls filled the woods. Nathan and Li shifted instantly. After storing her uniform in her backpack and hanging it on a tree, Tamlin shifted.
Her sharp senses quickly found a faint trail of small paw prints. She followed it until the scent vanished, and the ground gave way beneath her.
The fall was sudden. Dirt and roots scraped against her fur. When she landed, her wolf-vision adjusted to the dim light of the pit.
There they were. The twin girls lay huddled together, unconscious. One had bruises that were slowly healing, but her sister had a broken arm and several broken ribs. Moving her could be disastrous.
TAMLIN in did the only thing she could. She lifted her head and let out three sharp, piercing howls—the signal for "found and need assistance."
Thirty minutes later, the pups were safely en route to the hospital. Exhausted, Tamlin just wanted a shower and her bed. But a mind-link from Beta Williams ordered her to report immediately.
She found him in his office.
"Welcome back, Tamlin." His fatherly smile couldn't fully put her at ease.
"Thanks," she mumbled, stifling a yawn as she handed him her report.
He scanned it quickly. "You did excellently. You're a tracer in deed, not just on paper."
"Thank you, Beta. When does the next internship start?"
"That's what I needed to discuss." He paused, and her instincts screamed in alarm. "An order came from your pack. In six months, you'll be twenty-two and must take your position as Second Beta in Command. You are to return home."
"What?..." "You will serve as a professional tracer,as personally requested by the Alpha, until your Beta Awakening."
The news was a physical blow. "What about my internship? I still have—"
"You've completed seven internships. That's more than enough. The extras were to keep you busy and sharp."
There was no way out. The finality in his voice was absolute.
Defeated, all traces of tiredness gone, she stared at the man who had been her shield for three years. It seemed there was nothing even he could do.
It seemed her mate was determined to make her life a living hell, and he was succeeding.
But one thing was sure: he wasn't going to have his way without a fight.
Two can play this game.
- Writer
