Chapter six THE HUNT
1120 Words
---
The mission was simple.
At least, that was how Alpha Rowan Ashfell had presented it.
A joint patrol.
Border verification under the old treaties. A political courtesy that could not be refused without insult.
Alpha Kaden agreed with a clipped nod and assigned warriors without hesitation.
Then he added one more name.
“Skyler will accompany us.”
The room stilled.
Skyler lifted her head slowly. “Alpha?”
Inside her chest, Sai stirred for the first time that morning
"The eastern woods remember blood", Sai whispered.
"Nothing simple ever survives there".
" we are not simple either " Skyler replied inwardly
Alpha Kaden did not meet Skyler’s eyes. “You know the terrain. You will guide.”
Alpha Rowan’s gaze slid toward her, bright with interest. “An honor.”
Kane’s presence surged inside Kaden like a growl held too long.
"He looks at her like she is unclaimed."
"That is a challenge."
Kaden ignored him.
Or tried to.
---
They started to Walk going inside the forest.
The forest swallowed them whole.
Ancient trees towered above, roots thick as serpents, the air humming with old magic and buried death.
Skyler felt it immediately the way sound dampened, the way the moonlight fractured between leaves like broken silver.
Alpha Rowan spoke easily as they walked, asking Skyler about herbs,
about trails, about her fallen pack.
His tone was respectful, but his eyes lingered too long.
Kaden walked in silence.
But Kane did not.
"He circles her like a wolf testing a boundary.
Move her closer."
Without comment, Kaden adjusted his position until Skyler walked beside him, their arms brushing with every step.
Skyler stiffened.
Sai noticed.
"He is afraid to lose us, she said gently.
Even if he doesn't admit it yet."
Skyler rolls her eyes inwardly and replies "continue to dream during lunch"
sai laughed and says "one day you will be the one to dream, I will be still here when you you want a seer to translate your dream"
Skyler just smiled
Alpha Rowan says to Skyler " you look more cute in that expression ",
Alpha Kaden snarls,
" no one asked your comments "
sai whisper " that's like my boy"
Suddenly sai sense danger
"the moon is thin here,Something is masking the scent," she murmured.
"We are not alone."
"let's be carefully, I sense something fishy " Skyler whisper to Alpha kaden
Alpha Kaden wanted to warn others but he was already late
The First Ambush happened without warning.
Six rogues exploded from the underbrush wild, starving, their scents masked with ash and blood.
Steel rang.
warriors shouts filled the air.
Skyler moved back instinctively
Too slow.
A rogue lunged for her.
Sai screamed inside her.
"it's time Skyler", " not yet " sai replies
alpha Kaden didn’t think twice.
Kane tore control from him.
Bones cracked,fur erupted.
His massive black wolf slammed into the attacker mid-air, ripping it apart with brutal, efficient force.
Blood sprayed across bark and leaves as he tore through the threat.
Another rogue charged.
Alpha Rowan moved.
But Kane moved faster.
Kaden’s wolf shouldered Rowan aside violently before finishing the kill himself.
"She does not need him," Kane snarled.
"She needs me."
When the last rogue fell, silence crashed down.
Kaden shifted back,naked, breath ragged, eyes glowing faintly. his beta toast him a spare cloth.
Skyler was shaking.
He stepped in front of her without realizing it, blocking her from everyone else.
His hands came up, checking her arms, her wrist, her shoulders fast, thorough, trembling beneath control.
Sai whispers .
"He is counting our heartbeat."
Kane sighs.
"She is alive. That is all that matters."
“You should not have advanced,” Rowan said tightly.
Kaden finally looked at him.
“she is mine to protect, .”
The air froze. he adds instantly " I mean she is a member of my pack, I'm her Alpha"
Twilight fell.
And the forest went silent.
Too silent.
Sai stiffened.
No insects. No birds. This is death-quiet.
Skyler shout "Alpha it's an ambush"
Arrows rained down
The first arrow struck Kaden in the shoulder.
Kane howled.
Poison. Burning. It is wrong
Skyler felt it through the bond like fire in her own veins.
"Wolfsbane." sai panicked
Warriors screamed as veins darkened and bodies convulsed, trapped between human and beast.
Kaden staggered.
Ripped the arrow free.
Collapsed to one knee.
Kane was fading, but stand up " an Alpha don't bow for a single arrow " he murmurs
"I cannot fight this.
My body is failing." one warrior shouts
Skyler ran.
She didn’t think. Didn’t hesitate.
Sai didn’t hesitate either.
"it's time to remember who we are",
this time Skyler didn't argue
Skyler dropped beside the first fallen warrior and pressed her palms to his wound.
Silver light bloomed.
Soft. Alive. Lunar.
The wolfsbane hissed and recoiled like burned flesh.
The warrior gasped as color returned to his skin.
Gasps echoed around her.
Skyler moved to the next.
And the next.
Her scent changed no longer omega soft, but clean and powerful, humming with moon energy.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then she felt him.
Kaden.
On one knee. Barely conscious.
Kane was barely holding on.
"She is coming," Kane whispered.
"Do not let her see me fall."
Skyler knelt before him.
"You will not die, "she said calmly.
"Not while the moon still breathes through us."
Skyler pressed her glowing hands to Kaden’s chest.
The bond detonated.
Pain. Fear. Rage. Love. Everything collided at once.
Silver fire surged through them both, burning the poison from his veins.
Kaden roared as strength flooded back into him.
Kane gasped.
"She anchored me."
Sai whispered softly.
"We were never meant to be small."
Skyler swayed, as dizziness took her,
When the light faded, Kaden caught Skyler as she collapsed, arms locking around her instinctively.
Every warrior stared.
An omega had healed an Alpha.
Kaden looked down at her glowing eyes and knew.
“She is not omega,” he said hoarsely.
---
That night, Skyler slept wrapped in Kaden’s cloak, guarded by warriors who bowed their heads when they passed.
Sai finally rested.
"We are awake now", she whispered.
Kane stood watch inside Kaden.
And the world will not be gentle with her.
But neither of them sensed it.
Not the shift in the air.
Not the ripple in the magic.
High above the clearing, far beyond wolf sight,
something watched the silver light fade.
Eyes ancient. Patient. Knowing.
A smile curved in the darkness.
“So…” a voice whispered, not carried by wind or sound,
“the Luna has finally awakened.”
And deep in the forest, the moon did not answer.
It listened.
- Writer
