Fleeing Moon

The warehouse

Lena smiled at herself, checking her vest and securing her knife.

"We can do this," Nyx whispered.

With a burst of energy, she ran toward the building. Her body moved with the grace of a predator, silent but swift as she reached the base of the wall. Her wolf’s power urged her forward.

With a fluid motion, she leaped, her hands gripping the rough edges of the ledge. Her claws dug into the surface as she pulled herself up with ease, every muscle in her body working in perfect harmony. She moved like water over the concrete, her movements sharp, controlled, each step calculated.

Within seconds, she had scaled the wall, her boots finding small grooves, her body seamlessly gliding upward. Her heart raced, but not from fear—no, this was the thrill of the hunt, freedom.

She had trained for this, and now she could see the Elite in actions.

Lena stopped slowly at the edge of the roof, scanning the area below, searching.

She shifted her weight, crouching low to avoid detection, her keen ears picking up the scuffle of footsteps below, her eyes scanning the area below with practiced precision. The cool night air brushed against her skin, but she barely noticed.

“I sense danger… a dangerous wolf.” Nyx said softly in her mind. Lena also detected it, the smell of burned wood and vinegar...

The warehouse below was alive with movement—shadowy figures working in the dim light, hauling crates and boxes from one side of the building to large trucks.

From her vantage point, she could see the rogues clearly. They moved quickly, their faces hidden beneath hoods or masks, but their body language gave them away.

They weren’t well-trained soldiers like the Elite; they were disorganized, wild.

“Rogues…” Lena said softly. She knew that rogues rarely worked together.

Nyx, restless and aware. She could smell the faintest trace of the illicit plants, the pungent, herbal scent that lingered in the air. It made her skin prickle with both unease and a strange sense of power.

They were moving the herbs and plants.

She allowed herself a moment to breathe, collecting her thoughts and assessing the situation. Marcus told her to stay out of sight and just to observe.

Through a small gap in the roof, Lena studied the men below. Then, just as she was focusing in on the men’s movements, something inside her snapped to attention. Her wolf’s voice echoed in her mind—

“Mate.”

Lena’s heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat.Was it the pull she had been feeling this whole time? But it was to early. She was only 21...

Her eyes widened, and for just a fleeting moment, she felt her weight shift slightly.

The rooftop beneath her creaked, a warning she couldn’t ignore.

“No, no, no.” Panic surged through her as she froze, her body instinctively tensing.

“Please no,” Lena whispered, but it was already too late. The rusted metal beneath her began to give way, the edge she had been crouching on crumbling beneath her.

Suddenly, Lena found herself plummeting, gravity dragging her down.

“Dammit!” she cursed, her heart racing wildly.

In an instant, the world around her transformed into a blur of chaos as she descended, the hard concrete ground racing up to meet her. Sheets of the rooftop spiraled down with her, clattering like thunderous rain.

Time seemed to slow.

Her mind spun. Suddenly, a powerful hand grasped her midair, pulling her upward with a force that took her breath away. She was pulled against a hard chest.

Lena’s eyes shot upward, and there he was—Marcus. His dark brown eyes pierced through the haze of confusion and adrenaline, locking onto hers with an intensity that made her feel… safe.

His expression was calm but intense, his gaze searching her face as if he was trying to read her, make sure she was alright.

“I told you to just observe.” He said sternly.

The warmth of his body pressed against hers, made her feel on fire. Her wolf stirred within her, responding to the closeness, the overwhelming presence of his own.

Mate… Nyx’s voice echoed in her mind, a soft, breathless whisper.

Her eyes widened in shock, her thoughts racing. Was it possible? Could her wolf be sensing his?

“Careful,” Marcus murmured, his voice low, the breath of his words brushing against her skin like a soft caress.

“You need to stand, Lena,” Marcus said in a low, commanding voice.

Lena blinked, trying to shake off the dizzying sensations swirling in her mind.

She noticed Marcus frown as he looked at her, concern and something else lingering in his gaze.

“Does his wolf sense us?” she asked Nyx. The question lingered.

But before she could get an answer, the chaos below erupted, pulling her focus back to the mission.

The rogues had detected them.

How could they not, with the mess I made?

Lena thought, a pang of disappointment washing over her.

Marcus set her down with surprising gentleness, his movements swift but controlled. A low growl rumbled from his chest, sending a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t aimed at her, but at his men—his signal to move in.

Lena could feel the tension radiating off him, the seriousness of the situation clinging to every part of him.

She saw the regret flash across his face for just a moment, but it was quickly replaced by the steely focus of a leader.

“Stay close,” Marcus commanded, his voice low. Lena saw his eyes scanning the warehouse’s exterior with precision.

She knew the mission had shifted from securing the warehouse to surviving the storm of chaos.

Lena followed Marcus as he moved down from the rooftop.

With practiced ease, Marcus crouched low, feeling the solid grip of the rooftop beneath him.

With a swift, fluid motion, Marcus leaped off the edge of the roof, landing gracefully on the fire escape below. The metal creaked ominously under his weight, but he was already moving, his instincts propelling him forward like a finely-tuned instrument.

In a heartbeat, Lena was right beside him, following him with ease. As they touched down on the ground, Marcus paused, his back turned to her, his senses on high alert. He listened intently, tuning in to the sounds of the chaos a few meters away.

Lena watched him, her mind swirling with a mix of confusion and hope.

“Is he really our mate?” she whispered, the words escaping her lips before she could catch them.

She noticed Marcus's back tense at her question, her heart racing as she instinctively covered her mouth, not realizing he had heard her.

“What did you say?” Marcus asked, turning to face her with a piercing gaze that seemed to see right through her.

For a moment, Lena's lips moved to answer, but before she could utter a single word, out of nowhere, a rogue wolf lunged at them, its snarling fangs snapping dangerously close. The air crackled with tension as Marcus instinctively stepped in front of Lena.

“Get back!” he growled, his voice a low rumble as he pushed her to the back.

The rogue collided with him.

With a swift movement, Marcus drew a dagger, the blade shimmering in dim light. The wolf snarled, baring its teeth, and lunged at him with a ferocious growl.

Marcus sidestepped, allowing the wolf to rush past him, its momentum carrying it forward.

In that split second, Lena moved. She could sense the shift in the wolf's weight before it even turned. Grabbing his head and pulling it down with all her force, Marcus turned on his heel, his dagger gleaming, and in one fluid motion, he brought the blade down with a powerful strike. He slashed at his side.

The thud of the wolf hitting the ground was loud and hard.

Marcus sidestepped once more, but this time the dagger was thrashed forward, driving it into the wolf’s chest with a decisive strike.

The wolf let out a final, pained growl before it stopped moving.

Lena released the wolf’s head, and with a swift motion she stood up.

Marcus checked the rogue before he turned his attention back to Lena.

“What did you say?” Marcus asked, stepping closer, his face mere inches from Lena. She could feel his hot breath on her lips.

“I… I didn’t say anything.” Lena muttered.