Chapter 01
1397 Words
Adrenaline coursed through me as my legs made fierce contact with the forests floor.
Branches snapped and whipped past me as I tore through the dense trees. My senses were on overdrive, attuned to every sound and scent that reached me.
Ahead of me, a tall figure sprinted through the trees. His red hair—so much like my own—glistened in the rays of sunlight piercing the canopy.
Two figures ran beside me, both flanking me, their presence steady and reassuring. We moved as one, our pace relentless. My instincts guided me as I weaved through the trees, dodging branches before they even came into view. When we reached a narrow stream, the sound of snapping bones and tearing fabric filled the air. Mid-leap, the three around me shifted, their human forms replaced by powerful wolves. Their paws hit the ground with a resounding thud as they surged ahead.
I pushed on, feeling the familiar tingle of my claws elongating and my canines sharpening. I kept up, barely feeling the weight of my backpack.
The red wolf in front slid to an abrupt stop, forcing the rest of us to halt as well. His massive form dominated the space. He sniffed the air, muscles taut with tension, then let out an ear-shattering howl. Multiple howls echoed in response, none of them hers. Snarling in frustration, he pawed at the ground before bounding forward again, still tracing her scent and we followed close behind.
A few meters in, I felt it; a charge of electricity in the air that raised every hair on my body. My steps faltered, and I stumbled to a halt, gasping.
Sinking to the ground, I closed my eyes as the vision overtook me. Images flooded my mind in a vivid rush. She was surrounded by wolves, their postures hostile and their intentions clear. She snarled and snapped at them, not yet in her right mind.
My eyes shot open, glowing with the telltale sign of my power. I didn’t need anyone to tell me. My brother and the others had doubled back and were watching me closely. The red wolf stepped forward, his gaze questioning.
Drawing a steadying breath, I rose and raced ahead without a word, trusting the others to follow.
The forest blurred around me as I honed in on the place I’d seen in my vision. The sounds grew louder, more distinct. My breathing evened as I focused on my mission.
Another flash of a vision slowed me, but I shook it off, pushing harder. This one was different—it wasn’t the past but the future. She lunged at the largest wolf, her teeth bared, only to be taken down instantly.
It would happen in moments.
I poured everything into my speed, my senses screaming as I closed the distance. The scents and sounds were sharper now. Shrugging off my backpack mid-run, I leapt through the trees, tearing through the leaves and branches as I entered a clearing.
In a heartbeat, I collided with her mid-air. Her snarling, furious form slammed into mine, and then we both went down hitting the ground, tumbling in a tangle of limbs and claws.
Jada's black wolf rolled onto her feet, shaking her head as she recovered almost instantly. She snarled, her canines gleaming dangerously, and dropped into a fighting stance. Her white eyes seemed to have shrunk, glowing with intensity. White eyes? That's not right
I pushed myself up, ready to take her down, but then my senses were overwhelmed by something unexpected—something I couldn’t ignore.
A scent.
It hit me like a wave, rich and intoxicating, so heavenly it made my head spin. The world around me faded, replaced by the overwhelming need to—
GROWL!
The sharp, menacing sound shattered my thoughts, yanking me back to reality. My gaze snapped up to meet the source of the interruption.
Standing before me was a massive black wolf, it's back to me, its stance poised and ready for attack. Yet, there was something about the way it stood—something protective. Was I imagining it?
Before I could dwell on that thought, it hit me. The delectable scent I couldn’t get enough of—it was coming from him.
Almost against my own will, I inhaled deeply, welcoming the intoxicating aroma with a dreamy, almost dazed longing.
Mate.
Something in me yipped happily.
Loud snarls and growls snapped my attention back. I moved forward, trying to grasp what was happening, but his massive form blocked my view. Alphas and their enormous sizes. Werewolves were already large by nature, but the sheer scale of an Alpha wolf was unmatched.
Determined, I crawled beneath him, my nose twitching as I continued to sniff. Being this close, his size was overwhelming. Even if I stood, it would make no difference—he’d still dwarf me. Now that I was closer, I realized his fur wasn’t completely black. It was a rich, dark brown, so deep it could almost pass for black.
I crawled forward and was soon able to see; there were four other wolves, they were crouched in stances ready for attack, sharp teeth bared in snarls but eyes locked on the view before them, I followed their line of sight and spotted my brother's wolf, his size rivaling that of my newly found mate. Beside him was Maia's blond wolf who stood out unmistakably and Jaisen's dark blue one. they had formed a half circle around Jaeda, struggling to keep her at bay.
Instinctively, I began moving towards them when a rush of hot breath halted me. A large paw, nearly the size of my entire body, clamped down on me. While it wasn't pressed down so hard as to snuff the life out of me, the weight was enough to keep me pinned. Even through his fur, tendrils of sparks danced across my skin.
Looking up, I found myself face-to-face with his immense snout. The lethal gleam in his eyes froze me in place. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jaisen’s wolf shifting his focus between my situation and his sister’s struggle.
The wolf before me growled again, his deep rumble reverberating through my chest. My breathing quickened as our gazes locked. The golden swirl in his eyes intensified, but a flicker of softness appeared, and his eyes held mine captive.
The surrounding noises began to fade as his eyes held me bound, their intensity rooting me in place. It was impossible to look away, and he seemed just as entranced, his low, soft growl vibrating through the silence. My heart hammered in my chest, and I knew he could feel every frantic beat. His wolf’s eyes were mesmerizing, and I couldn’t help but lose myself in them, almost forgetting everything else.
But a sudden, loud crash, followed closely by a heavy thud, jolted me back to reality. I barely had time to react before a long, drawn howl of pain pierced the air.
The slumped form of the blonde wolf caught my eye, and Jaison was beside her in an instant.
Darius’ wolf loomed over Jaeda, his massive form pinning her down, but it was clear he wasn’t succeeding in calming her. The other wolves had edged closer, and Darius must have perceived their movement as a threat as he bared his canines in a menacing display.
I shifted, only to feel my mate’s wolf pull me closer. I turned to him, my eyes pleading. I didn’t know exactly what I could do, but something told me I might be able to help—if only I could get close enough.
The massive wolf above me didn’t seem to share my reasoning. His gaze locked onto mine, a mixture of frustration and protectiveness, as if warning me that I was marching toward my own death. I was the only one still in human form amidst these towering, monstrous wolves, yet I refused to stay where it was safe.
On some level, I could understand his frustration, but this was my family. If there was any chance I could help, I had to.
"Please, I just want to help her. You need to let me," I pleaded, trying to raise my voice over the commotion.
In his eyes, I saw the answer to my plea:
A resounding, rock-hard no.
~~~~~~~~
𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖘 𝖚𝖕....
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