Chapter 15
579 Words
A cold wind swept through Black Moon territory.
Hidden among the trees, dozens of warriors patrolled the borders in complete silence. Every sense was alert.
The Alpha's orders had been clear.
No one crossed into their territory unnoticed.
Yet something felt different that night.
The forest was too quiet.
Even the owls had stopped calling.
~~~
Kael stood on the balcony of the pack house, his sharp silver eyes scanning the darkness beyond the tree line.
He hadn't slept.
The prophecy.
The pendant.
The mysterious man named Adrian...
Too many pieces refused to fit together.
Footsteps approached behind him.
"Alpha."
Ryker stopped beside him.
"Our northern patrol reported movement."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Rogues?"
"They couldn't confirm."
"But something crossed the border."
Kael nodded once.
"Send another patrol."
"They're already on their way."
Before either of them could speak again—
A long, desperate howl echoed through the forest.
Every wolf in the territory froze.
Another howl answered.
This one was filled with pain.
Ryker's eyes widened.
"That came from the eastern border."
Kael was already moving.
"Come with me."
Within seconds, both men disappeared into the forest.
~~~
Meanwhile, Elena finished washing the last coffee mug of the evening.
Mrs. Benson smiled proudly.
"You've been much more focused today."
"I guess I finally caught up on my sleep."
"Good."
"You've earned tomorrow off."
Elena blinked.
"I have?"
Mrs. Benson laughed.
"Don't sound so disappointed."
"I thought you could use the rest."
"Thank you."
As Elena left the café, she smiled to herself.
A day off.
Maybe she could finally stop thinking about wolves and mysterious strangers.
Maybe life was finally returning to normal.
~~~
Deep in the forest, Kael and Ryker arrived at the eastern border.
The scene before them made both men stop.
One of their patrol warriors lay unconscious against a tree.
Three others were injured.
The scent of blood filled the air.
Ryker immediately knelt beside the nearest warrior.
"He's alive."
"What happened?" Kael demanded.
The injured wolf struggled to speak.
"They..."
He coughed.
"They weren't trying to kill us."
Kael frowned.
"Who?"
"The rogues."
"They crossed the border..."
"...then ran."
Ryker looked up.
"They were distracting us."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"From what?"
The answer struck him almost instantly.
His expression changed.
"The town."
Ryker understood immediately.
"They pulled our patrols away from Elena."
Kael turned toward Ashridge without another word.
"Move."
~~~
At that very moment...
Elena unlocked the door to her apartment.
She had just stepped inside when every light in the building suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the hallway.
"Not again..."
She sighed and reached for her phone.
Before she could switch on the flashlight—
She heard footsteps.
Not outside.
Inside her apartment.
Someone was already there.
Her heart stopped.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper.
Silence.
Then...
A calm voice answered from somewhere in the darkness.
"Don't scream."
"You'll only make this more difficult."
Elena's breath caught.
She slowly backed toward the door.
The stranger stepped into the faint moonlight filtering through the window.
It wasn't Adrian.
It wasn't the silver-eyed man from the café.
It was someone else.
A woman dressed entirely in black.
She couldn't have been older than thirty.
Her expression was calm.
Almost sympathetic.
"My name is Selene," she said softly.
"I'm here to save your life."
Before Elena could respond
The apartment window exploded inward.
Glass shattered across the floor.
A massive gray wolf burst into the room with a furious roar.
- Writer
