Chapter 1—The Calm Before the Storm

The Montana wilderness stretched endlessly in every direction, a vast expanse of towering pines and tangled underbrush. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth, pine, and the faint, familiar musk of her pack.

Willow inhaled deeply, letting the scent ground her.

She wasn’t just human. She wasn’t just a wolf. She was both.

Werewolves weren’t two separate beings forced into one body. They were a single soul—half human, half wolf, one whole entity. The human side had thoughts, emotions, memories, and logic. The wolf carried instincts, power, and magic.

The magic belonged only to the wolf.

A human without their wolf was just that—human. They could not heal faster, they could not shift, they could not feel the presence of the pack through the bond that tied them together. But when the wolf lent its magic, the body became stronger, faster. Wounds closed quickly, bones knit back together, and shifting forms became effortless.

It was a balance, an unbreakable connection.

And right now, Willow could feel Nova’s magic humming beneath her skin, waiting. Restless.

“You should shift,” Nova murmured inside her mind. “Your legs are stiff. I can feel it.”

Willow smirked. “I’m fine.”

“Liar.”

Before she could respond, another presence brushed against her mind—one stronger, sharper.

“Thinking about running?” Theo’s deep voice slid into her thoughts, lazy and teasing.

Willow huffed a laugh. “Are you always listening in?”

“Only when I’m bored.”

She turned just as he emerged from the trees, looking entirely too pleased with himself. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, his blue eyes sharp despite the early hour. He was shirtless, as usual, because apparently being Alpha meant refusing to wear proper clothing unless absolutely necessary.

Willow raised a brow. “Let me guess—you want to run too?”

Theo smirked. “What gave it away?”

“Atlas is pacing,” Nova muttered. “He wants to stretch his legs.”

Willow shot Theo a knowing look. “Atlas is getting impatient.”

Theo tilted his head, his lips quirking. “So is Nova. Want to race?”

Willow barely had time to shift before Nova surged forward, muscles rippling beneath thick silver-white fur. The world sharpened instantly—colors deepened, scents became richer, and the forest came alive around her.

Theo shifted a heartbeat later, Atlas’ massive black form streaking through the trees beside her.

They ran, weaving through the towering pines, paws barely touching the earth as they raced toward the river. The mate bond hummed between them, a steady, electric pulse.

Nova pushed harder. “Not this time, Alpha.”

Atlas rumbled with amusement. “We’ll see about that.”

The river appeared suddenly, the glistening water cutting through the landscape like a blade. They reached the clearing at the exact same moment, skidding to a halt in unison.

“Tie?” Nova huffed.

“We’ll call it a tie,” Atlas admitted. “This time.”

Willow shifted first, rolling her shoulders as she stretched. Theo followed, his sharp blue eyes locked onto her.

“Not bad,” he said, crossing his arms.

Willow smirked. “Admit it—you thought you had me.”

“Maybe,” he conceded, stepping closer. “But I like keeping things interesting.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you let me win?”

Theo leaned in slightly, his lips hovering just above hers. “I never let you win.”

Before she could respond, a voice called out from the trees.

“Alpha!”

They turned as Luka, one of the warriors, jogged toward them. His expression was grim.

Willow frowned. Something’s wrong.

Theo was already mind-linking Luka before he even spoke aloud. “What happened?”

Luka hesitated for only a second before saying, “A rogue attack. South border.”

A chill ran down Willow’s spine.

Theo’s expression darkened. “How many?”

Luka shook his head. “At least ten. They came fast, didn’t get past the first perimeter. No deaths, but two of our wolves are injured.”

Nova bristled inside Willow’s mind.

Ten? That’s not just a few rogues wandering too close—that’s coordinated.

Willow glanced at Theo, but he was already shifting, Atlas taking over in a blink.

Willow followed without hesitation, and together they ran.

The scent of blood hit Willow the moment they reached the southern border.

Atlas slowed beside her, shifting back before his paws even fully hit the ground.

Luka was already there, standing over two injured pack members—one young warrior clutching his side, another holding his arm at an awkward angle. Both were alive, but their injuries were deep.

“Report,” Theo ordered, his voice calm, but firm.

One of the sentries—Callum—straightened, his face pale. “They came out of nowhere. At first, we thought it was a scouting party, but then they attacked. No warning. No demands. Just bloodshed.”

Willow frowned. “Rogues usually don’t work together like that.”

“They don’t,” Luka agreed. “That’s what worries me.”

Theo exhaled sharply. “Something isn’t right.”

Willow nodded, answering through their link. “You’re thinking what I’m thinking?”

Theo’s blue eyes darkened. “This wasn’t random.”

“Did they say anything?” Willow asked, glancing at the injured wolves. “Anything at all?”

The younger warrior hesitated before shaking his head. “Not at first. But right before they retreated… one of them looked right at me and said, ‘Tell your Luna Willow we’ll be back for her.’”

Silence.

A cold, sharp dread settled in Willow’s stomach.

Theo’s entire body went rigid beside her. “They were looking for Willow?”

The young warrior nodded weakly. “They knew her name, Alpha.”

Willow’s mind spun. Rogues had no hierarchy, no structure. They didn’t plan attacks. They didn’t target specific people.

Yet these ones had.

Nova growled, restless.

Theo’s jaw clenched, his voice slipping into Alpha command. “Luka, double the border patrols. No one moves alone. If these rogues come back, I want to be ready.”

Luka nodded sharply and disappeared into the trees, already mind-linking the others.

Willow turned to Theo. “We need to find out who sent them.”

Theo’s blue eyes burned. “We will.”

But Willow had a sinking feeling that whoever had sent those rogues—they weren’t finished yet.

And they weren’t just after the pack.

They were after her.