Chapter 4 : The expedition

Serena’s Pov

The sun hangs high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the dense forest. The trees stand like silent sentinels, their leaves whispering secrets to the afternoon wind. I take a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs as I stare at the border that separated our territory from that of the Storm Pack. The tales of their strength and ruthlessness are enough to send shivers down the spine of even the bravest werewolf.

In our world, most packs have established an alliance, the Pack Alliance. This alliance bring peace and cooperation among the wolf packs, ensuring that disputes were settled diplomatically. However, one pack stands apart, refusing to join the alliance: the Storm Pack. This pack is known for its conservatism and isolation. They shun contact with the outside world and frequently intrude into neighboring territories, causing tension and fear.

The other packs, despite their collective strength, find themselves helpless against the Storm Pack. The warriors of the Storm Pack are reputed to be much stronger than other werewolves, a strength said to be influenced by their unique bloodline. This superiority makes them nearly untouchable, and the wolf alliance thinks it is best to avoid their territory altogether, steering clear of any potential conflict.

The Storm Pack's alpha is a figure shrouded in dark legends. Known only as the "Tyrant," he is said to be cold-blooded and cruel, ruling his pack with an iron fist. Although only a few werewolves have witnessed the Storm Pack’s brutal tactics firsthand, the stories are enough to instill fear. No one wants to risk their lives to confirm the authenticity of these rumors.

Nathan’s voice echoes in the dense forest, “Serena, it’s too dangerous. The Storm Pack doesn’t play by the rules. If they catch us, there’s no telling what they’ll do.” His concern is palpable, and I know he only wants to keep me safe.

“Nathan, I understand your concern, but we can’t afford to be scared. These mineral deposits could change everything for our pack,” I reply, my voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at me.

He sighs, running a hand through his messy brown hair. “I know, but we have to be smart about this. What’s the point of finding these resources if we don’t live to use them?”

I place a hand on his arm, meeting his worried gaze. “We’ve been preparing for this. We’ve got the best scouts and warriors with us. We can do this.”

Nathan’s eyes soften slightly, but the tension in his jaw remains.

“Alright, but at the slightest hint of trouble, we leave immediately. No arguments.”

“Agreed,” I say, giving him a reassuring smile. “Now, let’s find those deposits.”

The forest is dense, the trees towering above us like ancient guardians. Their leaves rustle softly in the breeze, creating a whispering symphony that accompanies our every step.

Nathan walks beside me, his senses heightened, constantly on alert for any potential threats. Behind us, a team of skilled scouts and bodyguards move silently, their trained eyes and ears tuned to the forest's natural rhythms. The air is cool and fresh, a welcome contrast to the tension that gripped the group.

As we venture deeper into the woods, the underbrush becomes thicker and the path less distinct. We have to navigate around fallen logs and dense thickets, and our progress is slow but steady. The scouts are fanned out, their movements fluid and purposeful, as they search for any signs of the mineral deposits.

“Keep your eyes open,” Nathan whispers, his voice barely audible above the forest sounds. “We’re getting close.”

I chuckle softly beside him. “You sound like a general leading an army, Nathan.”

He shoots me a sideways glance, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, if I’m the general, then you’re my trusty lieutenant.”

“Trusty, huh?” I smirk. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But seriously, you’ve got that intense look on your face again. Try to relax a little.”

“Relax? Out here?” He raises an eyebrow. “We’re in the middle of enemy territory, Serena.”

I shrug. “Just saying, a little humor might help lighten the mood. Besides, we’ve got a good team. We can handle whatever comes our way.”

He sighs, feeling a bit of the tension ease from his shoulders. “You’re right. I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Hey, remember that time we got lost during the training exercise?” I ask, trying to take the edge off our tense situation. “We wandered around for hours before we realized we were going in circles.”

He laughs, “How could I forget? We were so sure we knew where we were going. Ended up being a great lesson in humility.”

“Exactly. And we made it out just fine.” I give him a reassuring pat on the back. “We’ll get through this, too.”

As Nathan and I lead the inspection team towards the mineral deposits, I feel a surge of excitement. Finding these deposits could mean everything for our pack and the Lancaster company. The resources hidden beneath the earth could bring prosperity and security; more importantly, they would secure my position as CEO of the company.

One of the scouts, a young woman, points ahead. “There’s a clearing up ahead. It might be worth checking out.”

I nod, and we carefully make our way towards the clearing. As we step into the open space, the sunlight seems almost blinding after the relative dimness of the forest. The ground here is rocky, with patches of moss and sparse vegetation clinging to the stones.

“Spread out and look for any signs of ore,” Nathan instructs. “We need to be thorough but quick.”

The team disperses, each member meticulously examining the rocks and soil. The bodyguards stand on the perimeter, their eyes scanning the forest for any signs of danger. Each member of the team is acutely aware of the risks we were taking.

I move towards a rocky outcrop that caught my eye. I run my fingers over the surface, feeling the rough texture beneath my skin. My heart skips a beat when I spot a faint shimmer embedded in the rock.

“Over here!” I call out softly, not wanting to draw too much attention. “I think I found something.”

Nathan is by my side in an instant, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the find. “This looks promising, Serena,” he murmurs.

I call to one of the scouts, “Here, get a sample of this. We need to take it back with us.”

The scout salutes and goes to work collecting the sample.

I turn to Nathan with a smug expression on my face. "You see, there's nothing to be worried about. We'll be out of here in no time."

Nathan lets out a deep sigh. “I just want us to get out of here before-.”

A low growl sounds off in the distance and interrupts Nathan's words, sending a chill down my spine. Everyone in our group instantly becomes on high alert. They know we were here.

Nathan's expression grows grim. “We’ve overstayed our welcome. We need to leave. Now.”

I nod, sensing the urgency in his tone. “Alright, let’s pack up and—”

Before I could finish, a group of rogues bursts from the underbrush, their eyes gleaming with rage. Panic surges through our group as the rogues attack with ferocious speed and strength. My bodyguards leap into action, but it is clear they are outmatched.

The first rogue, a hulking Wolf with wild eyes, lunges at one of our scouts, tearing into him with savage force. Blood sprays as the scout fell, his scream cut short by the rogue's merciless claws. Another scout tries to intervene, but he is quickly overwhelmed, his body crumpling under the rogue's powerful claws.

The bodyguards fight valiantly, their movements a blur of teeth and claws. One manages to take down a rogue, only to be swarmed by two more. I watch in horror as another scout was dragged into the underbrush, his desperate cries for help echoing through the forest.

“Nathan, get everyone out of here!” I shout, dodging a rogue’s swipe. The scene descends into chaos as we fight to defend ourselves.

Nathan, leading a small group of scouts, tries to hold off the attackers long enough for us to escape. He fights with a desperate fury, his claws slashing through the air. “Serena, go! We’ll cover you!” he yells, his voice strained with effort.

I don't want to leave Nathan, but a rogue spots me and comes charging in. Its fur and teeth have blood stains on them. I run. Branches claw at my clothes and skin as I sprint through the forest, the sounds of battle fading behind me. My heart is pounding in my ears, a frantic rhythm that matches the chaotic thoughts racing through my mind. I stumble over roots and rocks, barely keeping my balance as I push forward, desperate to put as much distance as possible between myself and the attacking rogues.

The forest seems to grow denser with every step, the trees closing in around me like the walls of a labyrinth. The air is thick with the earthy scent of damp moss and decaying leaves, adding to the sense of suffocation pressing down on me.

I could still hear faint echoes of the fight behind me—the growls, the yelps of pain—but they are growing fainter. I hope Nathan and the others are holding their own. The thought of leaving them behind gnaws at me, but I know I have to keep moving.

Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves puts my nerves on edge. My breaths come in ragged gasps as I dart through the forest, my vision blurring with tears and sweat. I try to keep my wits about me, but the terror is almost overwhelming.

After what feels like an eternity of running, I slow to a stop, doubling over to catch my breath. My lungs burn, and my muscles scream in protest. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut—I have no idea where I am.

I spin around, trying to get my bearings, but everything looks the same. The trees, the underbrush, the shadows—they all blur together into an impenetrable maze.

But as I scan the surroundings, nothing looks familiar. The forest seems to stretch endlessly in all directions. Panic threatens to overwhelm me, but I force it down. I have to stay focused.

As I move through the underbrush, the silence is oppressive. Every snap of a twig and every rustle of leaves sets my nerves on edge. I could feel the weight of the night pressing in, the darkness almost tangible.

Then, a sound breaks the stillness. It’s a low, guttural growl coming from somewhere behind me. I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. Slowly, I turn towards the sound, my senses on high alert.

Before I could react, a massive wolf bursts from the bushes, its eyes locked onto me with predatory intensity. Time seems to slow as it lunged, its powerful body colliding with mine and knocking me to the ground.