CHAPTER FIVE

ASHER

The last of the attackers vanished into the thick undergrowth, leaving behind the hiss of dying flames and the uneasy snorts of frightened horses.

Smoke drifted low through the towering pines, carrying the bitter scent of fresh blood. I stayed high in my saddle, keeping my horse steady while my eyes scanned the blackened clearing.

My father turned toward me and gave a slight gesture.

"Maintain the perimeter," I commanded, my voice flat and even.

The order barely left my mouth before the men moved. Half of the warriors locked into position around the convoy, while the rest fanned out into the tree line with weapons drawn, searching for any sign of a second strike.

Fireclaw hadn't survived centuries of mountain warfare by celebrating too early. A retreating enemy was often nothing more than a waiting enemy.

The flames wrapping around the length of my sword gradually died down, revealing the polished steel beneath.

"Alpha."

Beta Kael dismounted and approached my father.

"Our losses?" Father asked.

"Five wounded," Kael reported, his breath fogging in the crisp air. He paused for a moment before adding, "No one died."

A quiet satisfaction settled over me.

Five injured men meant five warriors who would recover and fight another day.

"And the enemy?" I asked.

Kael's face hardened, his jaw tightening.

"The first wave were rogues."

"I expected as much," I replied. "They weren't the real threat."

"No."

Kael turned toward the steep ridge overlooking the road where the black arrows had rained down moments ago.

"The second wave held tight ranks. They fought with real discipline, as if they were trained soldiers. But once they realized they were outnumbered, they retreated together."

I dismounted, my boots sinking into the damp, churned earth.

Broken arrows lay scattered across the road, and I bent down to pick one up.

The wooden shaft was balanced. The iron tip was forged by a skilled blacksmith.

Feral rogues did not carry weapons like this.

I slowly turned the arrow between my fingers.

"This wasn't an ambush."

Kael frowned. "No?"

I snapped the arrow in half with a quick twist of my wrist.

"It was a test."

I tossed the broken pieces into the smoking ash beneath my feet.

"They came to measure our numbers. Once they realized they were outmatched, they pulled back before suffering heavy losses."

My eyes moved toward the dark forest ahead.

"They'll be back."

Kael gave a firm nod.

"I'll double the scouts ahead of the convoy."

"Do it."

He signaled three warriors, and they disappeared into the shadows without a word.

Only then did I turn back toward the carriage resting safely in the center of our formation.

The small curtain covering the window shifted slightly, and for the briefest moment, a pair of calm eyes met mine before disappearing again.

She wasn't panicking or trembling, she just simply watched.

Kael returned to his horse, and I mounted mine. His eyes followed my gaze toward the carriage.

"The Alpha's daughter."

He looked back toward the forest.

"There was something strange about her departure from Rivercrest."

"So you noticed it too."

"I've escorted Alpha daughters across territories before," Kael said quietly. "They usually leave surrounded by servants, trunks filled with belongings, family members, and guards. They leave carrying the pride of their packs."

He paused.

"She left with a single leather bag. Everything she owns fits over her shoulder. No servants. No gifts. No one from her family accompanied her, not even her personal servants."

I didn't answer immediately. My mind returned to Rivercrest. The way she stood apart from her own family. The fading mark on her cheek.

The worn leather bag carrying everything she owned. Something about her departure didn't feel right.

It wasn't the way an Alpha's daughter was usually sent away.

But perhaps I was judging too quickly.  Perhaps she was simply afraid of leaving everything she knew behind.

I let out a quiet breath.  A scout emerged from the dense pines at a run, stopping beside us and bringing his fist to his chest.

"Young Alpha. The road ahead is clear for three miles. No signs of pursuit."

I mounted my horse.

"We move."

The warriors closed ranks around the carriage, and the convoy continued north.

As the hours passed, the dense forests of Rivercrest slowly disappeared behind us. The mountains of Fireclaw rose ahead.

Home.

The first watchtower appeared on the ridge above us. A sentry spotted our banners and raised a horn to his lips.  A deep sound echoed through the valley, announcing our return.

Fireclaw rose from the mountains like an extension of the land itself.  Massive black stone walls towered over the valley floor, with heavy iron braziers burning along the ramparts against the biting wind.

Guards lined the tops of the gates beneath our flying crest.

"Welcome home, Alpha! Welcome home, Luna! Welcome home, Young Alpha!" they called.

The heavy iron gates groaned open, and our horses crossed into the fortress.

Every guard along the lower yard placed a hand across his chest in salute.

I returned the gesture with a firm nod before stopping near the main steps as the carriage rolled to a quiet halt behind me.

Servants moved immediately, taking the reins of the horses and helping the wounded warriors toward the infirmary.

A senior attendant hurried down the stone steps, bowing deeply.

"Welcome home, Young Alpha."

"Ensure the injured men are seen by the healers immediately."

"At once, my lord."

His eyes briefly moved toward the carriage as the door opened.

Isabel stepped out.

Her boots touched the stone ground lightly as she held her worn leather bag close to her side.

Her face revealed nothing as she looked at the towering fortress that would soon become her home.

The attendant glanced between the two of us before clearing his throat.

"The guest chambers in the west wing have been prepared for her Lady ."

I looked down at him.  "They won't be necessary."

The man blinked. "Young Alpha?"

"Prepare the eastern chambers."

His hesitation was immediate.

"But... those rooms are reserved for the Alpha's inner household."

I kept my gaze fixed on him.

"She is my wife. Prepare the eastern chambers."

The attendant immediately bowed. "Yes, Young Alpha."

He turned and hurried away. I watched him disappear into the fortress. The words replayed in my mind. My wife. I frowned. Had I really just called her that?