The wind carried the scent of pine and char. It reminded me of when I first stumbled into Gray Pack territory, broken and hunted. Back then, I didn’t know who I was or where I belonged. Now I am beside the Alpha of this land, claws ready and fire in my chest.Reule hadn’t said much since we left the estate at dawn. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, just tense and focused.Silverpine Caverns lay ahead, half a day’s ride south. That’s where Glen said Conri would be if the human told the truth."Still sure about this?" Reule asked, eyes fixed on the trail ahead."Do you want me to say I’m afraid?""No," he said, glancing at me. "I want you to be ready.""I’ve been ready since the day I was hunted."We didn’t speak after that. The trail narrowed, flanked by jagged cliffs and crooked trees. Behind us were Adriana, Jax, Landon, and three of Reule’s most trusted warriors. No one joked, no one relaxed. We weren’t patrolling. We were hunting.We reached the edge of the caverns by m
My feet are tired and painful. The breeze is gashing into my body like arrows that the wind had shot. It creeps into my skin until it reaches the depths of me. And it hurts to be running non-stop on this freezing and windy night."I have to keep going. Otherwise, I will end up dead," I keep telling myself whenever I feel tired.I don't know where I am now. I kept going when my brother told me to run and never looked back. Killian, my brother, I wonder if he escaped the ten werewolves that were after us. Remembering him wounded but still fighting just to save me made me want to cry. I lost my mom and dad five days back, and now probably my brother, too. I am enraged and sorrowful from the pack we have served diligently. But this is how they repay us. They are taking our lives one by one.Suddenly, my feet felt wobbly, making me stumble onto the ground. And just as I was about to stand up, something jumped on me. I fought back, and we rolled on the ground. But because
In my head, what the hell? What is there for me to lose? Let me give this guy a chance to trust him because of what he did. I sighed before answering him."Sorry. My name is Wren Blevine. And you are?""Pleased to meet you, Wren. My name is Reule Conrad."I coughed when he mentioned his name. Reule Conrad is the Alpha of the Gray Pack. Almost everyone in the state fears Alpha Reule. He is said to be the strongest, heartless, and wise among all the leaders. He is also famous for being a womanizer and lustful among the Alphas."What happened?""Sorry. I just couldn't believe that I was sitting face to face with the fearless Alpha Reule.""Oh! So, you are aware of the reputation that I have made for me.""Is it true?""Which one?""Everything.""I have trained to fight and survive on my own since I was young. If I wanted to live long, then I had to be strong and heartless at times. But it doesn't come without reason. And because of that, I gained the respe
I sunk on the chair. I couldn't eat anymore as my appetite disappeared. "Killian, where are you? Find me, please!" I whispered with the hope that my brother could hear it. I felt helpless, so I cried without care whether someone would listen to or see me. After a few minutes, I made a decision. I will not take the offer Reule had given. Instead, I would choose to surrender to Conri. I wanted to see if my brother was still alive and waiting for me there. And hope that I could convince Conri of just banishing us both instead of killing us.I stood and pushed the chair. I rushed back upstairs, wanting to find Reule. I went to the room where I slept but did not find him.I walked to the hall and heard the voices of two people talking. I went to the third room from the room where I came from. The door was left slightly ajar, so I peep into the small opening.There I saw Reule talking to a lady. I could not see her face as it was her back facing the door. But sh
After 30 minutes, I stopped hearing their voices. They must have fallen asleep, or they left. I don't care.My body felt itchy, and I smelled terrible. It has been six days straight that I have not taken a shower. I went to the toilet, and I got tempted to take a bath. But what will I wear? All I have is this cardigan and jeans that are slightly torn and have holes in them.I saw a white bathrobe inside. I touched the fabric, and it's so soft. I thought I would sleep on it. But then I thought of Reule. What if he comes inside while I am sleeping? No. I can't sleep with just a bathrobe on.I went out of the toilet and just noticed that change of bedsheets. Even the comforter is not the same color as what I saw after I left to eat earlier. I have not seen a maid, but probably Reule has.I scanned the room, and it's enormous, well designed, and comfy. I was not able to do it earlier when I woke up. And only see the beauty of the room just now.I was about to si
I woke up because I could feel the rays of the sun on my face. I did not open the window last night, so how come? I tried to open my eyes, and when it did, I was startled. I saw a shirtless man standing beside the window, looking at me.I almost jumped in fear. Reule was standing there, and his stormy gray eyes felt like he was undressing me on his head."Oh, sorry! I did not mean to wake you this way. I don't want the food to be cold, and it's already ten in the morning," Reule reasoned."You did not learn how to knock?" I said, annoyed at what he did."I did. I tried knocking thrice and left when you did not open. But on the fourth time, I decided to open the door. You sleep like a dead person.""Sorry! I must have not fully recovered from exhaustion.""I thought of that, too. How is your head?""It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you!""Good! I will just grab a shirt, but please come down to eat.""Okay, I will."Reule walked out of t
By around 04:45 PM, Nana Lolita started preparing for the barbecue and bonfire later. I saw her cutting and marinating almost all kinds of meat – pork, beef, and chicken. I helped her do it, and it was fun. It makes me miss my mom."Why the sad face, senorita?" Nana Lolita said.I forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, Nana Lolita. What should we do after?" I replied."A face like that doesn't mean nothing. Are you missing your family?"I paused and said, "Yes, I do. But I don't think I will see my family again.""Why?""My mom and dad are both dead. My brother, I don't know if he is alive. He asked me to run to save myself while he tried to fight ten members of my pack. I don't think he will survive, though I am still hoping.""Oh! You poor soul! Those who tried to harm you are a disgrace of our kind. They should be ashamed of themselves. I wanted to hug you, but my hands are dirty.""That's okay, Nana Lolita. I feel better now."
Nana Lolita took the initiative to introduce me to almost every lady of the pack. But except Lila, who did not like to be bothered while she was in a corner using her phone."What do you usually do during the evening run?" I asked."Well, Alpha Reule leads the run, and he split the group into two. He gives direction where each group goes, and we have to thoroughly check the entire forest and the area near where we lived for threats or anything unusual. Then we go back here and discuss what we have found. We have to tell the alpha anything, even something stupid, as long as it makes us doubt. For Reule, this is how we can protect each other from any threat and prepare for any enemy," Adriana explained."Has it happened that indeed you found something unusual?""Yes. It was during this time that humans had heard rumors about us. We have found some hunters in the forest, possibly thinking of catching one of us.""Were they successful?""No. Alpha Reule sto
The wind carried the scent of pine and char. It reminded me of when I first stumbled into Gray Pack territory, broken and hunted. Back then, I didn’t know who I was or where I belonged. Now I am beside the Alpha of this land, claws ready and fire in my chest.Reule hadn’t said much since we left the estate at dawn. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, just tense and focused.Silverpine Caverns lay ahead, half a day’s ride south. That’s where Glen said Conri would be if the human told the truth."Still sure about this?" Reule asked, eyes fixed on the trail ahead."Do you want me to say I’m afraid?""No," he said, glancing at me. "I want you to be ready.""I’ve been ready since the day I was hunted."We didn’t speak after that. The trail narrowed, flanked by jagged cliffs and crooked trees. Behind us were Adriana, Jax, Landon, and three of Reule’s most trusted warriors. No one joked, no one relaxed. We weren’t patrolling. We were hunting.We reached the edge of the caverns by m
The scent of ash and deceit clung to the wind. Reule stood in the command yard, his arms folded across his chest as he scanned the horizon. Dawn hadn't broken yet, but Reule could sense the fight that would end with blood."He’s gone," Adriana said as she stepped beside him, her voice low and clipped. "No one saw him leave. Glen’s scent ends near the south ridge. Same place we tracked rogue movement last week."Reule’s jaw tightened. Glen, the human who had lingered far too long on their lands under the pretense of neutrality. Wren had warned him, but he thought, what could a plain human do now that he had her? He should have ended his life along with Acwulf, but he’d allowed Glen to live and now ally with a werewolf as vicious as Conri."He didn’t go far," Reule said finally. "Most likely he is with Conri planning their next move."Adriana shifted. "You think Conri sent him here?""Probably," Reule replied. "But Glen came on his own. He saw an opportunity. And now he’s trying to
Morning sunlight spilled across the bed, golden and warm against my bare shoulders. I was tangled in sheets that smelled like him and the kind of heat that clung even when he wasn’t touching me.Reule hadn’t moved much during the night. He lay behind me, arm slung over my waist, breathing deep and steady. For a man who barely slept, he looked peaceful, dangerous, and soft all at once.I turned slowly in his hold, watching his lashes flick once as he stirred.“You’re staring,” he mumbled, a voice rasped with sleep.“You’re smug about it,” I shot back softly.One eye opened. “Only because you’re still here.”I grinned. “Too warm. And your sheets are soft.”“You’re soft.”“Liar,” I muttered, brushing my thumb across his stubbled jaw.He caught my hand and kissed the center of my palm. “No. Just lucky.”It was quiet for a while. It was just us and the warmth between us, the kind that didn’t come from heat, but from knowing someone chose you when they didn’t have to.“I like this,” I sa
There was a knock at the outer gate. It was firm and precise, like whoever stood there wasn’t lost, afraid, or unsure but invited. This made no sense because no one got invited into Gray Pack territory without Reule’s permission or order.Landon was the one who found her and escorted her, actually, through the warded gate. She was not in chains, and she wasn't a threat. But with suspicion at every step.Reule stood on the front steps of the main house as the stranger approached. I watched from behind the window, arms folded, heart thumping without reason.She wasn’t a wolf. That much was obvious. Human? Maybe. But she carried herself like someone who had nothing to fear. She was tall and lean, her dark coat crisp despite the muddy roads, and her hair pinned back like she’d stepped out of a war room, not a car.“I asked you to explain why you’re here,” Reule said evenly.“I’m not here to threaten your pack,” she replied, my voice smooth. “I came to deliver a message. Wren is in danger
The council chamber was colder than any battlefield. It was made up of stone walls, iron thrones, and now with silence that hummed like a warning. I wasn’t supposed to be here. But waiting for news while Reule stood trial for me? That was never going to happen.Landon didn’t stop me. He just gave me a long look, like a man too tired to argue with fate. I slipped through the side gallery, my heart pounding against my ribs. Hidden behind one of the columns, I scanned the room below. Reule stood alone before the five elders, wearing a black robe, sharp-eyed, and judging.“I don’t answer feelings,” Elias, the head counselor, was saying, his voice echoing. “I answer to structure. You’ve broken that.”Reule didn’t even blink. “Structure bends. Or it breaks.”Mara, thin-lipped and cold, clicked her tongue. “It breaks when Alphas let their hormones guide strategy.”He turned his head slightly, slow and calculated. “You have something to say, Councilor?”“You’re compromised,” she said. “E
The smell of roasted herbs and garlic pulled me from my thoughts. I sat on the edge of the couch, legs tucked under me, wrapped in the soft sweater Reule had dropped off two days ago. He hadn't said a word when he handed it to me, just tossed it onto the bed and walked out. I’d only cut the tag off this morning.The fire crackled in the hearth, flickering shadows against the stone walls. I wasn’t cold, just restless. Then, the door eased open.“I made dinner,” Reule said, stepping inside with a tray. “Thought you’d be tired of soup.”“You thought right,” I muttered, watching him cross the room.“Please tell me you didn’t cook just to impress me.”“No,” he said easily, setting the tray down. “I cooked to feed you. Impressing you is just a bonus.”I raised an eyebrow. “What’s the dish?”“Grilled chicken with wild rice and lemon thyme sauce. Roasted carrots on the side.”He smirked. “Try not to faint.”“I’m impressed.”He gave a little mock bow. “My greatest honor.”I smiled despite
The wind snapped at my hair as I stood on the porch, arms wrapped tightly around myself. The night felt wrong, too quiet. The woods beyond Reule’s territory loomed dark and heavy, like something was crouched inside them, waiting. I shivered and rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the feeling gnawing at my gut.Footsteps creaked behind me. I didn’t need to turn. I knew him; the weight of his steps, heavy and certain, as the earth answered only to him."You shouldn't be out here alone," Reule said, his voice low and rough."I'm not alone," I whispered, staring into the trees.I felt him step closer. His warmth reached me before his hands did, brushing against my back, steady and strong against the rising unease curling through me."Even so, don't tempt trouble," he said, his breath fanning my ear.I tilted my head back just enough to catch the smirk tugging at the edge of his mouth."Why?" I murmured. "You planning to punish me?"He snorted, the sound rough and amused. "You’re already
The doors of the Black Pack’s great hall slammed open with a deafening bang, rattling dust from the stone arches above. Acwulf stalked in, his heavy boots striking the marble floor in sharp, angry steps. Every conversation inside died instantly. Warriors, omegas, and even the elder council members turned to stare.Alpha Thorne sat lazily atop his throne at the far end of the room, one leg draped casually over the other, a goblet of wine dangling from his fingers. His dark eyes gleamed with interest as he watched Acwulf storm toward him like a storm about to break. He figured that his beta would come and seek help for the mess he created.Thorne didn’t move. He didn't need to. His mere presence commanded the room."Alpha, could we have a private conversation?" Acwulf said with a voice calm but dangerous.The warriors standing around Thorne bristled, but Thorne lifted a hand, waving them off like flies. "Acwulf, you have been away for so long. I was already thinking my Beta was dead. D
The forest felt heavier the closer they got to the border, like the trees themselves were holding their breath. I stumbled, catching myself against Reule’s side. He didn’t hesitate to loop an arm around my waist and kept me moving without missing a step.“You sure you’re not dead?” Landon muttered ahead of us, tossing a smirk over his shoulder.“Feels like it,” I rasped, trying to match his grin.Reule shot Landon a glare sharp enough to slice stone. “Maybe you’d like to carry her?”Landon snorted. “Nah, you’re doing great, Alpha. Real nurturing. Very inspiring.”“I’ll shove my fist down your throat if you don’t shut up,” Reule growled under his breath.I tried to laugh to break the thick tension. It was a small thing, barely a whisper against the roaring panic in my veins, but it kept me moving. Behind us, Mira limped along, half-carrying Lark, who was still unconscious. Ivar hovered at their side, sharp-eyed, ready to jump if they faltered.It almost felt normal until the wind sh