Chapter five

They are real. These wolves from my nightmares, they're real. Just like in my dreams: bigger, twisted, with fangs like blades and glowing red eyes. They circled us—all three of them—slow, deliberate.

"Stay close to me," Dexter whispered, halfway through his shift. His voice was strained, low and primal. I knew he was strong, but against all three? No way. We were at their mercy.

I was trembling.

Then, without warning, one lunged. Just a blur of fur and teeth. Dexter met it midair, and the collision made a sickening thud. I screamed and that was when the others turned toward me. Eyes locked.

I ran.

I ran along the pack's border, screaming, hoping someone—anyone—might hear me. I didn’t look back, but I could hear them: pounding paws, snarls, low growls. If I had any chance of outrunning them, I needed to shift.

Except... I couldn't. Not on command.

The first wolf let out a bone-chilling howl. They were gaining. I ran faster. Legs burning. Eyes scanning for anywhere to hide.

A root caught my foot. I hit the ground hard, the air knocked from my lungs. Leaves flew like panicked birds. I scrambled up, but one was already on me. Towering.

I shut my eyes.

Is this it? Is this how I die?

Then a blur.

Dexter slammed into the wolf, knocking it aside. He was fully shifted now.

"RUN!" his voice echoed in my mind.

I didn’t hesitate. I ran. As fast as my legs could manage, out of the woods and back to Grimhowl. The sun had set. It was dark now.

I made it to the Alpha's cabin cause I knew my family would be there. I had just enough strength left to pound on the door. Aidrac opened it.

His expression shifted instantly when he saw me. My clothes were filthy. My arm was bleeding.

"Rhea? Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out. I jerked back.

"Is my family here?"

"Yeah, they’re at the table."

I pushed past him and walked straight to the table. Mom, Dad, Vira, and the Alpha were laughing at something the Luna had said. They all fell silent when they saw me. Mom's face turned to panic.

"Rhea, what happened?" she asked, jumping up.

"Attack... at the border... Dexter—" I gasped, realizing I’d left him there alone.

"We have to help Dexter."

"Why? What is going on?" the Alpha asked.

"Dexter and I were attacked at the border. They're still there. They're going to kill him!"

Dad and the Alpha were on their feet instantly.

"Call Rohan. Tell him to meet us at the border, now," the Alpha told Aidrac. They were gone in seconds.

I tried to follow, but Mom stopped me.

"Where do you think you're going? You're hurt."

"But Dexter—"

"They’ll find Dexter. Right now, you need to heal."

"Let's get you home," Vira said, reaching for my hand. I took it. My legs were barely holding.

At home, Vira gave me a bath. When I was clean, Mom brought out her pot of healing herbs and spices.

"Tell us what happened," she said, mixing the ingredients. I recounted the story but left out the dream. I don't know why. Maybe I thought they wouldn’t believe me.

"I’ve never seen wolves like them before. They’re big. Fast."

"Where would they have come from?" Vira asked.

"I don’t know."

"Probably rogues," Mom said.

"But rogues aren’t that big."

Mom frowned. She knew they weren’t rogues. But she didn’t know what they were either.

Vira sighed. "They sound dangerous. I just hope Aidrac is safe."

I gave her a death glare. "Aidrac is the only one on your mind right now?"

"And Dad too, of course."

"And Dexter too, you know," I snapped. "The boy who saved me?"

"Of course. Him too," she said quickly. But I knew she didn’t care.

"You are the most selfish person—"

"Not now, Rhea," Mom cut in, then turned to Vira. "Why don't you go to bed? It’s late."

It was only 8 PM, but Vira got the message and left.

Mom finished preparing the mix and started applying it to my arm.

"I do not appreciate you talking to your sister like that."

"Out of three hundred wolves in this pack, all she cares about is Aidrac."

"Aidrac is her mate."

"I know, but—"

"You don’t understand, Rhea."

Of course I don’t.

"If anything happens to Aidrac, Vira might be alone forever. Do you see why he matters to her?"

I stayed quiet.

"Aidrac is a good person. He kept asking about you during dinner. Said he felt something was wrong. Turns out he was right."

That surprised me. I looked at Mom. She shrugged.

"I was surprised too. Didn’t know you two were close."

"We’re not."

"Then why was he worried?"

"I don’t know."

She gave me a look but didn’t push. She continued rubbing the herbs into my arm.

"Make sure you apologize to Vira when she wakes up. She’s not selfish. She loves you. I just wish you could see that."

I wish she could see it was an act. Vira loved no one but herself.

Mom made me go to sleep, even though I wanted to wait for the others to return. I feel guilty saying it, but I slept well. Better than I had in a week.

No nightmares.

I went to the kitchen as soon as I woke up. I could hear Mom and Dad talking. They went quiet when I entered.

Mom was healing Dad.

I’d never seen him like that before. His clothes were torn. Blood covered him. I couldn’t tell if it was his or someone else's.

"Dad, are you okay?" I asked. A stupid question. I only asked to look like I care before I asked the real question.

"He’s alive," Dad said. My throat loosened slightly.

"But he's in bad shape."

"I need to see him."

"I don't think you should," Mom said.

"But I want to. Where is he?"

"At the healing den," she said.

For someone to be treated at the pack’s healing den, it had to be serious.