Chapter 2. Hunted

A huge black wolf with white stripes balanced atop a tree in the dense vegetation of the Edinburgh woods, silently observing the movement on the other side of the stream—a mere separation from the humans.

Slav patiently awaited the setting sun. To enter the human town, he needed the cover of night. He could have done it during the day, but that would require him to roam around naked until he found clothes to conceal his nudity. Not that he would mind, but the same couldn't be said for the humans.

Slav's mind recalled his conversation with his younger brother and beta, Zar, ten nights ago before his departure.

"Surely there has to be another solution, right?" Zar reasoned, their sparring motions mirroring their debate. "You do realize how risky this is, don't you?" The trusted advisor attempted to dissuade Slav from embarking on the perilous journey.

Slav deftly evaded a strike, acknowledging Zar's concerns. "I understand your apprehension," he replied with a sidestep. "But trust me, I won't be caught. I'll return unscathed, bearing a wolf-blood as proof. You'll see," he reassured his companion, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"I've heard they're exceedingly elusive, assuming they even exist," Zar grumbled, adopting the tone of the grumbling elders they had encountered not long ago. "I fail to comprehend why you don't simply settle down with someone here. Breeding is what we need in these times. While women may be scarce, there will always be one for you, the Alpha." Zar's words carried a touch of frustration. However, Slav remained resolute. There was an undeniable call from beyond, its allure drowning out the collective voices of the elders and Zar combined.

"I am the feared Alpha of the Ashenclaw pack, Zar. Do you truly believe I won't be able to fend for myself?" Slav's voice resonated with unwavering confidence.

Zar sighed, well acquainted with Slav's insatiable thirst for power. "I understand your bloodthirsty nature, Slav. There's no denying it. Since you're so resolute, is there anything specific you'd like me to handle in your absence?" Zar's words were accompanied by an exaggerated eye roll, showcasing his exasperation.

"Just oversee the pack's affairs as a dutiful Alpha would, and contact me through our mindlink if any issue arises that you cannot resolve."

"Consider it done, boss," Zar replied, wincing slightly as Slav dismissed him with a sharp punch to the gut.

As the indomitable Alpha of the ruthless Ashenclaw pack, Slav bore the weighty responsibility of safeguarding his brethren's interests. Ages had been devoted to honing his pack members into formidable warriors, unmatched in battle by both werewolves and humans alike. Whispers of their extraordinary strength had permeated not only the wolf community but had even reached the ears of humankind.

When his enemies became aware of this, they ambushed them unexpectedly and targeted their females. Without Slav's realization, they brutally murdered more than a quarter of the she wolves.

Not only did they suffer a significant loss of breeders, but the warrior mates of the deceased females also turned into rogues after losing their partners. Slav experienced a devastating blow to both his pack and his pride.

In his struggle to restore the pack's former glory, he suddenly remembered his father's words one fateful night during their patrol.

Slav's late father, Alpha Stefen, had informed him about a similar event that occurred in the time of his great grandfather, Alpha Allen Wolfgang.

As a war strategy, the wolves frequently launched attacks on shewolves to cripple a pack. In such dire situations, the only solution was a wolf-blood. Stefan had recounted how Alpha Allen embarked on a journey through the human lands to discover that special bloodline, with whom they could breed wolf hybrids and bolster the pack's numbers.

Even now, his father's words echoed clearly in his mind.

"A wolfblood is a descendant from the unique bloodline of the MoonShadow packs Alpha line. They are capable of transforming a human into a werewolf. Rumors have it that they are the very first werewolves."

Slav questioned the veracity of the tale, wondering why the existence of wolfbloods had been concealed. He couldn't fully commit to believing the story, but it seemed worth a try.

He urgently required a wolf-blood, or else his pack would suffer from a shortage of fighters, ultimately resulting in the enemy seizing what his ancestors had entrusted to him. The mere thought of that was unbearable to Slav.

Jokingly, he remarked, "Who knows, I might even stumble upon a Luna." Standing watch atop the highest peak in the woods, as he did every full moon, he observed the human world from a distance. Another remarkable aspect of this fierce and bloodthirsty Alpha was that, despite being alive for 28 years, he had never found a mate. He had never experienced the intoxicating pull of the mate bond. He had searched and waited, but as the years went by, he had given up and embraced a life as a lone wolf.

"Unless those damned hunters manage to capture me first," he mused, although he knew it was highly unlikely.

He had delayed embarking on this journey, but now the day had arrived when fear no longer showed in his eyes. It was the day when a desperate Alpha would go to any lengths to save his people.

Under the light of another full moon, the biting cold wind didn't bother him much. The scorching hot blood coursing through his veins brought his focus back to the mission at hand.

"Damn it!" he cursed, his limbs aching from the relentless days of travel.

During Alpha Allen's reign, Ashenclaw Pack had been relocated from the base of the mountain to its peak following the massacre of the shewolves. This strategic move allowed the warriors to anticipate attacks by rogues and hunters before they reached the pack. However, even that couldn't prevent the tragedy this time.

"Psst... Slav, are you there?" Zar's voice infiltrated Slav's mind, abruptly snapping him out of his thoughts.

"I'm busy, Zar. No time for idle talk," he replied through the mindlink, briefly diverting his gaze from the opposing terrain.

"Just wanted to remind you that there's always another solution," the persistent beta chimed in, as he had been doing every day since Slav departed from the pack. Irritated, Slav growled and severed the mind link.

"An Alpha never retreats!" The weakening mindlink struggled to convey Zar's words, strained by the distance between them. Nevertheless, Zar persisted.

His younger brother had always been tough and ruthless, which was precisely why he held the position of his beta. However, ever since he lost his mate in the massacre, he had grown soft as of late. Slav knew he was struggling not to loose his own wolf and become a rogue, the reason he left the pack under his care, something to keep both Zar's wolf and himself busy.

Unbeknownst to Slav, his momentary lapse in focus had drawn the attention of the group on the other side of the stream, recognizable as hunters based on their gear.

"Shit! Wolf in sight!" a portly man shouted, grabbing the attention of his comrades.

Slav cursed and leaped down from the slender branch, landing back on the forest floor.

"He's getting away! Surround him! Don't let him escape!"

"Just my luck..." The hunters pursued him relentlessly as he sprinted away, heading towards the city instead of retreating deeper into the woods. Slav had wasted enough time dealing with amateur hunters in the forest.

He prided himself on being fierce, but he preferred to avoid killing unless absolutely necessary.

That had always been his guiding principle, but in that moment, he was starting to regret his decision. He had long left the protective cover of the trees and now found himself navigating through the bustling town, his powerful limbs maneuvering among vehicles and market stalls. Yet, he couldn't shake off the relentless pursuit. If anything, their numbers seemed to be growing. They fired bloody tranquilizers at him as if he were a rabid dog.

"Parker, god damn it! Quit aiming at the civilians!" The leader of the hunter yelled in frustration.

"A wolf is loose! Run for your lives!" The panicked crowd screamed, scattering in fear. More than twenty hunters, accompanied by a white van, joined the pursuit.

Slav cursed himself for not taking out the overweight man who had caused this mess. Both he and that damn Zar.

"Just you wait until I return—I'll make sure you get what you deserve," he snarled. Skidding to a stop, Slav turned around, catching the hunters off guard. The van driver slammed on the brakes as Slav let out a piercing howl into the setting sun. The sound echoed loudly, silencing the entire area, as the terrified onlookers experienced firsthand the terror of being in the presence of an alpha.

The hunters gulped, preparing their weapons as the massive wolf charged toward them.

"Enough!" Slav barked.

"Damn it! Open fire! Bring it down! It's an Alpha! Take it down!"

Werewolves differed from regular wolves not just in size and strength but also in the terrifying aura they exuded, capable of paralyzing one's soul and rendering them immobile, almost as if trapped in a trance.

Slav tore through the hunters, launching them into the air with powerful swipes of his massive paws and head. He slammed into the van, causing it to jolt backward. The person in the passenger seat, likely a higher-ranking individual, desperately pounded on the partition separating them from the trunk.

"Release Project 129 immediately! Contact headquarters and have them broadcast announcements on television. This situation has spiraled out of control."

Slav forcefully ripped the door off, ready to sink his teeth into the senior's head, when a sudden jolt of pain coursed through his body. It wasn't the tranquilizers they had used on him; he had been exposed to plenty of those, and they had no effect. This was something far stronger.

"Mate!" he growled, his mind going blank as he instinctively sniffed the air. The ordeal he had just endured faded from his thoughts as Slav bolted in the direction of the undeniable pull of his mate.

He had finally found his mate.

But as he sprinted through the streets, another wolf followed suit. It was a massive black wolf, equally as bulky as Slav, yet surprisingly faster. And that was truly saying something.