Chapter 5

The next morning, golden rays of sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room.

Ariana stirred, her eyes fluttering open as the previous night’s conversation with the mysterious stranger flooded her mind.

“I thought I had found a way to uncover information about the enemy pack… but now, I have to start worrying all over again.” She sighed, rolling out of bed.

Pushing aside her thoughts, she stepped into the bathroom and took a quick, refreshing shower.

After drying herself off, she slipped into her usual battle attire—dark, fitted clothing that enhanced her fierce presence.

Adjusting the straps on her boots, she took a deep breath and made her way to the dining hall.

By the time she arrived, Ariel and Justin were already waiting for her.

“Good morning, Ariana,” Ariel greeted with a warm smile.

“Morning, pack princess,” Justin added with a teasing smirk.

“Morning to both of you,” Ariana replied, her tone quieter than usual.

Ariel frowned. “You look pale. Is something wrong?”

“Did you sleep well, or are you still feeling drained from the full moon?” Justin asked, concern evident in his voice.

Ariana shook her head. “Nothing like that. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Let’s eat—I have a big task ahead of me today.”

“We need to question that guy about his pack,” Ariel said, taking a seat. “And if he knows anything about other packs, we should get the information before it’s too late.”

“There’s no need for that,” Ariana said, picking at her food. “I tried questioning him yesterday when he was awake, but I got nothing useful.”

“What do you mean?” Justin asked, setting his fork down.

Ariana leaned back, crossing her arms. “I asked him about his pack, but he claimed he was a wanderer—no family, no allegiance. Just a werewolf born into the world alone.”

Just as they were about to eat, a warrior assigned to guard the inner gate burst into the room, panting.

“Alpha Ariana! We’re under attack!” he yelled. “Two strangers have infiltrated our borders—I think they’re here to rescue the prisoner you brought in!”

Ariana sprang to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor.

“Justin, go to the room where I left him—make sure he doesn’t escape!” she ordered sharply. “Ariel, gather the warriors and back him up. That man is an Alpha—he’s stronger than you think!”

Without waiting for a response, she bolted out of the dining hall, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I thought he said he had no pack and no family… I was fooled.” Her mind raced with fury as she sprinted toward the battlefield.

As she arrived, she saw her warriors locked in combat with two intruders—a man and a woman. The woman fought skillfully, her movements sharp and precise. The man, on the other hand, was brute force, overpowering her men with raw strength.

Ariana didn’t hesitate. She unsheathed her sword, the blade gleaming under the sunlight, and leaped into the fray.

Her first target was the woman—she was strong, but Ariana was stronger. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying as Ariana pressed forward relentlessly.

With a quick strike, she sliced through the woman’s sleeve, her blade barely missing her skin.

Shifting her focus, Ariana spun and delivered a powerful kick to the man’s stomach. He grunted as he crashed to the ground.

Suddenly, Justin appeared beside her.

“I told you to guard him!” Ariana snapped.

“He’s in Ariel’s custody—he won’t escape,” Justin reassured her.

“Ariel is no match for him! He’s an Alpha and a strong one!” she retorted. “Didn’t you hear what the doctor said?”

“He’s weak right now,” Justin argued. “He can’t do anything—just focus on this fight.”

A voice interrupted them. “Are you talking about my brother?”

Both Ariana and Justin turned toward the woman, who had stopped attacking.

“You captured my brother?” she demanded, her eyes blazing with fury.

“I didn’t capture him—I saved him,” Ariana shot back.

“Then why won’t you let him go?”

“I would have let him go, but he lied to me,” Ariana said coldly. “And no one can change my mind—not even you.”

The woman narrowed her eyes. “Do you even know who I am? I’m Kiara, Beta and daughter of the strongest pack in the city.”

Ariana’s breath hitched. The strongest pack…

Then it clicked.

“I captured the son of my mother’s murderer.”

A searing rage ignited within her. Her body trembled as her anger surged, consuming her rational thoughts.

Without warning, she transformed into her wolf form—a massive beast with dark fur and burning amber eyes. With a deafening snarl, she lunged at Kiara.

Before she could strike, the man—her prisoner—stepped in, blocking the attack. He shifted into his wolf form and met her head-on, their claws slashing through the air.

“Kiara, get out of here!” the man, Melvin, yelled in his mind-link. “I’ll find my own way back home!”

“I’m too weak—I can’t match her strength right now,” he realized grimly.

“You think you can just leave after lying to me?” Ariana growled, snapping her jaws at him.

“Why would I tell you about my pack? So you could kill me?” Melvin countered, dodging her attacks.

“Everyone wants your father dead—but how do you know I do?” she snarled. “I hate liars!”

Melvin suddenly staggered, pretending to weaken. “I can’t fight you—I surrender.”

Ariana hesitated for a fraction of a second, her instincts screaming at her not to believe him.

“He’s pretending.”

“That gives me more reason to kill you,” she snarled.

Melvin tensed. She’s not falling for it.

Justin, seeing the fight escalating, tried to intervene—but Kiara and another man, Oliver, held him back.

“Take your brother and leave now,” Justin warned, his voice deadly serious. “Ariana isn’t someone to joke with. If you don’t leave, she will kill him.”

Kiara hesitated, glancing at Melvin, who was struggling beneath Ariana’s grip.

She clenched her fists. “Unlike Melvin… I know when to back down.”

Before Ariana could react, Kiara rushed to Melvin’s side, grabbed hold of him, and vanished—teleporting them both back to their pack.

The battle was over.

Ariana stood frozen, panting heavily. The adrenaline coursing through her veins began to fade. Her vision blurred, her knees buckled, and she collapsed.

“Ariana!” Justin was at her side in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground.

“Call for the doctor!” he yelled, his voice ringing through the battlefield.

Scooping her into his arms, he carried her back inside, his jaw clenched with worry. He laid her down gently on her bed, brushing strands of hair from her face.

“Hang in there, Ariana,” he murmured. “The doctor is on the way.”