Episode 6

Chapter six

Logan’s pov

I was having a friendly chat with Selene in one of the sitting rooms when my beta Luke came rushing over, his face apologetic.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, slightly out of breath. "But Mother demands your presence right away, Logan."

I raised an eyebrow. "Any idea what this is about?"

Luke shook his head. "No, she didn't say."

Turning to Selene, I gave her a regretful look. "I'm sorry, I have to go see what she wants. I'll come right back as soon as I can."

Selene smiled softly. "Of course, I understand. We can continue our discussion later."

I left her in the sitting room and made my way across the pack grounds to the packhouse where my mother resided. As I approached her quarters, I could hear hushed voices coming from behind the door. Knocking firmly, I entered at her call.

"Ah, Logan, there you are." Mother's expression was unreadable as she looked up from where she sat with another wolf - Zara from the Council. "Come in, come in."

My eyes narrowed slightly at the strange setup, but I did as instructed, moving to stand before her. "You wished to see me, Mother?"

"Yes, indeed." She drew a steadying breath. "You know the goddess has not yet granted you your mate. I've been...considering other options."

Other options? A knot formed in my stomach as I anticipated her next words.

"I've discussed things with Zara here." Mother gestured to the wolf sitting rigidly beside her. "She comes from an influential family and would make a strong mate for our future alpha. If you took her as your chosen mate now, it would solidify important alliances and provide you with powerful heirs."

The anger and indignation that surged through me was blinding. How dare she try to arrange this? After all the rebellious wolves had fought for freedom and the right to choose our own paths?

"No." The word emerged like a growl from deep within my chest.

Mother's eyes widened in surprise. "Logan, don't be foolish -"

"No!" I cut her off more forcefully, shaking my head. "I will not enter into some arranged mating, Mother. When the moon goddess blesses me with a mate, so be it. But I will not take one chosen for me based on politics or alliances."

Zara made a small noise of protest from beside Mother, but I barely heard her. My furious gaze remained locked on my mother as I struggled to control the wolf raging inside me.

"You are the future alpha," Mother hissed, a hint of desperation entering her tone as she realized she would not sway me so easily. "You must think of more than just yourself! What of providing suitable heirs and strengthening our lineage?"

"If you'll excuse me." I didn't wait for her dismissal, but turned and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind me with enough force to rattle the walls. How dare she? After everything our kind had endured to be free of such dishonorable ways?

I was stamping across the grounds, claws extending from my fingertips as I fought not to shift in my all-consuming rage, when a sharp scent hit my nostrils. Blood. Fear spiked through me as the rich metallic scent triggered my protective instincts.

In a blink, I allowed my wolf to consume me, clothes shredding as my body morphed into my impressive fur-covered form. Driven by the scent and the endless pull to defend my pack, I tore off towards the western edge of our lands, a ferocious growl rumbling from my wide jaws.

The scene that met me was one of complete chaos. Vampire Raiders - the lowliest scum who seemed to think hurting innocents was sport - were attacking a small group of our wolves. Bodies littered the forest floor as the remaining wolves fought desperately to defend themselves and each other.

With a deafening roar, I launched myself into the fray, razor-sharp teeth and claws becoming deadly weapons against the vampire filth. They may be quick, but I was stronger, fueled by a pure and feral rage at the thought of them threatening my pack.

Though outnumbered, I fought like a possessed beast, tearing into them with everything I had. Vampires fell around me in pieces until finally the remaining few realized their folly in taking on the future alpha. They fled, seeming to vanish into the night like cowards.

Chest heaving, I scanned the motionless forms scattered in the dirt and leaves, whining low in my throat as I struggled to scent who was dead or simply unconscious. Shifting hastily back to my human form, I began examining each one, checking pulses and breathing.

"Logan! There you are!" Luke skidded to a halt beside me, taking in the gruesome scene with horror. "What happened?"

"Vampire raid." I spat the words like a curse as I continued examining the bodies. "Get the healers' team out here immediately. We need to get the injured back to the healers' den."

Luke nodded and took off at a sprint, howling to alert the pack and summon aid. Relieved help was on the way, my mind turned to a more pressing matter.

Selene. She had been with me in the sitting room earlier, but was nowhere to be seen now. A cold knot of dread formed in the pit of my stomach as I realized she didn't appear to be among the injured forms on the ground.

"Selene?" I cupped my hands around my mouth and bellowed her name, listening intently. Nothing but the sounds of the night forest answered me. "Selene!"

I shifted back to my wolf form, nose working furiously as I traced her sweet scent away from the sitting room and towards the area of the ambush. But it disappeared completely amid the stench of blood and death, providing no clues as to where she could have gone.

By this time Luke had returned with the healers and able-bodied warriors who carefully began lifting the injured for transport. Unwilling to leave any possibility unexplored, I shifted back urgently.

"Luke!" I strode over and gripped his arm firmly. "Selene is missing. I can't find her scent trail after it leads to this area. You must organize search parties immediately to comb the territory. She has to be found!"

The fear and desperation must have shown on my face, as Luke simply nodded once in understanding before barking out orders to those around us. I resumed my frantic search, becoming more frenzied the longer she remained lost to me.

Where could she have gone? Why would she have wandered this deep into the lands alone? Unless...unless she didn't go willingly. A growl built in my chest at the thought of her being taken against her will, perhaps by the same vile vampires who had ambushed our people.

"I'm going to tear this entire forest apart until I find her," I vowed through gritted teeth, claws extending once more as I fought the urge to fully shift and simply begin destroying everything around me in my need to locate Selene.

The very thought of her being hurt or afraid made my heart pound and body burn with protective instincts. I would stop at nothing to bring her home safe.

So consumed was I by this drive, this urgency to find the woman who had captured my interests, that I didn't notice my own beta approach me with a troubled look. Luke grabbed my arm, pulling me from my reverie.