A Deadly Stranger

I leaped behind the first tree, which I found broad enough to work as a hideout. I crouched down and plastered my back to the trunk, listening to the sound of footsteps. What I heard was two feet, not four paws, but I was yet to determine whether it was a good or bad sign. My heart rate increased as the footsteps became louder… This powerful being was coming this way.

I cringed in my temporary hideout and held my breath, focusing on the sounds. Suddenly, the footsteps stopped, and what came next was a faint splash of water. I was almost certain that moving from my position was a terrible idea, but I couldn't stop until I satisfied my dumb curiosity. I twisted my body, barely keeping my balance, and leaned out from behind the tree.

“Damn,” I breathed out, locking my eyes on the man who crouched by the shore.

Illuminated by the moonlight, he seemed almost godlike. He looked like an incarnation of darkness, packed in the most alluring body I had ever seen. I mean, Kylar had a nice body, but this man? Every inch of him appeared to be created for solely one purpose—seduction.

His black hair formed a mass of wavy strands, slightly ruffled by the wind. His features held a unique kind of savage beauty, both captivating and intimidating. He wore black leather pants and a partially unbuttoned black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, exposing his muscled forearms. I remained completely still, stupidly ogling his broad shoulders, barely contained by the black fabric of his shirt, and wishing he didn't have that damn shirt at all.

Why was I even looking at this guy?! I had a boyfriend, one that would most likely become my mate by tomorrow, and yet, I couldn't tear my eyes off of the stranger crouching by the lake.

My heart kept pounding at a wild rate, and I struggled to keep my shallow, erratic breaths soundless. Staying here was reckless, but any attempt to flee might be even more dangerous. The black-haired stranger oozed power, and I was in no hurry to check what kind of power he possessed.

Unknowingly, my eyes drifted to his long fingers, slowly immersing themselves in the cool water of the lake. Then he turned his hands, exposing them to the moonlight…

My heart leaped to my throat. His hands were covered with blood. Nothing in his posture could suggest that he was wounded, which meant that the blood wasn't his. Let's face it, I was dumb enough to stare at the guy who could have been an assassin or a mass murderer! I hid back behind the tree in a violent motion—too violent and too loud…

A breathy chuckle pierced the silence of the night. “Are you having fun watching me?”

I stopped breathing.

“Why don't you come out, little one? I don't mind company.”

A shudder rushed through my body, and I couldn't determine whether it was a sign of fear or something else entirely. His voice was too deep… too compelling.

“I've never thought I'd find a woman wandering in those woods at night.” Sheer amusement danced in his tone. “Is it something you do often?”

I heard a step, and then another one. Shit! He was coming my way! I looked to the sides, looking for a way to escape. I knew that I could only run uphill, and my chances to outrun him if he changed into his wolf form were close to none…

“General!” I heard another man's voice and froze. “I've been looking for you.”

I cursed under my breath, but then I heard more footsteps—fading footsteps. The dark stranger—the general, or whatever—was walking away! Knowing that this might be my only chance, I darted up the hill. I might have heard a chuckle as I stormed forward, but I didn't dare look back to check. I kept running and stopped only when I reached the sandy road that marked our pack's territory. Only then did I stop and bend forward, panting.

My mind was filled with all sorts of hectic thoughts. Who was that guy? That other man called him a general… Did it mean that he was a warrior? But what kind of pack could send their warriors to the spot called No Man's Land?

I waited for my breath to become less labored before I slowly turned around. Once I was certain I wasn't being chased, I heaved a long sigh of relief. Too soon…

“Asena! What a pleasant surprise!” A cold voice echoed through the forest.

I recognized that voice in an instant. It belonged to Sloan, Beta Sungur's son and Kylar's friend, although I couldn't help but wonder how Kylar was able to be friends with someone as disgusting as him. For some reason, Sloan despised me more than most. Sometimes I thought that making my life miserable had become his life's purpose. Sloan was also one of the few members of our pack who knew that Kylar and I were seeing each other, and that might have become yet another reason for him to hate me…

I sucked in a sharp breath and turned around. He wasn't alone; three other warriors flanked him as he advanced at me. I ground my teeth and fisted my hands. “What the fuck do you want from me, Sloan?!” I growled.

“The… fuck exactly,” Sloan purred, and the rest of the warriors laughed.

My eyes widened in disbelief. “W-what?” I choked out.

He shrugged as his hazel, snake-like eyes traced my body. “It's your last night as a pretty, unmated, almost-wolf.” He sneered as his eyes scanned every clumsily tied knot on my dress. “You should let us have some fun.” He motioned his chin at the three warriors who were with him, and a second later, I was surrounded.

“Don't even think about touching me,” I hissed. “You know very well that Kylar and I—”

“Oh, I don't think that Kylar would mind us having a little taste.” A dark grin spread across his face. “Get her!”

Chills ran down my spine as I ineptly raised my guard. I had never been taught how to fight, but I'd be damned if I hadn't used every ounce of my strength against them. They lurched at me, grabbing my wrists, and—

A powerful thunder resonated through the woods. No. Not thunder—a growl. But what kind of monster could make this kind of sound?!

The warriors released me at once and moved back, their eyes widening with terror as they all stared at something behind me…

Sucking a sharp breath, I slowly turned around, and everything inside me froze. A huge black wolf emerged from behind the trees and bared his pointed teeth. I looked into his eyes and stumbled back as I noticed the fiery red glow. Only the strongest wolves' eyes shone red. There was no doubt that I was staring into the eyes of an Alpha…

The black wolf prowled forward and locked those red eyes on me. Something about them seemed familiar, but I was too horrified for my brain to process what it was. A low growl rumbled in the beast's chest, and I could swear the ground beneath my feet rattled. Then the beast lunged, leaping above my head, straight at those who threatened me.

“Shift!” Sloan bellowed, running backward to distance himself from the beast.

I watched the scene, petrified, trying to process what was going on. Where did this wolf come from? Whoever this Alpha was must have known that barging into our land could have severe consequences. And why did this Alpha go after Sloan and the others?!

The black beast seemed to wait for others to turn into their wolf forms, but as soon as that happened, the Alpha lurched forward. One of the warriors jumped to the beast's throat. The Alpha caught him in midair, knocking him down with his massive paw and then snapping his neck with a sickening crack. The warrior was dead, but the Alpha continued, stepping on the corpse and crushing him bone by bone.

I clamped my hand over my mouth. Goddess… Sloan and the rest were no match for this black beast. They were all as good as dead… I would surely be next. I had seen this Alpha trespass on our territory and kill. No one witnessing it would be left alive.

My feet moved, and suddenly I was running, using all the muscle power my legs could muster. I needed to get the hell out of those woods before that Alpha finished them all and came after me.

A painful cry pierced through the air, and I cringed, knowing that another warrior had died a gruesome death. Did I regret leaving them there? No. Had the Alpha attacked me first, they would have enjoyed watching me be torn to pieces.

Then I heard a howl followed by a whimper—another death. A shudder rushed through me. I didn't want to die like this. I clenched my fists harder and summoned all my remaining strength to run. Finally, I stormed out of the forest and didn't stop until I was inside the cottage house where I lived with my father and my sister, Ellaria.

I closed the door behind me and carefully turned every lock, even though I knew it wouldn't stop the monster I had seen in the woods from breaking inside. I stared at the closed doors for a few more minutes before I willed my body to move.

I turned away from the door as my ears filtered the sounds inside the house. My father had most likely passed out after finishing his bottle of ale. Ellaria also seemed to be asleep. I could bet she went to bed early, hoping to show no signs of fatigue at the Mating Ball. I let them stay blissfully unaware of my horrific encounter. Quietly, I entered the bathroom and quickly washed my face and teeth before crawling into bed.

My heart kept pounding long after I laid my head on the pillow. Anxiety held me in its tight grasp, stealing away my sleep. A long time ago, I had learned to trust my instincts, and now, they were all screaming. It felt as if something ominous soaked the air I breathed, and somehow I knew that I could meet its source at tomorrow's ball…