2. Meeting Him

ALIZA

Just when I thought it was over for us, a deep growl echoed through the forest. It was so loud and fierce that even the kidnapper froze in place, his face flashing with fear.

My heart was filled with hope. Maybe someone from the Crescent Moon Pack is here to save us.

The growl came again, closer this time, followed by the heavy sound of paws hitting against the forest ground. Despite my blurry vision, I managed to make out a huge black wolf stepping out of the darkness. Its glowing golden eyes stared at me for a moment before turning to the kidnapper.

The kidnapper took a step back, trying to run from here. But the wolf didn’t give him a chance. The wolf snarled and pounced at him, knocking him to the ground and snapping its head from his body. Then the wolf shifted before my eyes, transforming into a tall and muscular man.

My legs felt shaky and I tightened my grip on the kid. But before I could fall to the ground, the handsome man.. no the handsome wolfie wolf.. grabbed me by my arm and lifted both me and the kid into his strong arms.

His scent was a mix of lavender and dark musk, making me feel surprisingly safe and at ease. His scent was so addictive that I had an urge to get even closer to him if possible.

In a deep, sensual voice that made my heart skip a beat, he murmured, “Hey.. Careful there.”

I could also hear a hint of concern in his voice, but why would he give a damn about me when we had just met?

‘Maybe I’ve found my knight in shining armor.. No, my knight in shining wolf furr.’ I thought with a chuckle and with that thought, I slipped into darkness.. in his arms.

…

CASPIAN

I stood by the window in my study, gazing out into the night sky. The bright moon provided a stark contrast to the gloom in my life.

I had felt restless all day. Perhaps Ryker, my wolf, had sensed something. But he has not stirred like this in nearly eight years, since the day Jane, my mate died and left me to deal with this painful life. I couldn’t even give up on my life and join her because being an Alpha I had a pack to take care of.

Ryker had been silent ever since, though he never disappeared completely. Atleast he didn’t give up on me entirely, even though I had nearly given up on myself.

Or maybe he felt uneasy because of the growing attacks on our pack, both from rogues and human hunters, hunting and killing our kind. What frustrated me even more not knowing their motive behind these attacks.

Especially when our pack, the Crescent Moon Pack, has always been willing to take in rogues, as long as they pass a background check to ensure it’s safe to take them in and they have no hidden motive.

I sighed and was about to call it a night since Caleb, my beta and I had an early start tomorrow. We needed to check the pack’s security and after that train the warriors. Lately, the training had become more intense and even the other pack members, not only the warriors had begun training more seriously.

Just as I got into bed in my room, Caleb mind-linked me, saying something had happened at the town. He also mentioned the security patrol spotted some intruders a few miles away from the pack’s borders.

Caleb said he would handle it and that I didn’t need to go there myself. But I might as well go check it out and see what those fuckers want.

I sighed getting up and opened the windows. In one smooth motion, I leapt out and shifted into my massive black wolf. I told Caleb through the mind link to check the town, while I will deal with those fuckers near our borders myself.

As I approached a mile away from the pack’s borders, Ryker stirred again and his restlessness was growing with every step. My two warriors trailed closely behind me, keeping silence but on high alert.

This part of the forest was too dense for humans to navigate easily, specially in the night. The thick branches and towering trees twisted together like a maze, blocking out most of the moonlight. It was a trap for the hunters.

And that’s when it hit me, a scent so familiar that I stopped me in my tracks. Dark chocolate with a hint of orange zest. It was the same scent that had belonged to Jane.

For a moment, I stood frozen. It couldn’t be her. Jane was gone. I have been living with this bitter truth for six long years. But my instincts didn’t care for logic. My wolf didn’t care either. The scent was too real. My heart thudded harder and without a second thought, I took off running in the direction of the scent.

The forest blurred around me as my legs carried me faster than ever, leaving my warriors behind. I didn't slow down even though branches scratched my arms and leaves crunched beneath my feet.

Then I saw her. She looked stunning.. like a Greek goddess. Her silver blonde hair fell over her face but her blue eyes looked dazed and filled with pain. My chest tightened and my heart ached at the sight of her being in pain and so vulnerable.

I shook my head in an effort to snap myself out of my daze, no, she isn’t Jane. She is someone else. Her scent, although oddly similar to Jane, also has something magical about her.

Then I noticed the bastard behind her and rage surged through me. Ryker growled, urging me to kill and I did end up killing him and taking him down without hesitation.

I shifted back and rushed to her side. There was no time to get dressed as I saw her about to lose her conscious. That’s when I noticed the child she was carrying in her arms. Ray? How did he end up with her? I frowned as I thought this.

“Hey, Careful there,” I said feeling worried and lifted both her and Ray into my arms. My heart skipped a beat, feeling her soft body against mine.

Her eyelids fluttered a little like she heard me but then she went completely limp. Just then, my warriors arrived. One of them shifted and took Ray from me. Another one reached for her but I shot him a glare and he backed off immediately, bowing his head in submission.

I looked down at the woman in my arms, the thought of anyone other than me touching her didn’t sit well with me. But there was no time to waste, I had to take her to the pack hospital.

“Let’s head back to the pack. And tell the pack doctor to be ready.” I ordered them.

The warriors nodded without question and followed after me as I carried her toward the pack hospital. But as we moved, her addictive scent began clouding my senses, making it harder for me to think straight.

…