PROLOGUE

**ELAINA**

"Dane, do you see anything?" I ask my bestfriend, who is also a werebear. 

We are scouting a pack we came across on our morning run through our forest. I say out forest because we basically run it.

"I see two very small frail gaurds walking. Must be on patrol. Elaina, this pack is dying.." He said with a growl through his whisper. He may be a werebear but he hates the mistreatment of others.

"How do you mean? Like the people are dying or the land is dying?" I ask him.

"Both.." He says looking back at me. 

Dane is a brick wall of a bear. He stands 6 feet 8 inches. Raven black hair, bright green eyes. A total knockout. But my bestfriend. Almost like my big brother. Only except I can kick his ass. 

"If the land is dying, Dane. That means whoever this Alpha is had quite literally let darkness take over. Whether physically or emotionally. He is responsible. We need to find out more before we make our move.." I said. I am basically the leader of our little outfit. Dane has always followed my lead. Given me his input and let me do things my way while always backing me up. And I am grateful.

"I think the best way to get information, Dear Elaina. Is the source." He says before darting to the two warriors walking towards us. He sneaks up behind them, wrapping his hands around their mouths and bringing them to where we were. 

They look extremely exhausted and absolutely terrified. I quickly chant a spell which conjurs bottles of water. They gasp in awe at my talent, and then their look softens. Dane still hasn't taken his hands away from their mouths. 

"Here, we aren't here to hurt either of you." I say in a softening voice. "I want to talk to you both, and I am going to have my friend take his hands from your mouths. Don't scream or make any sudden moves. Okay?" I say, trying to talk to them as calmly as I can. They both nod. 

I nod to Dane to let them go. They immediately drink all of the bottle of water I just handed them..

"What are you two doing alone out here? It's dangerous." I said. Most warriors walk the border of their pack, but they don't seem to know where their border is... I nod to Dane to let them go.

"Wha-at.. No kiddin-ng, your buddy jus-st snatched us from our p-path..." The first man said with a shakey voice. 

"I know, but we needed to speak with you. How willing would you have been if we just walked up and asked you to answer some questions?" I tell them.

"Probably not likely if we are being honest.." The second said. He isn't as scared as his friend but he is still quite weak.

"What happened to your pack?" I say getting straight to the point. 

"Even if we told you lady, and your giant man here, nothing you can do can help us.." He said exhausted. 

"Humor me, and then I'll tell you how we can help." I said sitting down in front of them. Dane sat next to me, keeping an ear on our surroundings.

The man huffed and began to talk. 

"We have families. We haven't spoken out before because we knew if we did our families would be trapped, and murdered. Or even worse.. He has already proven that by killing a wolf and his mate and keeping their children for himself. It's something no one has wanted to risk.. If we tell you everything, and help you, how do we know our families will be safe? How do we know you'll succeed??" 

"The only way to rid the pack of him is to challenge him for the pack and his title as Alpha. To the death." I spoke gently.

They looked a little worried and then looked at Dane's huge stature.

"Is h-he going to be the one to ch-challenge him-m? You might j-just have a ch-chance." The shakey fella asked.

"No, hahaha. I will be challenging him for his position. Trust and believe, I am more than capable to take down a scumbag Alpha.. Just ask Dane here." I said as they looked to Dane, even more scared than before.

"I am the best fighter amongst the North American werebears. It's been proven and I hate to say it, but she can easily beat me.." He said with a grunt and an eye roll. The men looked at each other but you can tell they are too weak to mindlink one another. 

"We don't know why we feel like we can trust you but we agree to help you. Just please make sure no more people get hurt by that man." I nodded.

"I promise. Now I need a rundown on the layout of the packhouse. And will your Alpha know if someone is coming in and out of the border or the packhouse?" I asked, ready to get right to work to help this poor pack.

"We can draw up a map and layout if you have paper. The border? No he won't notice, it's too weak. We barely know where the border is, we just walk this path daily because we haven't gotten into trouble yet for doing it,so we figured it was right. But the packhouse yes, he has cameras everywhere in and around his packhouse. " He sighed.

'Show time, Athena.' I said to my wolf.

'Honey, we were made for things like this! Just say the word, I'm ya huckleberry.'  She joked in my head.

Show time it is. I smiled to Dane and his grin was very sinister.

Ooo, this is going to be fun.