Chapter 1 : Assignment From My Father

*Aurora*

The thick pines are not going to hide my prey for long.

I’ve got the rogues’ scent in my nose and no matter how far they run, I’ll find them. They’re tired, hungry, and thirsty, but I’ve run them so ragged they won’t even stop if a rabbit throws itself in their path. That’ll teach them to attack and rob our pack.

They’re not even organized rogues. Just packless drifters who think it’s okay to go after decent hard-working wolves. They’re nothing if not fierce and cutthroat. Trapped prey is the most dangerous, after all.

I know so many areas of Moonwood Forest, after all. And I definitely know my own territory, the Columbia Nightstalkers.

They’re right ahead of me, all five of them. I can see them through a gap in the tall fir, cedar, and western hemlock trees. They’re fleeing full tilt, flashes of black, silver, and brown fur.

But they’re nothing if not crafty. They all transform back to their human form, dropping their clothes, and making their way on foot. I shift from my silver wolf to my human form and brush back my long silver hair. I skillfully pursue the rogues through the sunlit woods.

I wasn’t supposed to be hunting rogues, but deer. However, the deer are scarce today, and the rogues just happened to chase away a beautiful buck, the only one I’ve seen in hours. Their mistake.

They look behind them as I close in on them, and one of them falls headlong into a deep pit. My heart pounding, I sprint towards her and seize her skinny arm, pulling her back from the brink. She whips her messy hair around and snarls, “What did you do that for?”

“Facing pack justice is better than dying.”

The rogue woman jeers at me. “A warrior can't afford sentimentality. It's you who will fall into a pit one day and no one will save you."

"What a sad life you lead if that's how you view the world. I saved you, didn't I?"

Several of my fellow hunters catch up to us, including my strongest hunter, Derric Puget, lean and wiry. Loyal and brave, he’s a guy’s guy.

“Thanks for trapping them for us, Aurora,” Derric says, seizing one of the rogues.

Sharp-faced Boyd Lummi, one of my father’s most trusted hunters, manhandles one of the rogues. He’s way too enthusiastic for my taste, but these rogues deserve rough treatment.

“Let’s bring them back in one piece.” Those last words are directed at Boyd.

Pushing the woman in front of me, I start the walk back to the capital, Blue Crescent. Thoughtful Derric hands me a change of clothes that I slip into, but the rogues have to make the walk of shame naked.

* * * * *

Located in a meadow in the forest, Blue Crescent looks like pictures I’ve seen of medieval Europe. The forest frames chalets, small castles, manor houses, and regular homes. We live in the modern United States, but ours is a world apart. Beyond this forest, humans are going about their lives with their cell phones and technology with no idea we’re even here.

Our town is peaceful, and capturing five rogues has made it even more peaceful. I’ve lived here all my life and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

The childhood home that I share with my parents is a charming two-story cottage with white curtains, surrounded by my mother’s rose garden. I stroll up the front walk and open the door.

People often mistake my mother and I for sisters. We have the same flowing silver hair, but different colored eyes. Her lovely face, with its features that are finer than mine, is kind and loving. The entire pack would line up to donate an organ if Sally Blessing needed a transplant.

“We heard you bring those rogues to justice,” my mother says in her gentle voice. “That’s my brave girl.”

I hug her, noticing she smells like wildflowers. “That means so much to me. Where’s Dad?”

My father’s deep voice echoes in the room. “Those rogues probably didn’t know what hit them! Come and tell me all about it. I made cocoa.”

I whirl around to see my father fill the room with his big frame. Powerful and fit like all shifters, he makes people’s heads turn when he enters a room. He has a huge, proud smile that melts my heart. I know that he’s healed from multiple scars in his legendary hunts. The sun through the cottage windows highlights the faint scar on his jaw.

I fly to his side, loving the way he always smells of the forest. When I meet my mate, he’s definitely going to smell similar. So far, the closest I’ve come is when Derric put up a human Christmas wreath he somehow found in the woods. Derric reeked of pine for a few minutes, but when he washed his hands, he smelled like the same old Derric. Definitely not my fated mate.

Haydon Blessing leads me into the sunlit kitchen and sits me down at the aged kitchen table where generations of Blessings have had their cocoa after a hunt. “Is the hot chocolate instant?” I tease him.

He huffs, looking mortally wounded. “No daughter of mine is going to drink instant cocoa.”

He pours cocoa into a mug and hands it to me, then drops into a chair across from me at the kitchen table.

The sugary cocoa tastes like heaven, but my wolf feels anxious, warning me that something is up.

“Dad, is everything OK?”

He leans back and spreads his big arms wide while holding his cocoa. “Why wouldn’t it be? My daughter just bagged five rogues.”

“Well, you only make my favorite cocoa when you need to tell me bad news.”

“Can’t a dad do something nice for his daughter, the world-class hunter?”

I sip my cocoa. It’s excellent. “You do nice things for me all the time. This is extra.”

He sighs and his shoulders slump. “It’s a big ask.”

“Aha! Now we’re getting somewhere. What do I need to hunt and where?”

His answer makes me drop the mug of cocoa and I catch it just in time.

“The kings of the Ruby Nightclaws.”

Wild laughter bubbles up. “You want me to hunt the Leavenworths? The most feared Alphas other than ours?”

Three brothers who have ruled together with an iron fist since the death of their father, the previous Alpha. Golden boys. Powerful, handsome, and fierce.

“Aurora! Show some respect. Unlike our Alpha, the Leavenworths are feared because they make their people suffer.” He taps the faint scar. “That’s how I got this.”

“I thought it was a bear …”

“Please. A bear would have given me a sporting chance.” He looks bitter, an emotion I’ve never seen on my father’s face. “I’m not sure which one of them decided to send me to the Moon Goddess...”

I shiver. “Unprovoked?”

He grips my arm as I raise my cup to my lips. His fingers feel like hot iron. “How could you ask me that?”

“Sorry, Dad. What happened?”

“It was just like those rogues you caught. Taking the food out of other people’s mouths.” He releases my hand and slams his mug down. “They take the food out of their own people’s mouths. Everyone knows they’re tyrants. That's where you come in with your rogue-hunting skills. They're having a problem with the Olympic Howlers. I’ve persuaded Arnald to send you to their court to help them hunt down Rollo Seabrook and his ragtag band.”

A chill shoots down my back. “But in reality … I’ll be hunting down these kings for you?”

What he’s talking about is assassinating Alphas. And the most powerful Alphas around. Killing any Alpha is a suicide mission.

“That’s an act of war, Dad. Do you want to start a pack war?”

He taps the table. “Think big picture, Aurora, the way I always taught you. Their pack will be in chaos when you succeed–and you will. You’ll do it in a way that can’t be traced back to you, and you’ll bring in the Olympic Howlers as a bonus.”

“And our family will be the saviors of the pack.”

“Justice will be served. I could take over as Alpha…you’d even be a princess!”

He can’t be serious.

“Dad…why are you so interested in this? What would you gain?”

He squeezes my hand. “You’d be doing a public service for shifters everywhere. No one in the pack has been able to take down the Leavenworths–the old king’s memory is still beloved. And they attacked our family. It isn’t revenge, but it’s justice for everyone they’ve hurt and that’s enough for me. Please.”

He’s serious. My wolf still feels anxious, almost like she can detect a lie but I believe him. He’s never lied to me before.

“I’ll have to make it look like an accident.”

I have no idea why I’ve said yes, other than thinking the world of my father and feeling instant rage at anyone who attacks him. And I hunt rogues because I can’t stand bullies.

He reaches out and hugs me across the table.

This plan is crazy in a million ways. I’m not an assassin. I hate suffering. And I only mingle with the Alpha’s court in our pack once in a double moon–even rarer than a blue moon. Oh, I own dresses and tasteful suits, and I enjoy dressing nicely. But the people at an Alpha’s court have their fur brushed and shampooed and perfumed.

I drink my cocoa for courage. “Bring me that whole pot of hot chocolate, because I think I deserve it for doing this.”

The next morning, with hugs and tears and the blessing of our Alpha, I leave for Ruby Nightclaw territory. I’m going alone despite Derric’s not-so-subtle hints to come with me. I can’t involve anyone else.

The Ruby Nightclaws’ forest is even more lush than ours, and their capital city, Goldmoon, lies near a small lake. The royal palace is at least four stories tall. I stare up at the towers with the scarlet flags of the Ruby Nightclaws waving in the breeze. Their streets teem with loud, happy shifters. At least they all act happy. Maybe it’s required by law. Or maybe people in the capital have it easy. I pass by at least three taverns and an octagonal council hall.

I’ve shifted back to human form after several days of trekking in wolf form with a backpack strapped to my back. Smoothing the front of my olive green shirt, I walk up to the wooden castle doors and announce myself.

My name gets the royal guards’ attention, and before long, the massive front doors creak open and I pass through …

Only to be caught the minute I step inside.