First attack

Aria. 

The annual hunt was held outside the pack house and it was in the woods, Alpha Rowan invited some other packs to join in the hunt, so the woods were filled with wolves. 

Kade made me stay close to him during the hunt, and he didn’t go too far because he didn’t want to lose sight of me. 

“Stay close, Aria.” I had lost count of how many times he said that. He added that he didn’t want me to get close to the woods because he wouldn’t be able to look for me in the woods and I might end up getting hurt. 

So, I stayed close to Kade and watched him interact with the other warriors, making sure that each part of the woods was protected. 

“Aria, Alpha Rowan wants you to come to him, now, he said you should bring his flask which held his tea in it, to him.” A blonde woman said to me. “He said he needs it now before he starts the hunt.” 

“If I were you, I would get going.” She pressed on when I hesitated. 

I had brought the flask with me, and I wanted to inform Kade that I was leaving because Alpha Rowan wanted me but he was in a deep conversation. I don’t want to get into trouble with Alpha Rowan, especially not here. 

I turned to the blonde. 

“Where is he?” 

“Come, I will take you to him.” 

I followed her, holding the flask to my chest, I marched the grass with my black boots, and the tight jeans that I wore, following the lady closely. 

Before I knew what was happening, something hit me on the back of my head, I stumbled face down, the flask falling from my hand. 

“Is she the one?” I heard voices. 

“Yes.” A haggard voice responded, I groaned and tried to stand, but a strong hand forced a handkerchief on my nose. His arms were strong and no matter how hard I hit them, they wouldn’t budge, his grip tightened. 

I could smell wolfsbane in the handkerchief, I kicked my feet, fighting back but nothing, the face of the man was masked, and my sight was getting blurry. 

I kicked his groin, and he grunted and took his hand off my nose, I jerked up to my feet and ran. 

Running past the giant trees, and thick bushes, it didn’t take more than a minute before he came after me. 

I ran faster, knowing that I couldn’t shift my legs was the only option I had, something struck my back. 

I groaned and tumbled, and the next minute, I saw him shift into his wolf form, a black wolf. 

He growled and jumped in front of me. 

He raised his claws to stroke me with it, I let out a scream and covered my face with my hand. 

I heard a louder growl, and when I could no longer feel the weight of the wolf, I took my hands off and saw him fighting with a brown wolf with dark hazel eyes. 

Kade. 

The black wolf ran off, and Kade’s wolf scurried over to me. 

His wolf whimpered, and I forced a smile on my lips and touched his furs. He shifted back to his human form, and I thought he was going to blame me for leaving his side but instead, he picked me up from the ground. 

I whined when he touched me, he said nothing, but his jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes stared ahead of us. 

“Kade,” I called, he didn’t spare me a glance. 

“You’re hurt, I will get you treated.” He spoke quietly. “Lean close.” 

I placed my head on his chest and locked my hands around his neck, I watched him from under my lashes. 

“Someone was after you.” He stated, and he looked down at me for a brief moment. “That wolf could have…” He averted his gaze, the words felt heavy in his throat. 

I knew what he meant, someone wanted to kill me, and that was clearly an assassinating attempt on my life. 

I was in danger, that was the reality, and someone in the pack wanted me dead. 

Kade took me out of the woods and made me sit on the wooden bench close to where the other wolves were gathered. 

“Let me see.” He muttered, his eyes softened, and I fiddled with my shirt. 

“You want me to take you inside?” He asked and clasped his hand over mine. 

I shook my head and twirled around on the seat, and rolled my shirt up a little. 

“Fuck.” Kade cussed while staring at the wound on my back, there was another wound at the back of my head as well. 

“I will clean them up.” He muttered and went to grab the first aid kit. 

I bit my lower lip and exhaled. 

I felt the slight touches on my back, whining. 

“I’m sorry.” He cooed and was a little more gentle with his torches and I felt something roll down my back, it didn’t feel like water, it smelled like blood. 

I looked over my shoulder and glanced at him. 

He had slit his palm with a small knife. 

“Why did you do that Kade?” 

“You think I could bear leaving you writhing in pain? You’ll heal faster with my blood.” 

I took my lips in and stared at him, he didn't know anything about me, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell him either. 

“How did you find me?” I asked. 

“I took a glance at the spot I left you and you weren’t there. I left the warriors and searched around, and then I saw the flask on the ground. I knew you had it with you, it was for Alpha Rowan.” 

“Did something happen?” Someone interjected. 

Kade dropped my shirt, and I spun around on the bench, Kade stood up and picked up the first aid box. 

“It’s none of your business.” He hissed at him, and I had to stare at the intruder. 

“It seems that she’s hurt, so I got the doctor for her.” 

“I can take care of it.” Kade snapped. 

“Don’t be stubborn Kade, she should see a doctor if there’s a need to.” 

“Would you stay out of it, Lucian?” 

Lucian, the cold and calculative strategist from the council. When his cold gray eyes looked at me, I turned the other way. He had this silver hair that distinguished him from the other wolves in the council. 

His motive remained unclear, and he was more reserved and tended to observe more than engage but now he was here, staring at me, and the wound that I had sustained and holding a conversation with Kade. 

I suspected him, he could have sent the wolf after me. He was part of the council, and Rowan trusted strategist. 

His eyes lingered on my face, his expression was hard to decipher. 

He breathed out and jammed his hands into his pocket. “Alpha Rowan wants you to meet with him after the hunt.” He turned the other way and sauntered out of our midst. 

My suspicion was around him, the reason he came here to find out if Kade brought me back dead or not. He was working with Rowan. 

I was determined to find out the truth behind the attack, and whoever was after me because someone clearly wanted me dead.