Chapter 1- Samara

Samara POV

‘They’re closing in on us Mara.’ 

Samara Smith took a moment to glance behind her at the five wolves gaining on her before she responded to her wolf. ‘I’m going as fast as I can Rieka. We just need to make it around that ridge up ahead and then we will be on sacred ground and safe from attack by those wolves.’

Samara wasn’t too worried about the wolves chasing her through the dense forest. They would not be able to catch up to her before she made it to the old Church. Samara possessed the power of the wolf queen running through her veins and was confident that she could out run those giving chase. She knew those wolves behind her were no match for the speed and power she possessed thanks to her wolf Rieka. 

What worried Samara was the yet to be revealed leader of the wolves currently chasing her in the night. How did they find out about Jamari? She worried to herself. No matter what, she could not let them get to her sister. Jamari must be protected at all costs. If the key fell into the wrong hands it would mean the end of everything. 

Samara glanced behind her and noticed that the distance between her and the wolves chasing her was getting wider. She sent up a thankful prayer to the Moon Goddess before turning back around and looking ahead. The clouds parted in the night sky allowing the full moon to shine its light ahead at the old Church ruins that were finally coming into sight. 

The old Church is the ruins left behind of the Sacred Temple dedicated to the Moon Goddess in ancient times. It was abandoned five centuries ago and no one knows what happened to the caretakers of it. Everyone in the Church disappeared in the dead of the night with no trace of what happened or where they disappeared to. 

It was a mystery that many have tried to solve over the years with no progress. The Church had always been a place of peace when it was still in use, but since the disappearance five hundred years ago no one has been able to attack another while on the grounds. Some mystical aura attacks anyone that tries to harm another while inside its walls. And to date no one has survived an attack from this mystical aura. 

Due to this, no one dares to attack anyone that seeks refuge at the old Church ruins. You would think that there would be a lot of people who would take advantage of the ruins and make a home there but whatever mystical aura that attacks those who attempt harm also slowly drains the life of those who stay within its walls for too long. Because of this the ruins have become a place for rival packs to seek peace with each other. 

The Sacred Temple has been a big part of Jamari’s studies since she first learned about the Church. She once told Samara that she felt a connection to the old Church ruins and she couldn’t help herself from wanting to know more about them. No one has been able to spend as much time as Jamari has at the ruins without slowly dying. It was just one of the things that made her twin sister special to the Wolf community, at least in her sister’s eyes. Samara has done a lot to hide this bit of news from other wolves in order to keep her sister safe. 

Samara pushed herself to go faster to reach the old Church ruins up ahead, getting closer by the second. Come on Samara. You can make it. You have to make it. For Jamari’s sake you have to make it to that Church.

As the distance between Samara and the Church grew smaller and smaller she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘We’re almost there Rieka. We’re going to make it.’

Out of nowhere a huge black wolf slammed into Samara’s side before she was able to leap over the wall and into the Church courtyard. Samara went flying fifty feet away before she was able to catch herself and get up on her four legs. She turned towards her attacker and let out a ferocious growl that left many rooted in fear.

The black wolf looked her up and down before chuckling loudly. “You do not scare me little wolf.” He snorted out loud before shapeshifting into a naked man. With a snap of his fingers clothing appeared on his body covering him from Samara’s gazing eyes. The man now stood before Samara in an expensive looking all black suit with all the accessories that screamed money. Who is this guy?

Samara’s ears perked up as she heard the five wolves that were chasing her getting closer to her and the mystery man standing before her. Samara assessed her opponent and concluded that he must be the leader of the wolves who have been chasing her. She stood still, studying the mystery man and searching for weaknesses she could exploit before the other wolves appeared, when his next words broke through her concentration and realization sank in. Those wolves weren’t just chasing her, they were leading her to this place, and to their leader hiding outside the entrance. This was all a trap!

‘How are we going to get out of this Mara? That’s not a normal wolf standing in front of us. In fact, I don’t think he’s a wolf at all.’ Rieka whimpered in Samara’s head. Samara chose to ignore her wolf so she could focus on the man standing in front of her, taunting her for her stupidity. 

“Come now Samara, did you really think that my wolves were stupid enough to allow you to reach a no attack zone?” He tsked at her, going as far as putting up his index finger and waving it back and forth while he verbalized the tsk. 

Samara growled in frustration. She had been corralled and now this mystery man stood between her and her only option for safety. If she tried to run around or past him he would just knock her back again. And she couldn’t run back the way she came from because the wolves that were chasing her were spread out a hundred yards away, effectively preventing her from being able to run in any direction. 

Seeing no other option Samara decided to stand her ground and shifted back into her human form in order to talk with the handsome man standing before her. Unlike the man who quickly clothed himself upon shifting, Samara stood proudly in her nudity with her head held high. Samara grew up with wolves so nudity was not an issue for her, especially when she had nothing to be ashamed about. Samara was revered as the most beautiful she-wolf in her pack, the Crescent Moon pack. She stood at five foot ten inches and had long beautiful legs that were often admired by males and females alike within her pack. Her slim waist and ample bosom had many wolves vying to be her lover. Samara watched as the man in front of her looked her body over from head to foot with admiration in his eyes.

Samara rolled her eyes before saying out loud, “Are you going to stare at me or tell me what you are after and why you had your wolves chase me to the old Church in the middle of the night?” She said, acting bored in order to hide her apprehension. 

The man’s eyes snapped up to her face and a wide smile spread out across his face. “Straight to the point I see.” He said, giving one last longing look to her body before continuing. “You know what I want from you Samara. And it isn’t that amazing body you’re flaunting over there. Give me the key.” He growled, causing Samara to stiffen despite her attempt to not be affected. 

Samara feigned innocence. “What key are you talking about? The one to my bedroom perhaps?” She purred…lifting an eyebrow in question. 

“Do not patronize me little wolf!” The man responded in anger. “I know you have the key and you are going to give it to me or DIE!”

It was then that Samara realized that this man had no idea what the key was. He only knew that she had it and thought to scare her into handing it over. “Who are you to come here and order me, the Wolf Queen, to give you something that isn’t yours?” She yelled back at him. 

Samara was trying to distract the mystery man so she could make a run for the Church. Even in her human form she should be faster than the man standing in front of her. She just needed to get around him and make it over the stone wall behind him and she would be safe from his attack. 

The man chuckled evily when he introduced himself to Samara. “I am King of the Demons you pathetic Queen of lowly wolves.” He said standing tall in pride. This caused Samara to halt in surprise, missing her opportunity to run to the Church. “That key is no more yours than it is mine, but I intend to make it mine before the night is out. So tell me little Wolf Queen, where is the key?”