Prologue & Ch. 1

In the darkness, two shadowy figures huddled over a small bundle.

“Nathan, it just - it just seems so wrong to - “ she faltered, her lip trembling and tears falling unheeded into the blankets she’s holding.

“I know, my love.

I know,” the other figure crooned, his voice gruff yet decidedly tender.

“But we must do what we have to in order to keep her safe.”

A car door snicked shut not far from them, far too quiet for a normal human to hear.

“There they are. We must go.”

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Sam’s POV

All was quiet.

The forest seemed almost to be holding its breath.

Even the wind had stilled, as though it were waiting.

The full moon cast eerie shadows as a copper-haired young man ran through the trees, his footsteps sure, as though he ran along an invisible boundary.

As he came into a clearing, his eyes scanned the forest, and his shoulders tightened.

The forest shouldn’t be this quiet.

True, it was rarely loud - the animals recognised Sam and his people for what they were: predators.

But on a night like tonight, there should be some sound. The stillness put him on edge.

His usually sparkling green eyes were sharp, uncertain, as he mind-linked his Alphas and his team.

“Heads up, you guys. Something doesn’t feel right. Keep your eyes sharp and listen to your instincts. Alphas, could you send me some back up?”

Garrett’s clear voice sounded in Sam’s mind. “Cole and I are on our way to you, Sam. Give us an image of where you are.”

“Does anyone else feel off?” Cole’s voice added.

A chorus of “no” and “everything looks fine here, Alphas,” rang through Sam’s mind as he slowed his run to a halt and sent an image of his clearing back to the group.

“Do we keep patrolling or come to you,” a young warrior named Quinn asked.

Sam smirked slightly. “Keep running your patrol, pup. Even if I were attacked here, it could be a distraction. Don’t ever leave your post unless one of your leaders commands you to. That’s why I asked for backup.”

As a lone gust of wind swept towards him, goosebumps tickled his flesh and he swung his head in its direction, inhaling the familiar scent.

Blood.

“Guys -“

But before he could finish his thought, a woman - was it a woman? tumbled out of the brush and landed at his feet, sides heaving, covered in blood, dirt, and leaves, her long golden hair, tangled and obscuring her face.

His mind filling with questions - not the least of which was why he couldn’t smell her scent, Sam bent down to get a closer look, when a deep, menacing growl made him go still.

Quickly his eyes flicked into the forest, where no less than ten wolves now stalked towards him.

He smelled it then, the rotting scent of - rogues.

Why he hadn’t smelled it before, he didn’t know - it was a scent that carried, but there was no time to dwell on it.

The sound of bones cracking filled the night air as he sent a desperate thought to his team “Hurry! We’re being attacked!”