A
scream echoed in my ears, making my blood run cold. The noise originated from about two miles away, where my pack lived, deep within the mountainous woods outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
I stilled. That was odd. The trickling of the murky Tennessee River in front of me filtered back into my awareness.
Maybe some kids were playing or Dad was doing training rituals with the younger shifters. But that would surprise me because tonight was the new moon. Normally, we took it easy this day of the month when our kind was at our weakest-but maybe that was the point.
I hoped no one had gotten hurt.
Brushing the concern away, I leaned over the muddy edge of the riverbank and dipped my fingers into the cool water. The heavy storm from a few days ago had made the liquid more cloudy than normal, but I could still see my reflection. My long, silver hair, which signified my future as alpha, lifted in the breeze, and the olive tint to my skin contrasted with my light silver-purple eyes.
The noon sun warmed the back of my neck, and the tension melted from my body.
“Attack!” The faint, desperate command resonated from the distance. “Kill as many as you can.” My body froze.
This was no exercise. We didn’t shout frantically even when we wanted to during training. Revealing worry sounded weak. As silver wolves and protectors, we had to convey confidence at all times.
I spun on my heel and ran toward the neighborhood. Dammit, I shouldn’t have snuck out and hiked the two miles away from home, but this was the one day of the month that I could be alone for a few hours.
The one day I had a reprieve from learning about my future responsibilities, which I’d inherit from my father.
What’s going on? I linked with my pack, but there was radio silence. As though I’d been cut off from communicating with them.
That had never happened before. I probed my mind again for the link while panic clawed in my throat. The only solace I had was that my chest was still warm from my pack bonds.
Animals scurried in the opposite direction as me, and my already frantic heart pounded harder.
Something was wrong. The silver wolves acclimated into the world, but we kept our location and the type of wolf we were hidden from everyone, including other members of the wolf race. The only time we allowed someone from outside into our pack was when one of our own found their fated mate. To keep our pack secret, the fated mate always became one of us. It was our pack law and a way to ensure that the silver wolf race remained hidden. So, being attacked shouldn’t have been possible.
Gunshots fired, and I drew magic from my wolf, increasing my speed with the animal inside. I needed to get back to my pack as fast as possible, but I couldn’t risk shifting. In animal form, we revealed the kind of wolves we were to our attackers, our silver fur unmistakable. I couldn’t take the risk of alerting them to our existence, in case they thought we were another regular wolf pack. The attackers could be from a pack led by an overzealous alpha who wanted to form a larger pack by strong-arming us into submitting to him. Dad had told me repeatedly that something like this could happen.
It was a possibility, but I couldn’t be sure until I reached them.
Parts of my chest grew colder as members of the pack began to disappear, just like the time my grandfather passed.
No.
They couldn’t be dying.
Any other day of the month, I could run twice as fast, but with the moon hidden tonight, my magic was weakened even more so than the other pack members’ would be because alpha blood was more connected to the moon. Even in wolf form, I wouldn’t have been able to run faster.
Not today.
Silver wolves were much stronger than standard wolves, especially at night and on a full moon. The fuller the moon, the stronger and larger we were. But this one day of the month, we were essentially like every other wolf in the world.
Nothing special.
More shots blasted, and I pushed myself harder, causing my side to cramp.
I had to breathe, or I’d be too winded to help my pack when I finally reached them.
The trees blurred as I rushed past, and my feet sank into the mulch-like ground, slowing me down. I wanted to scream in frustration.
Taking deep breaths of the spring air, I tried to use the floral scents of the woods to keep myself rational. Deep breathing was one of the calming rituals that had been instilled in me as a young girl. Learning airway control was one of the best weapons that anyone could have. It helped me think rationally and not make stupid decisions under pressure. Nothing was more powerful.
No matter how hard I pushed, it didn’t seem to be enough. It felt like time stood still as I desperately tried to get to my friends and family.
With every step I took, the sounds of fighting became clearer. I had to believe that was a good sign. After all, we were born warriors.
I latched on to that hope and didn’t let my fear take hold.
As the trees thinned, I almost shouted in victory. I made it! But the stench of copper hit my nose.
Blood.
The smell coated my throat, making it hard to swallow.
My feet stumbled, and I caught myself before I could fall to my knees. I didn’t have time to come apart. I was an alpha, for God’s sake, and my people needed me.
I opened my mouth and breathed without using my nose. The scent was still strong, but not nearly
as bad. My wolf surged forward in my mind, helping me to remain emotionally strong.
As I got closer to home, modest brick houses peeked through the trees. I ran directly to the alpha house, its backyard connected to the woods. I had to find my parents and see what Dad needed me to do. He’d have a plan. He always did.