Chapter 2 — The Pack is Gone
I carry him inside, my wolf tense and growling at every creak of the old cabin.
The fire is small, barely lighting the room, but it's enough to see the blood on his shirt, the exhaustion on his face, and the faint scar that wasn't there five years ago.
"You… you can't be here," I whisper, forcing my voice to sound strong.
He shakes his head, trying to stand, but I push him gently back onto the chair. "I don't have a choice. They're gone… my pack. They didn't survive the attack."
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. My wolf growls low, sensing danger, but my human mind is too frozen to move.
"What happened?" I ask quietly, my throat tight.
"Another pack attacked us… bigger, stronger… I couldn't protect them," he admits, voice breaking. His amber eyes, once full of pride, now seem small, almost scared.
For a moment, I see the boy he used to be before he became Alpha. And then the anger flares.
Five years of pain, five years of his rejection, all those nights I told myself I'd never care… come rushing back.
But then, beneath it all, there's something else. A pull I can't explain, a bond I thought was dead stirring faintly.
"You should have died out there," I say, my voice trembling. "You don't get to show up here and expect me to—"
"I know," he interrupts, grimacing. "I don't expect forgiveness. I just need your help. I can't face this alone."
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. My wolf wants to lash out, wants to push him away, but something inside me… something stubborn… wants to help.
"I… I'll help you," I say finally. "But don't think this means anything more than survival."
He nods, grim but grateful. "That's all I need… for now."
Outside, the full moon glows bright, casting shadows through the cabin window.
And I realize — this is only the beginning.
Because danger isn't done with him. Or with me.
And the bond between us? It's far from over.