Kael had not planned to leave his territory that night.
But he did.
And he knew exactly why.
The forest was quiet, but his mind was not.
Every step he took felt off. Distracted. His wolf was restless, pacing under his skin like something was wrong.
No.
Not something.
Someone.
Elara.
He exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. This made no sense. He had seen many wolves before both strong and weak ones, Even strange ones.
But none of them had stayed in his head like this.
None of them had resisted him.
He tensed.
That should not have happened.
It was not normal.
And he did not like things he could not explain.
A sound cut through his thoughts sharply.
Kael stopped instantly.
His body stilled, senses alert. The forest shifted around him, quiet in a different way now. Not peaceful but warning.
He did not move at first.
Then, A low, uncontrolled rough growl echoed.
Rogue.
Kael's eyes darkened.
Another sound followed, fast movement.
Not one.
More.
He shifted without hesitation. Bones adjusted, muscles stretched, fur breaking through skin. The change was quick, controlled. Familiar.
In seconds, the Alpha of Lunaris stood in wolf form.
Still.
Focused.
Dangerous.
The rogues stepped out slowly from the shadows.
Three of them.
Thin and wild with unstable eyes.
Kael lowered his head slightly, a quiet warning.
"Leave."
His voice carried through the link, firm and final.
The rogues did not move.
One of them laughed, with a broken, and uneven sound.
"Alpha…" it mocked. "Not your territory alone tonight."
Kael did not repeat himself.
He moved.
Fast.
The first rogue lunged, but Kael was quicker. He dodged, turning sharply, his claws catching the wolf's side and throwing it back into a tree.
The second came from the side.
Too slow.
Kael met it head-on, his weight slamming into it, forcing it to the ground. His jaws snapped just short of its neck, a warning.
But rogues did not understand warnings.
The third attacked from behind.
Kael twisted, but not fast enough.
Teeth grazed his shoulder.
He growled, low and controlled, and struck back harder this time without hesitation or mercy.
Within moments, the fight shifted.
They were losing.
The rogues staggered back, breathing hard, their confidence gone.
Kael stepped forward.
Dominant and Unshaken.
"Run."
This time, they did.
Disappearing into the trees as quickly as they came.
The forest fell quiet again.
But not for long.
Another scent hit him.
Familiar.
His body reacted before his mind did.
Elara.
She was close.
Very close.
Kael turned sharply, moving toward the scent without thinking. His steps were faster and more direct now.
Then he saw her.
She was in wolf form, surrounded.
Two rogues.
Not the same ones.
Different.
Larger.
And they were not playing.
Elara backed away, her body tense, her movements unsure. She was not trained for this. Not like them.
One of the rogues lunged.
She dodged but barely.
The second came from the side.
Too fast.
Kael moved.
He did not think.
He just did.
In a second, he was between them.
The impact was hard. Sudden. Enough to throw one of the rogues off balance.
Elara froze.
Her eyes locked onto him.
Recognition and Confusion, felt at once.
Something else.
There was no time for it.
The rogues attacked again.
Kael did not hold back this time.
His movements were precise, controlled. Every strike meant something. Every step calculated.
One rogue fell first.
The second tried to run.
Kael did not chase.
He did not need to.
Silence returned.
Again.
But this time, it was not the same.
He turned to her slowly.
She was still staring.
Watching.
Observing.
Breathing unevenly.
"You are not supposed to be here," he said.
The same words.
Somewhat closer.
Elara shifted slightly, with an unsteady voice. "I could say the same to you."
"The wolves, are u familiar with them" she asked.
"You mean the rouges, they are lone wolves without a pack, usually dangerous and unpredictable. So yes I am"
A pause.
Then, quietly.
"Thank you."
Kael held her gaze for a second longer than he should have.
Then he stepped back.
Maintaining distance and control.
"You need to go back," he said.
She did not move.
"Why do you keep saying that?" she asked.
"Because next time," his voice dropped slightly, "I might not be the one who finds you."
That landed.
She looked away briefly.
Then back at him.
That pull again.
Stronger now.
Clearer.
Unavoidable.
Kael felt it too.
And this time, he did not ignore it.
But he did not accept it either.
"This should not be happening," he said quietly.
Elara frowned. "Then explain it."
He did not answer.
Because he could not.
Instead, he stepped back again.
Further this time.
"You are Shadowfen," he said. "I am Lunaris."
She nodded slowly.
"We are not supposed to stand like this."
"I know."
Another silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Then she asked softly, "So what do we do?"
Kael looked at her.
Really looked this time.
And for the first time since this started;
He did not have an answer.
"Go," he said again.
But this time…
It did not sound as certain.