Midnight Howling Book 1

Chapter 5: Breaking The Rules

James had just finished a quiet dinner with his mate, Nancy. They had lingered at the table, their conversation soft and intimate, enjoying the calm before the demands of leadership called him away. As Nancy made her way upstairs, her hand lightly trailing along the railing, James sighed, remembering the stack of papers left unattended on his desk at the pack house.

"Nanc," he called softly, moving toward the stairs. She turned, a teasing smile playing on her lips. Reaching out, James gently caught her wrist, tugging her back toward him.

"What is it, James?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with playful curiosity.

"I left some important documents out in my office," he said, the apology evident in his voice. "I need to head back for a minute. I'll be quick."

Nancy leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Hurry back," she whispered, her voice low and sultry, sending a shiver down his spine.

James groaned, a deep rumble vibrating in his chest. His wolf, Ash, stirred, drawn to her playful challenge. He pulled her closer, his hands sliding over her hips, his lips trailing from her jaw down to the mark at her neck. Nancy's breath hitched, her body pressing into him as a sigh escaped her lips.

"Grrr to you too," she teased, though her voice betrayed the effect he had on her.

James smirked, his lips lingering on her skin before he reluctantly pulled back. "I'll make it quick," he promised, stealing one last kiss before stepping away. As he turned to leave, he glanced back, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks and soft smile. His wolf murmured in his mind, "Beautiful." James agreed.

The cold night air cleared his thoughts as he headed toward the pack house, the weight of duty pulling him back. If only he had dealt with those papers earlier, he could have stayed in the warmth of his mate's arms. Inside his office, the room was dim and quiet. He gathered the documents, heading for the filing cabinet, already eager to return home.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a force that shook the frame. James whirled around, his body instantly tense, a snarl ripping from his throat as his wolf surged to the surface, ready to fight. His eyes flashed a vivid blue, but the snarl died when he recognized the intruder.

"Alpha!" Gabrial, the head of his warriors, stood panting, his face pale with urgency. "A rogue was spotted on the Northeast border!"

James didn't wait for more information. The papers slipped from his hands as he rushed past Gabrial, his body shifting the moment he hit the open air. His midnight-black wolf burst forth, powerful legs launching him across the training field. Gabe followed closely, their wolves moving as one, muscles rippling beneath dark fur as they raced toward the forest.

The scent of pine and earth filled his senses as they weaved between trees, moving with a speed that only the most experienced wolves could manage. James's ears twitched, picking up the sound of splashing water in the distance. His heart clenched.

"The sacred lake," he mind-linked to Gabrial, his wolf's growl vibrating in his chest. The lake was a sacred place, blessed by the moon Goddess herself. No rogue had ever dared defile its waters—until now.

As they neared the lake, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air—a woman's scream. James's wolf snarled in fury, his pace quickening as they pushed harder, desperate to reach the source.

The lake came into view, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. The water, usually pristine and shimmering under the moonlight, was stained a deep crimson. A young woman's body floated in the bloody water, her eyes half-open and fixed on the full moon above.

A low whine escaped Ash, the sight wrenching at both of them. We're too late, the wolf murmured in despair.

But James's attention snapped to the shore, where a rogue wolf, its fur matted with blood and dirt, paced restlessly. Its left eye was a mangled mess, a deep gouge marking the result of a vicious fight. The rogue's wild eye locked on the young woman, intent on claiming its prey.