Silas' mate

Chapter 16: Invasion by the Black Rivier Pack

A bloodcurdling shriek shattered the tranquility of the evening. Hazel bolted upright in her bed, heart hammering against her ribs. The joyous camaraderie of the previous night's celebration seemed a lifetime ago, replaced by a chilling sense of dread.

Scrambling out of bed, she threw on her clothes, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Bursts of frantic movement and shouts filtered in from outside. Something was terribly wrong.

Hazel burst out of her den to find the pack in a state of chaos. Silas, fur bristling, emerged from the alpha's den, his face grim.

"The Black River Pack!" he barked, his voice laced with urgency. "They've breached the northern border!"

A wave of terror washed over Hazel. The Black River Pack – their ancient rivals, driven by a lust for power and a hatred for the Crossroads Pack. She had heard stories of their ruthlessness, their willingness to break the laws of the werewolf code.

"Stay here!" Silas commanded, his gaze flashing with concern. "It's not safe."

But Hazel wouldn't stay put. Not while the pack, her newfound family, was in danger. Fueled by a surge of protectiveness, a primal urge she didn't understand, she pushed past him.

The sight that greeted her was a scene of utter chaos. The Black River Pack wolves, their fur matted and eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger, had ripped through the Crossroads Pack's defenses. The smell of blood and rage hung heavy in the air.

Terror threatened to consume Hazel, but a deep instinct, raw and powerful, urged her forward. She had to help. But how? She wasn't a werewolf yet, not fully. Desperation gnawed at her.

Then, a bloodcurdling yelp pierced the night. It was Sarah, a young she-wolf Hazel had befriended, cornered by a hulking Black River wolf. In that split second, a primal energy surged through Hazel. The world seemed to slow down, her senses sharpening to an inhuman degree.

A roar erupted from her throat, a sound unlike anything she'd ever heard herself make. It was a sound of defiance, of raw power awakening. The Black River wolf, startled by the unexpected challenge, faltered for a moment. That was all the time Sarah needed. With a burst of speed, she darted away, disappearing into the forest.

Hazel stood frozen, her body trembling with the aftereffects of the primal roar. Had she...? But before she could contemplate further, another Black River wolf lunged at her. This time, instinct took over. She moved with a grace and agility she never knew she possessed, dodging the attack with a blur of motion.

A new surge of energy coursed through her veins. Her senses were on fire, the night air buzzing with information. She felt... different. Stronger. More connected to the wild than ever before.

The battle raged around her, a whirlwind of snarls, growls, and snapping jaws. Hazel fought with a ferocity that surprised even her, fueled by a desperate need to protect her pack, her new home.

But the Black River Pack was relentless, their numbers overwhelming. Just as a Black River wolf lunged for her throat, a flash of fur slammed into it from the side. Silas, his eyes blazing with a golden light, was a whirlwind of claws and teeth, driving the wolf back.

"Get back to the den!" he roared at her, his voice laced with concern. "You're not ready for this!"

Tears welled up in Hazel's eyes, a mixture of fear and frustration. She wasn't ready? But she had to help! Then, a searing pain erupted in her shoulder, sharp and debilitating. A Black River wolf had sunk its teeth into her flesh.

A primal scream ripped from her throat, a sound unlike anything human. And then, the world went white.