Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 34: The Hunt Begins

Leo's POV

Night had fully descended by the time we gathered at the edge of the Silvermoon Pack's territory. The air was heavy with tension, the distant howl of a lone wolf echoing through the forest. I stood with my warriors, all of them in wolf form, ready for the hunt. Maya was beside me, her wolf, Lyra, standing tall and alert.

They won't expect us to strike first, Fenrir snarled in my mind, his eagerness for the hunt palpable. We'll find them before they make their move.

They've already made their move, I reminded him. This isn't just a rogue attack. There's something else out there, something organized.

I glanced at Maya. Her eyes gleamed in the darkness, her confidence giving me strength. She had seen the scout, and if she hadn't raised the alarm, who knew what might have happened.

We need to find them, I said through the mind-link, addressing the entire pack. Stay alert. Whoever this is, they're smart. They're testing our defenses.

Jaxon, ever the reliable Beta, was already leading a small group to check the eastern border. I took the lead with Maya, our wolves running in perfect sync. The forest closed in around us as we moved deeper into the darkness, our senses sharp.

The scent hit me before I saw them-a faint mix of rogues and something darker. I growled low in my throat, Fenrir pushing forward in my mind. We slowed our pace, moving silently through the trees, our eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Then, there it was-a flash of silver in the moonlight. I halted, signaling the others to stop. Maya came to a standstill beside me, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the movement ahead.

There, she said through the link. I see them.

I followed her gaze and saw what she meant. A group of rogues, their movements too organized for what we'd expect from feral wolves. They were moving with purpose, clearly scouting our borders.

Fenrir let out a low growl in my mind. They're being controlled. This isn't just a rogue problem. There's a pack behind this.

Agreed, I said, feeling my anger simmering beneath the surface. We need to end this before it gets worse.

I turned to the warriors behind us, giving them a silent signal. We spread out, moving to surround the rogues before they could make a move. The element of surprise was on our side.

---

Maya's POV

My heart raced as we closed in on the group of rogues. Lyra was completely in sync with me, her instincts guiding us through the shadows. The scent of the rogues was overwhelming, but there was something else mixed in with it-a scent I couldn't quite place.

Be ready, I told Lyra. This isn't just about the rogues. There's more going on here.

Lyra growled softly in agreement, her hackles raised. I don't like this. It's too calculated for a rogue attack.

We moved closer, and I could see the rogues now-four of them, their eyes glowing in the darkness, their bodies tense and alert. They hadn't spotted us yet, but it was only a matter of time.

Leo, we need to act now, I said through the link, feeling the urgency build within me.

Wait for the signal, he replied, his voice calm but firm.

I trusted him, but every instinct in me screamed for action. These rogues were too close to our borders, too close to our home. And I wouldn't let them threaten everything we had fought for.

Then, without warning, Leo gave the signal.

We lunged forward as one, our wolves moving with lethal precision. The rogues barely had time to react before we were upon them. I sank my teeth into the nearest one, feeling the sharp tang of blood on my tongue. Lyra howled in triumph as we brought the rogue to the ground, its body limp beneath us.

The others didn't stand a chance. Leo and the warriors tore through them with deadly efficiency, their growls and snarls filling the night air. Within moments, the rogues lay dead at our feet, their blood soaking into the earth.

But even as the fight ended, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Something darker was still out there, watching, waiting.

Lyra, do you feel that? I asked, scanning the trees for any sign of movement.

Yes, she replied, her voice tense. We're not alone.

I turned to Leo, who was already looking out into the forest, his eyes narrowed.

"There's more," he said aloud, his voice a low growl. "This was just a distraction."

---

Leo's POV

Maya was right. The fight had been too easy, too straightforward. These rogues were nothing more than pawns, sent to test our strength and distract us from the real threat.

Fenrir, what do you think? I asked, scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.

I think they're toying with us, Fenrir growled. We need to find the source of this. Whoever's controlling these rogues is close.

I looked at Maya, her wolf's eyes glowing in the darkness. She was ready for whatever came next, just as I was. Together, we would find the truth behind these attacks and end it once and for all.

I turned to Jaxon, who had just returned with his group of warriors. "Did you find anything?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. It's like they vanished into thin air."

I frowned, my frustration mounting. Whoever was behind this knew how to cover their tracks. But they couldn't hide forever. We would find them, and when we did, we would make them pay for threatening our pack.

"We keep searching," I said, my voice firm. "We're not stopping until we find out who's behind this."

Maya nodded beside me, her determination matching my own. Together, we would face whatever darkness lay ahead. And we would protect our pack, no matter the cost.