Howls of Cursed Fate

꧁ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 ꧂

𝓒𝓻𝓪𝔃𝔂

We had skipped training that day, but the pull to run in the sacred woods was too strong to ignore. My inner wolf had been restless, pacing inside me all afternoon, so I gathered the pack for a run. Because running on four paws always helped settle that tension.

The pack wasn't exactly well-slept after last night's party, but they were happy to get some air. It wasn't just about burning off energy; it was about release. The kind of freedom you only get when your feet aren't bound by shoes, but by the earth itself. In Moongrave's nature park.

I darted through the trees, the wind tearing through my fur, my claws digging into the soft dirt with each stride. There was something primal about it, something that let me shut off my brain and just be. The wind rushed past, filling my lungs with the scent of pine, damp leaves, and the lingering chill of the approaching sunset.

The forest blurred around me as I pushed harder, the power of my wolf taking over completely. This—running wild and free—was where I felt at peace.

Behind me, the rest of the pack kept pace. Eight of us in total—six wolves and two she-wolves—all in sync, all connected through the bond that tied us together. We didn't need words when we were like this; the world itself became our language.

But then there was Lilly. She ran alongside us, still in her human form, her face set with determination as she tried to keep up. She was fast, for a human, but I knew it frustrated her. She had the strength, the endurance, but without her mate, she couldn't shift yet.

I admired her for that, and not just because she was my best friend. She was unstoppable—always pushing herself, never letting the fact that she hadn't found her mate slow her down.

We looped around the woods, slowing near a small valley by the caves and the lake. I stopped next to a large rock, waiting for the others to catch up and take a break.

I heard a chuckle and saw Caden shift back into his human form mid-run. He nearly tripped over his shoelaces as he tried to balance himself, still laughing.

The brown wolf Ryan, and his white-furred girlfriend, Shelly, tilted their heads at me, and I snorted, signaling for them to watch.

Caden scooped up a handful of mud, grinning like an idiot, and smeared it on Lilly's arm. She shot him a dirty look, but she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. A second later, she tackled him into the dirt, both of them tumbling and wrestling in a flurry of limbs and laughter.

"Stop," Lilly giggled, smearing more mud on his face.

"Guess you'll have to wait for your mate to unlock those paws, huh?" Caden teased, still laughing as he ducked her sudden punches.

"You are an absolute idiot!" Lilly rolled her eyes, but I could see she was enjoying the moment.

I would've let them keep going, but I heard the growl before I saw him.

Asher.

His brown fur bristled, his eyes narrowed at the sight. This wasn't good.

I took a few cautious steps toward him, watching as he stalked closer to Caden, tension radiating from him. Asher never had much patience for Caden's antics. His protective instincts toward his twin sister Lilly were always on high alert, especially when he felt she was being teased.

"Asher, relax," I linked through the wolf bond, my voice low but firm.

He flinched but didn't back down, his wolf side ready to snap. Caden, sensing the change, wisely pulled back, hands raised in surrender.