Always And Forever | ENG

Chapter Five: Into the Unknown

The moon hung high in the sky, casting pale light through the trees as Ace and I moved through the forest. Every step was measured, every sound amplified. The faint rustling that had caught Ace's attention was gone, but I could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy like the calm before a storm.

Ace's presence beside me was a constant, reassuring anchor, but even his usual confidence was tempered with caution. He moved quietly, like a shadow, his sharp eyes scanning every movement in the darkness.

"What do you think it was?" I asked in a whisper, my voice barely carrying over the wind.

Ace didn't answer right away. His lips pressed into a thin line as he slowed his pace, his senses alert. He'd been the Beta for longer than I'd been alive, and I knew better than to underestimate his ability to read the forest.

"I don't know," he said finally, his voice low. "But I don't like it."

We continued moving, the distance between us and the pack house growing wider with each step. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being led into the unknown, as though the forest itself was conspiring against us.

Another snap of a twig echoed in the distance, and this time it was louder. Closer.

"Stay behind me," Ace said, his voice barely above a growl.

I didn't argue. I stayed close, my heart hammering in my chest as I gripped the dagger at my side, the one my father had insisted I carry when I took on the mantle of Alpha. It had felt like an unnecessary burden at the time, but now, I was glad for its weight.

We moved through the trees, our steps so silent they were nearly imperceptible. The sound of something-or someone-moving ahead of us was undeniable now. It wasn't just the wind. It wasn't the forest playing tricks. Whatever it was, it wasn't natural.

I caught a glimpse of something in the shadows, a flash of movement so quick I couldn't process it before it disappeared. My instincts screamed at me to run, but I stayed put, my eyes locked on the spot where I had seen the shape.

"Did you see that?" I asked, my voice tight with fear.

Ace's lips curled into a snarl, and I realized then that he had seen it too. His eyes narrowed, his posture rigid with alertness.

"I did," he said, his tone darker than I had ever heard it. "We're not alone."

A low growl echoed through the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy paws on the forest floor. It wasn't a wolf's growl, though. It was deeper, more menacing.

I gripped the dagger tighter, my knuckles white. "What is that?"

"I don't know," Ace said, his voice now laced with tension. "But whatever it is, it's not from our pack."

I took a step closer to him, instinctively seeking his strength. My mind was racing. There were too many possibilities, too many unknowns. But one thing was certain: we were being hunted.

The growl grew louder, more desperate, and then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

It was large-too large to be human-and its eyes glowed a sickly yellow in the darkness. Its body was massive, covered in thick fur, and its features were twisted into something grotesque. Its mouth parted in a snarl, revealing sharp teeth that gleamed in the moonlight.

I took a step back, my breath catching in my throat.

Ace was already in front of me, his stance protective. "Get ready," he said, his voice low and steady. "Whatever it is, it's not here for friendly conversation."

I nodded, my body trembling with the weight of the moment.

The creature let out another guttural growl, and with terrifying speed, it lunged toward us.

Instinct kicked in. I moved just as it reached us, sidestepping to the left while Ace darted forward, his muscles coiling with the force of a strike. The creature's claws slashed through the air, but Ace was faster, his fist connecting with its side with a sickening crack.

The beast roared, but it didn't back down. It came at Ace again, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from his face.

I saw my chance. I drew my dagger, holding it steady with both hands, and charged. The creature's attention was momentarily focused on Ace, and I used that precious second to dive in. I slashed the blade across its side, the steel biting deep into its flesh. It howled in pain, but the wound barely slowed it down.

Ace struck again, a brutal punch to the creature's throat, forcing it back. It staggered, but its eyes were filled with rage as it regrouped, preparing for another attack.

I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. This wasn't some simple fight. This was something more, something that threatened everything.

We weren't prepared for this.

"Ace!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice. "What the hell is this thing?!"

"I don't know," he said, his jaw clenched. "But we need to end this now."

The creature lunged again, and this time, I was ready. I moved to the side, but the beast had anticipated me, its claws raking across my shoulder. Pain exploded through me, but I didn't scream. I couldn't afford to.

With a growl of my own, I pressed the dagger into its exposed throat. The creature let out a final, gurgling cry as it staggered back, blood pouring from the wound. It collapsed to the ground, its body twitching in the final throes of death.

I stood over it, panting heavily, my body shaking from the adrenaline. The forest was silent again, the creature's growls gone, leaving only the sound of my labored breaths.

Ace stepped up beside me, his eyes scanning the area for any more threats. "Is it dead?"

I glanced down at the beast's unmoving form. "I think so."

But even as the words left my mouth, I knew that this was only the beginning.

"Whatever that thing was," I said, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest, "we've made an enemy tonight."

Ace nodded, his expression grim. "And it won't be the last."

The weight of his words settled over me. Tonight, I'd been tested in a way I hadn't expected. The mantle of Alpha didn't just come with leadership-it came with the responsibility of protecting our pack from forces beyond our understanding. Forces that were already closing in.

And I had no idea how to stop them.