Always And Forever | ENG

Chapter Ten: The First Patrol

The sky was darkening as we assembled near the edge of the pack's territory, the last remnants of twilight fading behind us. The air felt colder now, a biting chill that settled into my bones as the first patrol of the night gathered. We were on edge-everyone could feel it. This wasn't just a routine scouting mission. Tonight, we were venturing into unfamiliar territory, chasing a threat that none of us fully understood.

Ace stood at the front of the small group, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest with practiced precision. He had always been the one to lead the patrols, organizing and strategizing with a calm efficiency that made him indispensable. But tonight, there was a subtle shift in his posture, a new intensity in the way he held himself. He was fully aware of what was at stake.

I stood next to him, trying to steady my own breath, trying to push back the rising tension in my chest. I wasn't just leading this patrol-I was leading the pack now. And as much as I wanted to believe I was ready, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was stepping into something much bigger than myself.

"We move out in ten," Ace said, his voice low, a quiet command that carried through the group. He glanced at me, his eyes sharp. "Stay close. If something happens, we regroup immediately."

I nodded, trying to match his resolve. "Understood."

The pack members who'd volunteered for the patrol were mostly younger wolves-fierce but untested, eager to prove themselves. There were a few older, more experienced wolves, but even they seemed uncertain, their eyes flickering toward me now and then, gauging my readiness. I could feel the weight of their expectations.

I had to be strong. For them. For the pack.

We set off into the forest, the trees closing in around us as we moved deeper into the unknown. The sounds of the night-the chirp of insects, the rustling of leaves-seemed muted, as though the forest itself was holding its breath. Every snap of a twig, every shift of the wind made me tense, made my senses go on high alert.

The first hour passed without incident. We moved swiftly but quietly, keeping to the shadows, our movements coordinated as we swept the perimeter of our territory. The air felt thick, charged with a strange energy that I couldn't place.

It was Ace who stopped first, his hand held up in a silent command for us to halt. We gathered around him, every one of us on edge. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness ahead, his posture rigid.

"There's something out there," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not close, but... something's moving."

The pack shifted uneasily. I could feel their nervous energy crackling through the air, but Ace's calm demeanor kept them in check.

"Stay low," he ordered. "We'll split into two groups. You take the left, I'll take the right. If we find anything, we stay quiet and regroup."

I nodded, my heart racing, but I didn't hesitate. Ace's plan made sense. We had to cover more ground. And if we encountered something... we had to be ready.

We split into our respective groups, the forest closing around us once again. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. The trees, the shadows-they felt alive, like they were hiding something from us.

Minutes later, I heard it: a rustling in the underbrush, faint but distinct. I motioned for the others to halt, my senses on high alert. The rustling grew louder, moving in our direction. My breath caught in my throat.

"Stay quiet," I whispered.

We crouched low, our bodies tense, waiting for whatever it was to appear. And then it did. A dark shape darted through the trees, moving too fast for me to make out.

"Did you see that?" one of the wolves whispered, his voice tight with fear.

Before I could answer, the creature moved again, darting out of sight. I stepped forward, signaling the others to stay low.

"It's not a wolf," I muttered. "Stay alert."

The tension was unbearable. Every sound seemed amplified, every shadow seemed to shift as though something was lurking just beyond the edge of our vision.

"Back to Ace," I ordered quietly. "Now."

We retreated, staying low and moving as quickly as we could. The forest felt more oppressive now, the darkness closing in around us.

When we met back up with Ace, I could see the same wariness in his eyes. He didn't need to say anything. He'd felt it too.

"We're being hunted," Ace said, his voice low and filled with a quiet urgency. "That wasn't a random creature. Whoever-or whatever-is out there, they're tracking us."

I nodded grimly. "We need to get back to the pack."

We made our way back, the unsettling feeling of being watched never leaving us. The woods were silent, but I knew it was only a matter of time before the threat found us again. This was just the beginning.