Unexpected [Not Complete. Under Editing]

Prologue

Pale moonbeams broke through the dense tree thicket as light shimmered through the vast northern Maine woodlands. The victorious trickles bestowed small bits of luminous patches, these visible safe havens were scattered throughout the dark, foggy, autumn landscape. Most of the natural inhabitants were offered some guidance along their travels across the vastness of territory, and with the necessary, basic tasks for their need of survival.

However, a foreign creature region's nightly predators did not require any aid from the moonlight and were hastily making their way through their neighboring communities. These deadly creatures were known as the Wolves of the Southern States. Lucky enough for them, they had managed to peacefully travel across the territory lines of the Eastern Wolves and created a temporary pact between both Alphas, so they could band together and hunt down the South's fleeing target.

Several howls from the singing beasts rang throughout the woods density, casting a paralyzing, deeply eerie chill across the land. Other species of animals inhabiting the forest quickly scampered off to the safety of their homes as soon as they heard thundering paws against crunchy, fallen leaves and the Wolves predatory calls between themselves.

The numerous and enlarged pack of Wolves were on the hunt for blood, and now they were so very close to their prey. So close, in fact, the Southern Alpha could practically smell the sweat, intoxicating aroma of fear as it radiated off her very own wicked flesh. Too long had the Alpha been in search of this wretched woman, and too long had she threatened to take everything he had worked his entire life for, away from him. He had, unfortunately, regrettably used years worth of his and his pack's time, as well as spent thousands of dollars worth of resources to track her down.

Finally though, after nearly fifteen years of searching as well as dozens of lousy failures, he had finally come to find her secret oasis. Now he had the chance to see his quest through, and nothing - no one - could stand in his way. He would end this disaster before it could even begin the spark of destruction against his legacy as an Alpha, and this thought granted him the rare feeling of joy. Something he had not experienced since he had first gained his ranking title as the Alpha of the Southern Royals, only just a few short decades ago.

"Sir, we can see a small stone cabin a bit of a short distance away, more towards the north, and there seems to be someone inhabiting the premises. I am moving ahead of the other members now, just to see who could be inside. Shall the rest of us proceed further as well, or wait for your arrival, Alpha sir?"

A deep, male voice, the South Royal's Beta spoke through the Alpha's mind link and nearly startled Alpha off of his set course on the opposing side, toward their western flank. However, Benjamin quickly responded with a firm order to wait for him, but to also secure the target from being able to escape their custody.

"Yes, Alpha sir. Right away."

It wasn't until a few moments later when the rest of the pack closed in on the small cottage, the warm and inviting light protruded out from the tiny, stain-glass windows which must have been from a fireplace somewhere within the home. The chimney, of course, had a gentle stream of smoke rising from its tall, grey stone-lined column. However, there was also an ominous essence to this small house. Most likely because of the wide opened doorway that seemed all too inviting to the outside dangers, whom of which now fully surrounded the property line.

"This is it? This is where the snake coiled herself into hiding?

A low, irritated growl erupted from the Alpha's chest as he cautiously approached the front of the pack's defense line. His glaring eyes never once moved away from the open, red-wooden door. With his hackles fully raised, and razor-sharp canines shining, fully at the ready to tear into anything that stepped in his way, the male then slowly, solely made his way toward the cottage.

Just as he was only a couple measly feet from the threshold, the wolf then suddenly been stopped dead in his tracks by some unseeable force. When he attempted to move forward once again, the barrier overwhelmingly enforced an electrical shock wave that had left him in a paralyzed lump of agony on the ground. The only parts of himself that he could barely move were his head and facial structures, but he questioned why these hindrances were even possible in the first place. Why did the witch's magick still work with his hired coven's protection spells that had been set into place before their arrival?

"Their magick is simply nothing compared to mine, you old fool." A feminine, melodic voice sang from above him, the fire casting a sun-like glow around her body and her shadow fully covered the Alpha's smokey grey coat. "And for you to think that I did not foresee this little assassination act is quite pathetic of you, for a Royal Blood member. Especially the great Alpha Benjamin Cane." She sighed heavily and then gazed over to the remaining members that surrounded the house she stood in.

"The real questions that you all should be asking yourselves is not why I am a threat to each of you, but to question this Alpha's unjust claims of power over your pack." The woman paused when the immobile wolf below her began to forcibly shake with his growls of protest. Yet, she only smiled down at Benjamin as she continued with her speech. "Now, I ask each Wolf Blood here, who thinks that I would have any sorts of intent to begin some futile act of war against you or your families? Especially when I have been living alone for almost the past twenty years of my life? Do any of you think I have any intentions of harming the Wolves?"

The witch's silver blue irises and glassy pupils scanned the large crowd of beasts ever so calmly as she started searching their minds for answers. Most of the Wolf Bloods accepted her when she would gently breach their mind links to communicate with an understanding, and yet there were some Southern Royal members who remained unwilling to open themselves to her. As another soft breath passed the witch's pale, rosy lips, a few dozen Wolf bodies stepped forward to defend the leader of their loyalties. Around seventeen wolves out of the original forty had advanced in her direction, yet