Secrets Among the Alpha's Offspring

Chapter 6 Howling Wolf

Valentine Winters P.O.V

I struggled to keep up, each step a battle against the pain and exhaustion.

"Faster, Val. Please," Lucifer's voice trembled in my mind, a plea that only heightened my own desperation.

Then, an arrow struck my back, and I was thrown to the ground, my body tumbling over the muddy earth. I grimaced, trying to keep my belly from touching the ground as my knees and hands scraped against the dirt, blood seeping from the wounds.

Lucifer was beside me in an instant, shifting back to his human form, his body starkly exposed to the cold night air.

"Get up," he demanded, his voice strained but urgent. His eyes were filled with a fierce determination as he pulled the arrow from my back, causing me to cry out in pain. He snapped it in half with his knee and threw it away, ensuring it couldn't be used against us again.

I could feel the blood on my back, but it was already starting to heal now that the arrow was gone. Lucifer grabbed my upper arm, lifting me to my feet despite my cries of discomfort.

"We have to move," he said, his voice firm as he took my hand and started running again. His werewolf speed was too much for me, and I struggled to keep up.

"Stop," I gasped, struggling to catch my breath. "Please."

"I can't," he insisted, his breath coming in heavy bursts as he continued to pull me along.

A gunshot rang out, echoing through the trees and causing my heart to race with terror. The voice that followed was cold and menacing. "You're surrounded. There's no escaping."

Lucifer's pace faltered as he scanned the encircling woods, his face filled with dread and resolve. Figures emerged from the shadows, their faces illuminated by the moonlight. They were older, their eyes hard and unyielding.

A tall man stepped forward, a hat shading his features. He held a gun with a casual, threatening ease. Lucifer positioned himself in front of me, shielding me with his body.

The man's sinister chuckle cut through the night. "There's no saving her now," he said, his voice dripping with malice. The moonlight revealed a long scar running across his face—an old, deeply carved mark.

Lucifer's face paled. "You want me, let her go... grandfather," he said, his voice a mix of anger and despair.

My eyes widened in shock. His grandfather?

"Hush," the man commanded, a scowl twisting his features. "You deceived us, your family."

"I was fed lies all my life!" Lucifer shouted, his voice echoing with raw emotion. "You made me a weapon, forced me to kill my own kind."

"Perhaps," his grandfather said, a chilling calmness in his voice. "But now, you are of no use to me."

"Where are the others? Devon was supposed to be in charge," Lucifer demanded.

"Who are you to question me while I'm still alive?" His grandfather retorted angrily.

"Devon's been sent to prison," a voice said solemnly from our right.

Lucifer turned to see a grim-faced man. "Mr. Pendragon, what do you mean?"

"They're all in prison," another voice answered from our left.

Lucifer's face fell, despair washing over him. "Seems your luck has run out. Get the girl," his grandfather ordered coldly.

As the hunters closed in, my heart pounded with a mix of fear and helplessness. Lucifer's resolve was evident, but the situation seemed dire. The realization that we were outnumbered and cornered left me feeling more vulnerable than ever. I squeezed Lucifer's hand, hoping that somehow, we would find a way out of this nightmare together.

Lucifer Zades P.O.V

I jolted awake, my massive wolf form sprawled on the cold, muddy ground of the forest. My senses were still reeling from the chaos that had unfolded.

Valentine.

The memory of her being taken pierced through me like a dagger. I could still feel the echo of my desperation, the sight of her being ripped from my grasp. The forest was cloaked in darkness, but I knew I couldn't afford to lose time.

With a burst of energy, I sprang to my feet, my paws sinking into the earth as I scrambled to track her scent. My heart pounded fiercely, each beat a reminder of my failure to protect her. I focused on the faint traces of her scent, hoping against hope that it would lead me to her.

I ran with every ounce of strength I had, my body moving fluidly through the trees. The night air rushed past me, carrying the mingled scents of fear and urgency. I could feel my wolf's anguish, a deep, primal rage that matched my own. Even as I raced through the forest, I feared I might be too late.

Suddenly, the scent trail grew faint. I slowed, my nose working desperately to pick up any remaining clues. My wolf whimpered, a sound of frustration and sorrow that mirrored my own emotions. The loss was overwhelming, the realization that I might be trailing behind, gnawing at my resolve.

I stopped, my body tense and alert. The forest was eerily silent, the stillness a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. My wolf's sorrow turned into a howling cry that cut through the night sky, a mournful wail that spoke of our loss and our desperation.

The sound echoed through the trees, a plea to the universe for a chance to make things right. It was a raw, unfiltered expression of my anguish and determination. My howl was both a cry for help and a declaration that I would not rest until Valentine was safe.

As the last echoes of my howl faded into the night, I steeled myself. I would find her. No matter how far I had to go or how long it took, I would not give up. My wolf and I were bound by a shared purpose, and we would not stop until we were reunited with Valentine.