The Rise

Chapter Seven

"Do you believe me now?" I asked Valerio.

He knelt down, his fingers skimming against the dirt that was dug into a circle. "Hmm." After transforming into his wolf, he stuck his nose straight down into the dirt and sniffed. "It smells distantly familiar and that wolf looked distantly familiar too," he said once we retreated back to the pack house.

There was no use trying to follow the scent. If Black couldn't catch it, then nobody else would. Maybe Ayodele would, if he was here with us; but by the time he got there, it would be useless.

"I thought so too," I said. "I can't place it."

As soon as we stepped into the pack-house I could tell something was off. Protectors were rushing around, trying to organize themselves. A few of the higher ranks were giving specific orders – orders that I nor Valerio gave – to small groups.

A younger Protector jogged up to us, breathing heavy. "Luna," he bowed, "Luca was spotted a few miles outside of our borders."

My eyes widened. "When?"

He gazed at the ground for a moment. "This morning."

Valerio growled and stepped forward. "Why are we just hearing about it now?"

"We weren't sure if it was him. He smelt... he was... different." The man's gaze was down. He rubbed his palms together. "We should've told you sooner, my apologies."

I gazed around at the groups of wolves, all now quiet and waiting for my orders. "Do you have his scent tracked? Do you know where he is?"

To both of my questions, the Protector shook his head.

Valerio's eyes glowed gold. "Why not?" He clenched his jaw.

"We-we couldn't track his scent. It was barely there."

I sighed, annoyed and angry that my own pack wasn't doing their jobs. The least they could've done was inform us. We would've been able to do something. "You didn't think to follow him?" I snapped.

He pressed his lips together. "I-I know this sounds really bad. But we are going to find him. We will pick his scent back up. I promise, Moon Goddess."

I stormed past him, an uneasy feeling building in the pit of my stomach. Why would Luca take the chance to come so close to our property? What was he doing here? There was more to the story than him just taking a casual stroll around the borders. "Take us to his last known location."

The man nodded. I ordered ten Protectors to follow, each equipped with the highest training, and left the others to guard our home. Then we ran deep into the forest, past the Great Oak and down the path.

I stayed behind the rest and nudged Valerio to do the same.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Luca's scent is barely there? That sounds like the wolf in the forest."

Valerio raised a brow. "You think?"

"Possibly."

"If it is him, why does he keep running away from you?" Valerio asked. "He's purposely coming onto our property, leaving messages written in dirt for you to see, then running away. What's that about?"

I didn't have time to reply. The wolves in front of us began to slow, and the strong scent of blood suddenly overwhelmed me. Everyone rushed around in a frenzy. Over the sound of everyone's murmurs, someone groaned. I ran toward the sound.

A small, wooden cabin sat in the middle of the forest, nearly hidden by vines. On the front door, a white crescent moon piece of décor was covered in bloody fingerprints.