Her anger surged within her, fueled by the blatant disregard she had endured as an Alpha.
Among the packs, an unspoken rule dictated that an Alpha, or one destined to become Alpha, should never be ambushed from behind.
Regardless of her transgression in infiltrating their pack, they had no rightful authority to seize her in such a manner.
These thoughts consumed her, intensifying her ire while the offender's hands maintained their grip on her mouth.
However, she knew she had smelt whoever it was before. The scent seemed familiar.
'Shh! Told you it wasn't easy breaking into this one,' The voice, familiar and unmistakable, whispered in her ear, confirming her suspicions that it belonged to the future Alpha of the Ace pack.
A faint chuckle escaped Judith's lips, momentarily forgetting the peril of their close call and the looming possibility of guards tracking their every move.
'Well, well, it seems you're not entirely devoid of courage. I didn't think you were as mischievous as I am, capable of leaping over fences,' she playfully taunted, gradually freeing herself from his grasp.
'Without my intervention, you would have been in dire straits. You were alarmingly careless,' the sixteen-year-old interjected, before resuming his train of thought.
'Do you understand why we mustn't intrude upon other packs or pay unannounced visits to their Alphas?'
'Because it's dangerous,' she casually replied, her voice tinged with weariness at the prospect of another lecture.
'No, it goes beyond mere danger. Some wolves refuse to adhere to the established protocols. They'd take your life and justify it as self-defense, even in the absence of any threat,' he imparted, directing his words specifically to her, prompting a reciprocal smile.
As they lingered at that moment, the guards passed by, diligently scouring their surroundings.
Mark discerned that their numbers had multiplied, prompting him to seize her hand and guide them deeper into the enshrouding darkness.
Judith's realization struck like a bolt of lightning as she grasped the truth: he had been stealthily infiltrating the pack.
It had been all too effortless for him.
'How many times?' she queried, their steps carrying them forward.
Mark furrowed his brow, momentarily perplexed by the young girl's question before comprehension dawned upon him.
'More times than I can fathom,' he responded, a note of pride coloring his voice as he crossed his arms, his countenance adorned with a wide smile that would have gone unnoticed had they not been werewolves, concealed by the cloak of darkness.
Her astonishment overwhelmed her. Despite her suspicions, she had never anticipated such a reply.
She had expected to hear 'once' or 'twice,' but certainly not 'thrice' or 'six times' or any of the answers he had given.
After a brief sojourn, they found themselves positioned by a classroom window.
'This window is usually left ajar. Let's wait a few minutes. If no one enters the room, we'll go through it and leave through the door,' he explained cautiously.
As time passed and their escapades multiplied, the two young companions emerged from the shadow pack, their laughter echoing through the air, a sense of fulfillment palpable within them.
'That was exhilarating!' he exclaimed, and Judith's laughter continued to cascade forth.
'Onward to the next pack,' she declared, taking a step away from him.
That night, they ventured to every pack, including the rogues.
They reveled in the excitement of their shared exploits, momentarily forgetting their imminent destinies as Alphas and the potentially dire consequences they could face.
They vowed to repeat these exploits frequently, promising each other as their spirits soared.
While within the Hilltop pack, Serena was summoned by the Alpha to account for Judith's inexplicable absence.
Fuming with anger, the young girl swore to herself that she would deliver Judith's head on a silver platter should she engage in such reckless behavior again.
Serena couldn't disclose Judith's whereabouts, nor could she jeopardize the entire pack. Thus, she remained silent.