"Beware the hand that offers salvation in the dark—it often hides the dagger meant for your back."--- Anonymous
The pack stood in uneasy silence as Owen disappeared into the dense forest, his back rigid with the weight of unspoken thoughts. Caleb lingered for a moment, watching his Alpha vanish into the darkness before turning to address the others.
"Alright, enough chatter. Spread out and secure the perimeter," Caleb barked, his voice firm but lacking the confidence Owen exuded. The pack obeyed, though their movements were slower, more hesitant than usual. The encounter with the Hematoi had left a deep impression, a shadow that clung to their thoughts.
Once alone, Caleb hesitated, glancing toward the direction Owen had gone. Something gnawed at him—something beyond the Hematoi's words. Owen had lied. Caleb could feel it in his Alpha's voice, see it in the stiffness of his posture. Owen was tempted, and that scared him more than the Hematoi's threats.
---
Deeper in the forest, Owen moved with purpose, but his mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. The Hematoi's words echoed in his head, taunting him.
"Something you need... a small favor..."
He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. The Hematoi always spoke in riddles, their true intentions cloaked behind layers of manipulation. But Owen couldn't ignore the kernel of truth buried in their offer. His pack was vulnerable. The rogue attacks had taken their toll, and supplies were running low. If something didn't change soon, they wouldn't survive the winter.
As he reached the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley below, Owen stopped. The moonlight bathed the forest in a silver glow, but it offered no comfort. He took a deep breath, trying to steady the turmoil within him.
"I won't stoop to their level," he muttered, as if saying it aloud would solidify his resolve. "The pack comes first."
But even as he said it, doubt crept in. What if the Hematoi truly had a solution? What if rejecting their offer wasn't a display of strength but a mistake that would cost lives?
A rustle in the bushes behind him snapped him out of his thoughts. Owen turned sharply, his senses on high alert. Caleb emerged from the shadows, his expression a mix of concern and hesitation.
"I thought I told you to stay with the pack," Owen said, his tone sharper than intended.
Caleb didn't flinch. "They're fine. I needed to talk to you."
Owen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What is it, Caleb?"
The beta hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "You're hiding something, Alpha. I can see it. The Hematoi... they got to you, didn't they?"
Owen's eyes flashed with anger. "Watch your tongue, Caleb," he warned, but Caleb stood his ground.
"I'm not questioning your judgment," Caleb said quickly. "But I am questioning your silence. If there's something you're not telling us—something that could affect the pack—we deserve to know."
Owen stared at him, his jaw tightening. He knew Caleb was right, but admitting weakness, even to his beta, felt like betrayal to his own principles. Still, the words came before he could stop them.
"They offered us power," Owen admitted, his voice low. "Something to tip the scales in our favor. But I don't trust them. Whatever they're offering, it'll come with strings attached. Strings we can't afford."
Caleb's brow furrowed. "But what if they're right? What if their offer could save us?"
"And what if it destroys us instead?" Owen snapped. "The Hematoi don't deal in charity, Caleb. They deal in blood. Their 'favors' always come with a price, and it's never what you expect."
Caleb fell silent, the weight of Owen's words sinking in. Finally, he nodded. "I trust you, Alpha. But the pack... they need more than trust right now. They need hope. Whatever you decide, make sure it's the right call—for all of us."
Owen looked away, his gaze returning to the valley below. "I know," he said softly. "And that's what scares me."
---
Unbeknownst to either of them, a pair of silver eyes watched from the shadows, a cold smile playing on pale lips. The Hematoi hadn't truly left—they rarely did. This was just the beginning, and the seeds of doubt had already been sown.
"You'll come to us soon enough, Alpha," the Hematoi whispered to himself, his voice carried away by the wind. "You always do."
With a quiet chuckle, he vanished, leaving only the faintest trace of his presence behind.