Luna could still hear the icy scream as she ran through the thick foliage, her pulse racing to keep up with her quick steps. The woodland was covered in lengthy shadows by the full moon, which shone like a vigilant watchdog. Before she even saw the body, she could smell the blood a metallic stench that filled the air and turned her stomach.
There was already a small group assembled in the clearing when Luna arrived. With their eyes fixed on the dead wolf lying spread out in the middle of the clearing, the pack stood in tense stillness. Blood stained his fur, and the extensive cuts all over his body showed that he had been severely beaten. The air was heavy with tension, as the wolves' gazes alternated between the body and Alpha Darian, who was standing close by with a blank expression on his face.
Luna's heart felt frozen. Gethan, a loyalist who had been close to Darian, was the dead wolf. Everyone in attendance felt deeply disturbed by the implications of his passing. Nobody would be brave enough to openly oppose Darian, not in this way.
"Who carried this out?" Like the claws that had ripped through Gethan, Darian's speech was razor sharp. With lightning-fast anger, his yellow gaze tore through the pack like a whirlwind.
Nobody said anything. The long pause was filled with tension, sparking like lightning about to strike. Luna rushed toward the rear, her heart pounding. Like a wave of discomfort, she could feel the lack of confidence creeping through the crowd.
Kaden could not be it, could he? He had made hints of rebellion, but this was something deeper than that. She had just spoken to him a few hours earlier. Something aggressive.
Darian's gaze focused on Bane, the pack's beta, as he slowly moved forward. Bane spoke "Alpha" in a steady yet strained voice. "No witnesses were present. Whoever carried out this action was skilled. The body of Gethan was left as a warning.
"A conveying?" Darian's eyes narrowed ominously as he hissed. "To whom?"
Bane hesitated, then continued. "To you, Alpha."
A collective gasp rippled through the pack. Luna's heart pounded in her chest. Someone had dared to challenge Darian. Openly.
Darian's fury was palpable, his claws flexing in the dirt. "Who dares defy me?" he snarled, his voice filled with a chilling rage. "I will tear them apart, limb by limb."
As he paced around the body, Luna saw something flicker in his eyes. It wasn't just anger it was fear. For the first time, Darian's control was being tested. He had ruled through fear for so long, but now, someone was challenging him. And not just anyone. It was someone who knew how to strike at his heart.
Luna's mind raced as she considered the possibilities. Kaden had spoken of rebellion, but he hadn't seemed the type to strike so violently. Was this part of his plan, or was there another force at work? She had no answers, but the threat was real, and Darian's wrath would soon spill over onto the rest of them.
"Every wolf will be questioned," Darian declared his voice a low growl that reverberated through the clearing. "And when I find out who did this, they will wish they had never been born."
The pack dispersed slowly, their heads low and steps cautious. Darian's gaze lingered on each wolf as they passed, his eyes searching for any sign of guilt or betrayal.
Luna hurried back toward her den, her mind swirling with questions and fear. As she reached the entrance, a shadow shifted near the trees. Her breath caught in her throat as Kaden stepped out from the shadows, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight.
"You're reckless," Luna hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. "Gethan's dead, and Darian's out for blood. If he even suspects you…"
Kaden's expression remained calm, his blue eyes piercing as he looked at her. "I didn't kill him."
Luna's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to admit it, but his response threw her off balance. "Then who did?"
Kaden stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "I don't know, but it wasn't one of us."
"One of us?" Luna repeated, narrowing her eyes. "You mean the rebellion?"
Kaden's gaze was unwavering. "There are others, Luna. Wolves who are tired of living under Darian's rule. Gethan's death was a warning, not from us, but from those who want to see Darian fall. We're not alone in this."
Luna felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The rebellion was growing, and it wasn't just Kaden leading the charge. There were more wolves ready to fight, wolves who had already taken action. But the violence, the bloodshed it wasn't what she had imagined.
"You wanted rebellion," Kaden continued, his voice calm but intense. "This is what it looks like. The pack is ready to tear itself apart, and if we don't act soon, Darian will destroy anyone who stands against him."
Luna's mind raced. This wasn't what she had envisioned. She had wanted change, yes, but not like this. Not through senseless violence and bloodshed. But now, it seemed, there was no other choice. The pack was already on the edge, and with Gethan's death, that edge was crumbling fast.
Kaden stepped closer, his gaze softening slightly. "You have to make a decision, Luna. Are you with me, or not?"
Luna swallowed hard. The weight of the decision felt suffocating. Could she trust Kaden? Could she trust herself to make the right choice? The thought of overthrowing Darian had once seemed impossible, but now it felt inevitable. The pack couldn't survive much longer under his rule.
"I need time," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Kaden nodded, stepping back into the shadows. "You don't have much. Darian won't wait."
With that, he disappeared into the forest, leaving Luna alone once again. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her heart pounding with uncertainty. The rebellion was already in motion, and she was caught in the middle of it.
As she returned to her den, Luna's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of distant howls. They weren't the usual calls of the pack. These howls were filled with desperation, with anger. Something was wrong.
Luna rushed toward the source of the howls, her heart pounding in her chest. When she reached the clearing, she saw a group of wolves gathered, their eyes wide with fear. In the center of them lay another body this time, one of the elders, mauled just as brutally as Gethan.
The pack was in chaos. Two wolves were dead, and Darian's fury was bound to erupt like never before. Luna's heart raced as she realized that this was only the beginning.
As Luna stood frozen, staring at the body of the elder, a sharp voice cut through the air. "It's Luna. She's involved in this!"
All eyes turned toward her. A traitor had spoken, and now Luna was under suspicion.