The raven-haired woman's body hit the ground with a rough roll after she tumbled down the hill, ignoring the sharp sting of branches and rocks tearing at her skin. She gritted her teeth, holding the metal rod tightly as she scrambled to her feet. Her vision, still slightly hazy, she pushed herself forward, her legs propelling her in the direction of the village she could barely make out in the distance. She'll heal in record time.
She didn't have time to question Selene's motives. All that mattered was getting away and finding the rendezvous point.
Her golden eyes flickered, glowing faintly under the moonlit sky as she entered the village, ducking behind trees and wooden huts, staying out of sight. The scent of werewolves was strong here, and her heart hammered as she scanned her surroundings.
Suddenly, she froze. A figure emerged from one of the smaller buildings near the edge of the village, moving cautiously as if she were not supposed to be there. It was a girl, petite, with dark, mousy hair and wide, skittish eyes. The girl's hands trembled as she clutched a worn satchel close to her chest. Her eyes flickered nervously from side to side, clearly searching for something—or someone. The girl in question seemed familiar, even though she could swear she had never met her before.
Still, her sharp instincts kicked in, and she stepped out of the shadows, blocking the girl's path.
Luna startled, nearly dropping her bag. She looked up, her face draining of color when she saw the raven-haired woman standing before her, towering and imposing in a torn spandex and wild golden eyes.
"I–I wasn't supposed to–" Luna stammered, her breath catching in her throat.
"What are you doing?" the woman interrupted, her gaze never leaving Luna's. Her patience and time was running out and if this girl was her way out she didn't care what she had to do.
Luna's lips trembled, her eyes darting around as if she feared someone would overhear them. "Please, don't tell anyone. I— I was supposed to leave with my Mistress and return to her pack, but—" Luna's voice cracked. "She… she ordered me to stay behind."
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Who is your Mistress and why would she leave you here?"
Luna wrung her hands, the fear palpable. "She's… Mistress Tyra … she's the Alpha's lover. She… she sent me back to watch over the Alpha while she dealt with the matter of the rogue hunters," Luna whispered. "But I wasn't supposed to be seen. I was supposed to be gone before she came back or anyone noticed."
"Rogue hunters?" The woman's eyes sharpened at the mention, and for a fleeting moment, Luna looked even more terrified, realizing her mistake.
"I don't know anything else!" Luna blurted out, stepping back. "Please, let me leave before anyone sees me."
Before the raven-haired woman could respond, a distant howl rang through the village, primal, the authority unmistakable. Luna's face paled even further. "The Alpha," she whispered. "He's coming."
But the raven-haired woman had already turned on her heel, brushing past Luna and toward the path leading out of the village. Luna remained frozen in place, unable to process what she had just revealed.
She ran fast, her breaths coming out in sharp, shallow gasps as she raced toward the forest, the rendezvous point burned into her mind. The ache in her limbs grew more insistent, but she couldn't stop. The days she had lost meant time had slipped out of her grasp, and her mind was now racing with possibilities—none of them good.
The scent of blood hit her before she saw it.
She stumbled to a halt, her heart sinking as she spotted a body on the path ahead. A woman, barely older than twenty, her face twisted in horror and her throat savagely torn. She was one of them. One of her team.
No.
She forced herself to move forward, though her legs felt like lead. Further down the path, another body. Another woman, her dark hair matted with blood. Her sightless eyes stared blankly at the sky.
She reached the clearing where the rendezvous point was supposed to be, her breath catching in her throat when she saw the carnage. Bodies lay scattered—some torn apart, others barely recognizable.
"No, no, no," She crashed to the ground the sleeve on her right arm tearing further due to its weariness, revealing a unique tatoo.
Her gut twisted in knots as she realized what had happened. They had been ambushed. But by who?
But the brunette woman, the one she had been with back at the facility, was missing. Along with two others, Starlight and Violet.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Whoever had done this was still out there. Probably watching. That was all the motivation she needed to stand up.
She tightened her grip on the makeshift rod, the tension in her body vibrating through her bones. Her golden eyes scanned the area, senses on high alert. But before she could make another move, the unmistakable sound of footsteps closing in behind her sent a chill down her spine.
She whipped around, heart in her throat, to find herself surrounded. Alpha Kade stepped out from behind a tree, his presence almost suffocating, and beside him was a brown-haired man. But they weren't alone. Several patrol warriors fanned out behind them, their eyes narrowing with suspicion as they took in the scene of slaughter.
"Hunter." He growled as soon as his gaze landed on the torn sleeve. The patrol guards growled lowly in response, their eyes fixed on the tattoo with a mixture of fear and anger. Even the brown-haired man took a step back, his eyes flicking between the mark and her face, as if seeing her for the first time.
Her grip on the rod tightened. She knew she was outnumbered, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. She'd die trying if she had to.