Every werewolf loves to run. It's not just a physical activity; it's a way of life. When a werewolf runs, they feel more alive, experiencing the world from a different perspective. For an alpha like me, running is never a solitary endeavour; it's a shared experience with my family—my pack.
It was around 6 AM when I finished taking the pack out for our morning run. We were heading back to Bare Manor, an ancient castle passed down through generations of the Dark family. My father had never wanted the castle, so he bequeathed it to me years ago. Though I had my reservations about the place, it served as a convenient meeting point for the pack.
After every run, we gathered at Bare Manor, a tradition that brought us together. This morning, I had called the pack to meet because rumours were swirling about a rogue werewolf—a mutt—attacking and killing alphas across California. Every pack was on high alert, and the alphas were under the protection of their family members.
Jared, our pack sentinel, was responsible for ensuring our safety by patrolling the territory and monitoring any suspicious activity. His younger brother, Josh, served as our pack doctor. With a PhD in medicine, he worked at the UCLA Medical Center and was in charge of caring for any injured members. Werewolves heal faster than humans, but we can only be killed by silver—a lesson learned from the ancient wars between our kind and humans. During those dark times, humans discovered how to craft silver weapons and sent skilled werewolf hunters to hunt us down. Many of our kind perished, but those who survived fled, adopting new identities and living in secrecy. While some believed we were extinct, a few still hunted us.
Karla was our hunter, the most skilled fighter in the pack. She had an uncanny ability to track anyone on the face of the earth. Her husband, Alexei Navalny, was an ambusher—an expert in supporting the hunter to strike down prey. A former KGB agent and Russian spy, Alexei had sworn loyalty to Karla after she saved his life in battle. I had met them a couple of years back in a pub in Russia, but that's a story for another time.
Then there was Derek, our scout. Scouts are responsible for warning the pack of impending danger and maintaining peace among neighbouring werewolf clans. Derek wasn't always around, but he always brought news from his travels during our meetings.
Andrea and Antonia were the youngest members of our family. I had rescued them during my visit to Italy last fall. They had tragically lost everyone in their orphanage during their first transformation. I remembered all too well what that felt like, and now they had a family.
After our run, we gathered at Bare Manor, as was tradition. Breakfast was a communal affair; I made bacon while Stephan prepared tacos. Stephan was my beta and best friend. We had met after Aurelia's death. A dedicated journalist, he fought against corrupt companies, but that fight cost him dearly—his family was murdered by powerful people who tried to kill him too. When he was on the brink of death after being hit by a car, I offered him a chance at revenge. I turned him into a werewolf, and together we unleashed hell on those responsible for his pain.
After breakfast, Derek warned us of a mutt uprising. "There's a war coming," he said gravely. Powerful werewolves' betas had gone rogue, forming a pack that was attacking alphas across California, led by a werewolf named Nicklaus.
When I heard the name, I was taken aback. Nicklaus was my older brother. After my father, he was the most powerful werewolf I had ever known. He had always been my father's favourite, doing his dirty work. I realized this must be my father sending a message to me. If it was a message, I needed to respond.
The pack murmured in confusion; many knew my brother, but Andrea and Antonia didn't. Their curiosity bubbled over. "Who the hell is Nicklaus?" they asked.
I knew I had to address them. They were my family, and they needed to be brave if we were to survive. My father had a powerful army, and with Nicklaus as his general, we were facing a formidable challenge.
I stood up to address the pack, wanting to ease their minds. They were counting on me. I didn't want to give a grand speech; I just wanted to assure them that I would always protect them. Together, as a family, we had faced worse days and would prevail again.
"When I lost Aurelia, I was scared and hopeless. I felt like my world was ending. I even thought about ending my life—I tried, in fact. But I'm one hard son of a bitch to kill. I didn't see a reason to keep going," I confessed. "But then I met a man who had lost everything—his wife, his son, and his daughter. They were all murdered. Even though he had nothing left to live for, he fought hard, fuelled by pain and rage. In the process, he found a friend, a brother, and a family."
I looked around at my pack, my family. "You all are my family. Together, we are strong. Nick is my brother, and he's powerful—an enemy like none we've faced before. He's working for my father, trying to control me as he always has. But we've all felt pain and loss, and that's why we are the strongest pack in California. So let them come, boys. Let's show them how strong a real family is. Now we train, we plan, and we wait. It's war, boys. Drink up!"
The pack roared in cheers, their spirits lifted as they smiled and raised their drinks. A good alpha always motivates their pack. I could feel Nicklaus drawing closer; it was time to confront my brother. It had been a long time since I last saw him. We used to be so close, but my father's influence had corrupted him.
Yet, perhaps there was still hope for him. Maybe the brother I once knew was still somewhere inside. The only way to find out was to seek him out.
As the pack cheered and laughed, I stepped outside, tore off my clothes, and transformed into a wolf. I ran into the woods, ready to face whatever awaited me.