The forest was alive with tension. Moonlight streamed down between the dense crown, creating shadows on the circle of werewolves standing within.
Mikhail stood among them, arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning each face. This plan is mad," he said, gravely but resolutely.
"Reckless or not, it's our only shot, " snarled Viktor, a towering werewolf with a scar running down his cheek. "The vampires are growing stronger every day. If we wait any longer, we're as good as dead."
Mikhail shook his head, his jaw tightening. Going to war against them without understanding what we're going to be walking into is suicide.
"You're afraid, aren't you? Viktor stepped closer, his teeth bared in a mocking grin. "The great Mikhail, scared to fight."
A low growl rumbled in Mikhail's chest, but he held his ground. "I'm not afraid of fighting. I'm afraid of stupidity costing us lives. There's a difference."
Enough," Lukas, the pack doctor, snarled his voice interjecting into the building tension. "We didn't come here to fight each other. We came to take action."
Mikhail turned to Lukas, his expression grim. "And what action are we taking, exactly? Charging into a death trap?"
Lukas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We've got intel. Vamps patrol weaken the northern area of their kingdom. If we hit them like a war machine, hard and fast, we can cripple them before they even understand what's going on,"
"And if the intel's wrong?" Mikhail shot back.
"It's not," Viktor snapped.
Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And where did this miraculous intel come from?"
The group fell silent. Lukas hesitated, then said, "A source."
"A source?" Mikhail repeated, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You mean someone we don't even trust?"
There is no choice but to distrust," Lukas said with a sharpness. "We're losing this war, Mikhail. Or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten," Mikhail said, his voice tight. However, I have also not forgotten what will happen if we are not careful before we leap into something.
"Then maybe you should stay behind," Viktor sneered.
Mikhail took a step forward, his eyes flashing gold. "Careful, Viktor. You're testing my patience."
"Enough!" Lukas barked, stepping between them. "We don't have time for this. We move at dawn. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.
Mikhail clenched his fists, his mind racing. Something about this felt wrong. Too rushed. Too risky.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice cold. "But if this goes sideways, I will have your head on a platter"
---
Hours later, the forest was strangely quiet. The group had split up to scout the area, leaving Mikhail and a few others waiting near the edge of their territory.
Mikhail paced cautiously, his senses on high alert. The wind carried the faint scent of rain, mingled with the earthy aroma of the forest.
"This doesn't feel right," he muttered to himself.
"What doesn't? Asked Jonah, a younger werewolf who had been assigned to stick with Mikhail.
"Everything," Mikhail said. "The timing, the plan, the so-called 'source.' It's all too convenient.
Jonah frowned. "You think it's a trap?"
"Yes, it's too good to be true," Mikhail replied.
Jonah hesitated, then said, "Do you ever think... Maybe we're going about this the wrong way?
Mikhail, having stopped his pacing, faced the subject, and his golden eyes focused on him, narrowing with the menace of a dog ready to pounce. "What do you mean?"
Warfare back and forth, year to year. What's the point?" Jonah said quietly. "We're just killing each other, and for what? Territory? Revenge?"
Mikhail fixated on him, taken aback by the query.
Before he could answer, a piercing howl shattered the stillness.
Mikhail's heart leaped. "That's Viktor!"
Jonah's eyes widened. "Do you think-"
"Stay here," Mikhail ordered, his voice sharp.
"But-"
"I said stay," Mikhail growled.
He raced straight into the woods, his senses throbbing with the threat around him. The howl originated from the east, in the vicinity of the patrol way.
The stench of blood followed him as he jogged and hit him like a punch to the stomach.
"No," he muttered, picking up speed.
He broke into a clearing and came to a standstill.
Viktor lay on the ground, his massive form sprawled in the dirt. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the earth. His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe.
"Mikhail..." Viktor rasped, his voice weak.
Mikhail dropped to his knees beside him. "What happened?"
Trap... Viktor sputtered, spilling blood from the corner of his mouth. "They knew we were coming... ambush..."
Mikhail's blood ran cold. "Who? The vampires?"
Viktor shook his head weakly. "No... someone else..."
"Who, Viktor? Who did this?"
But Viktor didn't answer. His eyes fluttered closed, and his body went still.
"No!" Mikhail shouted, his voice echoing through the forest.
A rustling noise emitted from behind the trees behind him, and Mikhail spun around, with his claws extending by way of reflex.
"Show yourself!" he snarled.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
Mikhail's eyes widened in shock.
"You..." he whispered.
The figure smirked. "Surprised to see me, Mikhail?"
Mikhail's claws flexed. "What are you doing here?"
Obviously," the person replied, in a tone dripping with disgust. "Cleaning up loose ends."
"You betrayed us, Mikhail said, his voice low and dangerous.
The figure tilted their head. "Betrayal is such a strong word. I prefer... strategic realignment."
Mikhail's golden eyes blazed with fury. "You're going to regret this."
The figure chuckled. "I'd love to see you try."
Before Mikhail could react, the figure lunged, their movements impossibly fast.
Mikhail barely had time to dodge as claws swiped past his face, missing him by inches. He retaliated with a powerful swipe of his own, but the figure evaded it effortlessly.
"You've gotten slow, Mikhail," they taunted.
"Keep talking, Mikhail growled, his muscles coiling as he prepared to strike again.
The fight was brutal, a blur of claws and teeth and snarls. In Mikhail's blood vessels, the heartbeat drummed in his ears as he struggled with all of his might, but his foe was quicker, more powerful.
"Is this the best you can do? The figure sneered, driving Mikhail back with a flurry of attacks.
Mikhail's back slammed into a tree and he muttered, cursing to himself.
The figure stepped closer, their eyes gleaming with triumph. "Looks like this is the end for you, Mikhail."
Mikhail's mind raced. He refused to die here, not like this.
When the figure brought its claws down again for the finishing move, Mikhail aimed at an unguarded spot. He bent down and swept their legs away from underneath them.
The figure hit the ground with a grunt, and Mikhail seized the opportunity to pin them down.
"Who sent you? " he demanded, his claws pressed to their throat.
The figure grinned, even as blood trickled from their lips. "You think this is over? This is just the beginning."
Before Mikhail could respond, the figure twisted out of his grip with inhuman strength, disappearing into the shadows.
Mikhail got up on shaky legs, ragged gasps for air drawing forth from his body.
He stared at the corpse of Viktor, and guilt and rage swirling in his belly, he looked down.
This doesn't end here," he mumbled, his golden eyes flashing.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a wolf's howl echoed through the night.