The moment the rogue wolves disappeared into the forest, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at her. The way they had backed off, the hesitation from their leader, it didn't sit right. Something deeper was at play here, and it wasn't just a random rogue attack. Lyra knew better than to trust the surface of things.
As she trudged through the thick underbrush, the blood from the fight still fresh on her skin, her mind replayed the encounter over and over. Her sharp eyes flickered over to Atlas, who had already shifted back into his human form and was walking slightly ahead. He was so damn focused, his jaw clenched, his expression unreadable. But Lyra noticed the tension in the set of his shoulders—the strain in his movements. He wasn't just pissed; he was worried.
"You think this was just a random rogue pack?" Lyra asked, her voice steady but laced with suspicion.
Atlas's gaze flickered to her for a moment, his lips twitching into something that might've been a grim smile. "No. It wasn't random. They were looking for something, or someone." He paused. "We should stay alert."
A cold silence fell between them as they continued through the woods. The wind shifted, rustling the leaves around them, but Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Even as they crossed into more familiar territory, the scent of other wolves lingered in the air, and not just any wolves, these were strangers.
"You ever notice how quiet the forest gets when we're being followed?" Lyra muttered under her breath, barely even realizing she was speaking.
"Yeah." Atlas replied, his voice tight. "Too quiet."
They pushed forward, the forest growing denser, the shadows creeping in. Lyra could almost feel the weight of the tension hanging over them. She wasn't sure if it was because of the fight, the strange rogue wolves, or something deeper.
Then, without warning, the unmistakable snap of a twig underfoot broke the stillness.
Atlas froze. Lyra immediately dropped into a defensive stance, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the trees.
"Show yourself!" she called out, her voice commanding but sharp.
A figure stepped out from the darkness, tall and broad, their face hidden beneath a hood. Lyra instinctively bristled, her wolf instincts flaring, but she held herself in check. Atlas stepped forward, his posture tense, but not as defensive as Lyra's.
"Who are you?" Atlas demanded, his voice low and controlled, though Lyra could sense the barely contained anger simmering beneath the surface.
The stranger lowered their hood, revealing a woman with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, her gaze almost too intense. She wore the markings of a high-ranking member of a rival pack, but Lyra couldn't place which one.
"Selene." the woman said simply, a half-smile on her lips. "I believe you two are exactly what I've been looking for."
Lyra's brows furrowed in confusion, but Atlas's expression darkened. "Selene?" he repeated, his voice flat. "What are you doing here?"
Selene's smile faded slightly, but she didn't flinch at the question. "I'm here to offer an alliance." She stepped closer, eyeing both of them. "The traitor you're hunting... he's far more dangerous than you realize. And I have information that could help."
Lyra exchanged a glance with Atlas, the unspoken words passing between them. An alliance? Could they trust her? Was it a trap? It felt off, like everything else lately.
"You're offering information? And why would you help us?" Lyra asked, narrowing her eyes.
Selene's gaze flickered toward Atlas, and for a moment, Lyra thought she saw a spark of something, an old familiarity, maybe. It was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Let's just say, I have my reasons." Selene said coolly. "I want him gone as much as you do."
Lyra crossed her arms, still skeptical. "And you expect us to just trust you? You're from a different pack. You could be playing both sides."
Selene smirked, clearly unbothered by the accusation. "I'm not here to play games, Lyra. I know how this works. I'm not a fool."
Atlas's eyes narrowed, and for a long moment, he didn't speak, just studied Selene. Lyra could practically feel the wheels turning in his mind, weighing the options. Finally, he exhaled sharply.
"You're right." he said, his tone almost reluctant. "We don't have time for games. If you've got information, then we'll listen. But cross us, and I'll-"
"You'll what?" Selene interrupted with a raised eyebrow. "Threaten me? Don't waste your breath. I'm not here to be your enemy."
Lyra tensed, ready to jump in if things escalated, but something in Selene's stance made her hold back. She wasn't backing down. It wasn't weakness no, it was confidence.
"Alright." Lyra said, breaking the silence. "Let's hear what you've got."
Selene stepped forward, her tone suddenly more serious. "I've been tracking the traitor for months. He's not just some rogue; he's an ex-member of a pack that's been hunting for something, something powerful. And they'll stop at nothing to get it."
Atlas's jaw tightened. "What are they after?"
Selene's eyes shifted to the shadows, and for a moment, she looked almost... hesitant. "It's a weapon. An ancient one. The kind of weapon that can shift the balance of power between packs forever."
Lyra's heart skipped a beat. "A weapon?"
"Yes." Selene confirmed, her voice low. "But that's not all. The traitor has allies. Powerful ones. And they won't stop until they get what they want."
Lyra felt a cold chill spread through her. A weapon. Powerful allies. It was worse than they thought.
Atlas's eyes burned with fury. "Where do we start?"
"Follow me." Selene said, already turning toward the dense trees. "We've got a lot of ground to cover, and the clock is ticking."