"Who delivered it?""
Luca crushed the unidentified wolf against the rough stone wall of the pack house, his deep and deadly snarl expanded. His claws were extended. The visitor did not flinch; his cool head contrasted sharply with the stress in the room.
The wolf's voice firm, "I'm not here to fight." He met Luca's look with golden eyes flickering with a disturbing assurance. Here I am ready to assist.
Help? I kept walking forward, getting closer. Where the brand blazed beneath my sleeve, my wrist burned softly, a reminder of how frequently danger wore a guise of good intentions. Not even know who you are.
The stranger responded, "My name is Kael," in a cool yet forceful voice. And you will hear me out if you want to preserve your group.
Though Luca's hold didn't release, I could see the flutter of doubt in his gaze. "Why ought we to believe you? His voice was icy as he inquired.
"Because I know where the competing pack is keeping Damon's sister," Kael murmured, his golden gaze fixed on me. "And since I know what they have scheduled going forward."
The room stopped, his words weighing on everything. Luca withdrew his claws, but he did not step back. Demandingly, "start talking."
Kael rose, wiping dust from his shirt as if he were not inches from one of the most lethal wolves in the area. "The adversary Alpha is not only claiming territory by assaulting. He is chasing something much more grandi.
"The bond," I replied, the understanding striking me like a gut-grab.
Keled nodded. "And the relic." They together have the ability to transform everything. He has been attempting to split your group and destabilize you so he may take what he needs without opposition.
I looked at Luca, the silence between us increasing under clear sight.
"Why are you sharing this with us? I questioned Kels.
"Because I've seen what happens when a pack falls to his games,"
Kael remarked, his voice weighed down. "Once I belonged to his flock. I understand his manner of working. And I can stop him as well.
"Convenient," Luca replied with a dubious tone. "A tad too handy."
Kael groaned, his golden eyes narrowing. "It makes no difference if you believe me. But you will lose more than your pack if you wait later.
You are going to lose one another.
The symbol on my wrist burned brighter at his words, and I found it impossible to overlook their intensity.
Luca retreated, while his stance remained stiff. "If you are lying—,"
Kael stopped and said, "I'm not." But we are pressed for time and cannot dispute.
Tonight the opposing pack is on migration. You will need me if you want to rescue Damon's sister and prevent their artefact theft.
I stopped, my instincts battling with my anxiety. We need him, Luca, I whispered softly.
Luca's jaw clenched, then he nodded a second later. Fine. Should this be a trap, however, you won't survive long enough to come to terms with it.
Kael grinned slightly, his confidence disturbing. Then let's go.
We went fast, the strain between us evident as Kael guided us over the woodland. The necklace around my neck throbbed softly, its light guiding the little road ahead.
I broke the quiet when you said you belonged to his pack. "Why did you depart?"«
Kael's golden eyes flicked towards me, his face inscrutable. "Because I came to see he values neither family nor loyalty. He only gives power top importance. And he will give everyone up to get it.
"Why do you give what occurs to us importance? Luca asked with a harsh tone.
Kael paused then added, "Because I have seen what happens when he prevails. And I won let it happen once again.
The camp of the enemy pack emerged, a sequence of primitive structures buried far into the bush. Wolves walked the perimeter with exact, synchronized motions.
Kael nodded towards a little cage close to the camp's center and murmured, "There." Sitting inside, a young lady had a tired yet rebellious attitude.
"Damon's sister," I said in a whisper.
Luca's jaw became tighter. "We have to have a strategy."
Kadel grinned. I have one.
Kael had a basic yet risky strategy. He would divert Luca and I from freeing Damon's sister. The pendant's light would lead us across the camp, but the mark on my wrist blazed hotter with every step, as if alerting me of the hazards.
Luca warned me, his grey eyes fixed on mine.
"You too," I murmured, my chest constricting at the idea of him confronting peril without me.
Kels sank into the darkness, and minutes later the camp was in anarchy. Wolves yelled as Kael directed their attention, his motions quick and precise.
I said softly, dragging Luca towards the cage.
As we got closer, Damon's sister glanced up with wide-open recognition. Her voice shaking, "You're not supposed to be here," she continued.
We're not going without you, I responded firmly, shattering the lock with a stinging punch from Luca's claws.
A roar burst behind us as we pulled her from the cage. Turning to saw a gathering of competing wolves coming in with menacing glows in their eyes,
Luca gestured between us and the wolves, "Go."
With shaky voice, I responded, "I'm not leaving you."
You have to, he continued, his voice sharp. Get her out of this place. I will hold off on them.
The necklace around my neck flared with light, and the mark on my wrist blazed more brilliantly than it had ever done. I closed my hands, not ready to abandon him.
Stepping next him, I replied, "Luca, we do this together."
He looked at me, his face divided but he did not dispute. We confronted the wolves together, our motions timed as we battled.
The final wolf dropped, but before we could recover our breath, a deep snarl sounded over the camp. The competing Alpha materialized, his golden eyes flashing as he focused his attention on us.
"Well, well," he said with a venomous voice. " Looks like the Alpha and his bonded partner have arrived to play."
The symbol on my wrist flashed, and my heart surged; I knew this was just the start of the fight to come.