The southern border stretches out before me like a shadowed ribbon, trees thick and twisted, roots coiling like serpents around the earth. Moonlight barely penetrates the canopy, and the forest feels alive in a way that makes my pulse quicken—not entirely from fear. Part of me thrives on this tension. Part of me wishes Luke Vrenatta was here, if only to irritate the hell out of him.
I tighten the straps on my boots, feeling the familiar weight of my dagger at my hip, the bow slung across my back, and the pack badge on my chest. It's not just a patrol tonight. It's a statement. The Ventor pack doesn't get caught off guard. Not on my watch.
"Asha," I whisper, glancing back at my Beta, who steps lightly over a twisted root, eyes scanning the shadows like a hawk. "Stay close. Don't wander too far."
She smirks, but nods. "Relax, Mari. I've got your back. You might be the ice queen, but even ice queens need a Beta sometimes."
I bite back a retort, forcing my shoulders to relax. Focus. Breathe. The forest is alive with sounds—the distant rustle of leaves, the occasional snap of a branch, and the subtle hum of predators moving in the dark.
A month ago, Krell would've been enough to keep me on edge. But now? There's something else. A presence I can't quite name, a tension that vibrates just beyond the tree line. And every instinct in my body screams that it's connected to him. Luke. Damn Vrenatta brat.
I glance at Asha. "You feel that?"
She narrows her eyes. "Yeah. Something's watching. Probably testing us."
"Figures," I mutter, scanning the shadows. "I thought Ventras were the only idiots who wander the forest at night."
Asha chuckles softly. "You mean Luke."
I grit my teeth. Shit. Even my Beta knows. I shake my head, keeping my attention on the border. "Keep your thoughts to yourself."
We move in silence, the forest growing darker, tighter. The southern ridge is known for loose branches and uneven ground—perfect for ambushes. My grip tightens on the bow. Every shadow could hide a threat, every rustle could be Krell—or worse.
Suddenly, a movement. Quick, low, intentional. I freeze, heart hammering, and motion for Asha to do the same.
"Left," I whisper. She moves, crouching beside me.
A figure steps from behind a tree—a lone wolf, teeth bared, eyes glinting in the moonlight. Not Krell. Too young, too cocky. An intruder from a smaller pack, maybe testing the Ventor border.
I step forward, stance firm. "State your business," I growl, voice low and dangerous.
The wolf snarls, stepping closer. "We're just—"
"Lying," I cut him off, shifting into my wolf form in a fluid motion. Fur erupts along my skin, claws extend, teeth sharp and gleaming. Asha does the same, though smaller, quicker, lethal.
The intruder hesitates, sizing us up. Mistake.
I charge, claws digging into the soil, tail coiling like a whip. He lunges, teeth snapping, but I dodge, swiping at his flank. He yelps, rolls, claws scraping the ground as he tries to recover.
"You picked the wrong pack tonight, brat," I growl, low and feral.
He snarls back, lunging again. I meet him mid-strike, teeth snapping inches from his muzzle. The forest echoes with growls and the sound of claws tearing at bark and soil.
Asha is a blur beside me, hitting from angles I can't reach. Together, we are a storm. Two wolves against one. He stumbles, tries to run, but I intercept, forcing him back toward the ridge.
"Learn to pick your fights," I snap, voice guttural, fur bristling, eyes glowing gold in the moonlight.
The intruder yelps, finally backing down, submission in his stance. I snarl one last warning, claws scraping the dirt as I advance.
"You're lucky I don't tear you apart," I growl. "Next time, don't test the Ventor southern border."
He hesitates, then bolts, vanishing into the shadows. I shift back into human form, chest heaving, sweat and fur sticking to my skin.
Asha steps beside me, smirking despite the tension. "Well… that was fun. You're terrifying."
"Terrifying? That's exactly how I want them to think of me," I mutter, wiping dirt from my hands.
She shakes her head. "And yet… you're thinking about that Vrenatta brat the entire time."
I freeze mid-step. Shit. She always knows. "I'm not," I snap. "Focus, Mari. Pack. Border. Don't think about him."
"Uh-huh," she says, smirking. "Sure. That's why you're grinning like a damn idiot."
Fuck. She's right. I can't help it. I stalk along the ridge, forcing my thoughts to order themselves. Luke Vrenatta. Damn him. The way he's a threat, the way he's clever, the way he… makes me want to ignore every rule in my pack.
"Keep your head on straight," Asha warns, voice cutting through the night. "If Krell or someone else shows up, I don't want to have to pull you out of trouble."
I glare at her. "Don't underestimate me, Rynn."
She smirks. "I never do."
We continue the patrol, senses stretched taut, every shadow examined. The southern border is quiet now, but the tension doesn't lift. Something lingers. Some presence I can't see, some threat waiting for the perfect moment.
I curse under my breath. Fucking forest. Fucking enemies. Fucking Luke Vrenatta.
I shake my head, focusing on the present. Pack first. Safety first. Everything else—hell, everything else can wait.
Even if I know, deep down, that it won't. That the moment I let my guard down, he'll be back in my thoughts.
Because he always is.
And that scares the hell out of me.