Draven’s Hunt
The forest was eerily silent as Draven moved through the dense trees, his wolf senses heightened. The chill of the night clung to his skin, but his mind burned with questions. Something gnawed at him, a restless unease he couldn’t shake. The woman he had claimed as his mate—Isla—wasn’t the same. Her scent, her reactions, even the way she spoke felt… wrong. He clenched his fists as he stopped in a small clearing, his breath visible in the cold air.
As Alpha, he had always trusted his instincts. They had kept him alive and helped him lead Crimson Fang to strength and dominance. Now, those instincts screamed at him that something was amiss.
“Why now?” he muttered to himself, his voice low.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. He turned sharply, his senses flaring as Jamie emerged from the shadows. The younger wolf bowed his head respectfully. “Alpha,” he said. “You summoned me?”
Draven nodded, his expression grim. “I need answers, Jamie. Something isn’t right with Isla.”
Jamie straightened, his brow furrowing. “The Luna?”
“She’s not herself,” Draven said, pacing the clearing. “Her scent is off. Her behavior is different. I need to know if anything happened—if she was compromised—during the trial or afterward.”
Jamie hesitated, his eyes flicking to the ground. “The council has been silent, Alpha. They’ve reported nothing unusual.”
“Then look deeper,” Draven commanded, his voice sharp. “I want every corner of the packhouse searched. Question the guards, the servants—anyone who might have seen something.”
Jamie nodded quickly. “Yes, Alpha. I’ll start immediately.”
As Jamie disappeared into the trees, Draven’s thoughts churned. He couldn’t let this doubt fester. If there was even a chance that something was wrong with Isla, he needed to find out. But the part of him that still held onto his bond with her, the part that wanted to believe she was still the woman he’d chosen, kept him tethered to the hope that he was mistaken.
His wolf stirred restlessly within him, urging him to act. Without hesitation, Draven shifted, his powerful black wolf surging forward. The forest blurred around him as he ran, his senses tuned to every sound, every movement. He needed clarity, and he would find it—one way or another.
