Chapter 265

Nathan

The afternoon’s ambiance, painted in shades of gray and blue with the overcast sky, draped over the land as the weight of the impending search pressed on my shoulders.

Clouds meandered lazily across the gray sky, occasionally dimming the silver radiance of the sun peeking through the haze that served as our guiding light.

If Alvin was the ‘monster’, we had to find him. Not only for the pack’s safety but for Alvin’s sake too. And for my sake, partially—because I wanted to understand why he would do such a thing.

Was Ryan forcing Alvin to work for him? Or had Alvin completely disregarded the lengths that Olivia and I had gone to all those months ago to restore his hand and keep him from being euthanized by my father?

I had questions, and I wanted answers.

I had assembled a search party in the clearing by an old ash tree, its boughs gnarled and twisted with age. All around me, members of the pack’s guard detail waited; many old, familiar faces, and some new ones.

“Alright, everyone,” I began, my voice purposeful, filled with urgency. “We’re dealing with something potentially very dangerous. The guards reported a wolf-like figure running north. We need to scour the forest until we find any clues—or until we find the creature itself. It might be a spy.”

Whispers broke out amongst the gathering. The fear of the unknown had an uncanny ability to shake even the bravest men.

Elena, the ever-practical and analytical one, raised her hand. “What’s our strategy if we do find the creature? We can’t just run in blind.”

“Leo mentioned the last scent trail. We’ll start there. Track every sign, every marking, every broken twig,” I responded, my gaze meeting each set of eyes.

Omega Theo, always eager yet inexperienced, jumped in. “And if we find him? Do we approach?”

Lara, her snowy while hair reflecting the sky’s gray glow, shook her head. “No, if it’s a monster—or whatever it is—we watch, we verify. We shouldn’t engage without understanding the situation."

Jasper, his wisdom shining through, added, “Agreed. We’ll relay the location back. Nathan, what do you say? You are our Alpha, after all.”

I shook my head, thinking. “No,” I said. “If you’re able, try to subdue the beast. I want it taken for questioning if possible. But don’t get involved unless you’re entirely sure that it’s alone. And remember, it’s a lot bigger than us. Stay with your partners, and don’t wander off on your own. We’re headed in the direction of Redclaw territory, so lay low and stay safe.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. The search, for me, wasn’t just about locating Alvin, but ensuring the pack’s unity. And despite what the Elders thought, it was also about proving that I was capable as a leader.

Without another word, we transformed, our bodies reshaping into our wolf forms. The sensations of shifting were always a rush; the initial jolt, then the stretching and pulling until, finally, four paws were firmly on the ground.

The scent of the forest engulfed us—damp earth, the tang of pine, and the undertones of countless animals. We commenced our search, noses to the ground, ears perked for any irregular sound.

The woods felt like an entirely different world compared to the safety of our town, especially on such an overcast day and especially in the unkempt, wild forest bridging the gap between our pack’s territory and the Redclaws.

Shadows morphed and shifted beneath the looming trees with the passage of clouds overhead. Soft rustlings whispered secrets, and distant hoots relayed messages only the owls knew. A mist blew in from somewhere, bringing with it the scent of damp earth.

But beneath it all was a foreign scent, one we all recognized but couldn’t place—I had a pretty good idea that it was Alvin, but I wasn’t willing to say just yet. Not until I knew for sure. And not until I knew that he would be safe if we found him.

After hours of trailing, our paws aching and breath clouding before us, Lara let out a soft whine. We all gathered to find her examining a large paw print, eerily similar to the one from the cabin.

“This is it,” I murmured, feeling the fur along my spine rise. “We’re on the creature’s trail.”

“Heading eastward, from the looks of it,” Leo observed, his keen eyes tracking the direction of the prints.

My blood ran cold. The pawprint was headed directly towards Ryan’s territory, and it reeked of none other than Alvin.

There was a shared, unspoken understanding of the danger. Ryan and his pack were already on our bad side, and now we knew for certain that he had sent a spy to watch us and keep us distracted. How long had he been employing Alvin? Weeks? Months? Years?

I let out a low growl. “We proceed but with caution. Stay to the shadows. Avoid being seen. And above all, stay together.”

We moved silently, the trees becoming denser, their limbs intertwining like skeletal fingers. The scent of water wafted, signaling our proximity to the river.

Lara, ahead of the pack, suddenly paused. “Another print!” She exclaimed.

Following her gaze, we saw it. Etched into the mud by the riverbank was the undeniable mark of the creature we were pursuing. And once again, the familiar scent of Alvin filled my nostrils.

“Damn it,” I muttered. “It leads straight into the river.”

Elena’s brow furrowed. “Which means…”

“This ‘monster’—an enormous wolf who can supposedly spit fire, by witchcraft or something else—is working for Ryan,” I said. “And has likely been watching us.”

The weight of the realization pressed down on us. The sound of the flowing river seemed to amplify, mingling with the rustling of the trees and the distant cries of night creatures.

“Are you sure it’s working for the Redclaws?” suggested Theo, his voice hopeful. “Maybe it was just seeking refuge, or…”

I shook my head. “No. I’m sure of it.”

“How?” Theo asked, perhaps a bit out of line. “How do you know, Nathan? Do you know who the ‘monster’ might be?”

I said nothing, but I didn’t need to. The other wolves around me whined, full of understanding. Some of them had recognized the scent, too. Some of them had fought alongside Alvin in the military. But none of us wanted to say it out loud.

I looked at the paw print, then back at the forest. We were at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively. “For now, we can’t cross the river,” I said. “Let’s head back to our territory, regroup, and figure out our next steps.”

Jasper nodded, his eyes reflective. “This forest has seen many mysteries, and it guards them fiercely. We tread its paths looking for answers, but sometimes, we only find more questions.”

As the sky began to darken, hinting at the approach of dusk, we made our way back. The dense woods felt both comforting and intimidating, holding in its depths a friend-turned-foe, a mystery that we were determined to unravel.

The journey back was filled with whispered conversations, conjectures, and shared concerns. But one sentiment echoed throughout—we were a pack, bound by loyalty and love, and we would not rest until we had answers.

When we reached our territory, the first rays of dawn painted the horizon. Exhausted but resolute, we knew our search was far from over. The forest had not yielded its secrets tonight, but we were patient.

For Alvin, for our pack, and for the looming threat in the shadows, we would return.