Chapter 7 The hunt begins

Ava and Max stood at the edge of the forest, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the stranger. They had been searching for hours, but so far, there was no trace.

"I don't like this," Ava said, her voice low and urgent. "It feels like we're being watched."

Max nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I know what you mean. Let's keep moving."

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the silence grew thicker, like a palpable fog that surrounded them. Ava's heart raced with every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves.

Suddenly, Max stopped in his tracks, his head cocked to the side. "Do you hear that?" he whispered.

Ava strained her ears, and then she heard it too - a faint howling in the distance, a sound that sent shivers down her spine.

The howl was followed by an eerie silence, as if the stranger was waiting for their response. Max's eyes locked onto Ava's, and she knew he was thinking the same thing - they had to act fast.

Without a word, Max transformed into his werewolf form, his body morphing into a powerful, sleek creature. Ava's heart raced as she watched him bound into the darkness, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

She followed close behind, her senses heightened as she scanned the surroundings for any sign of danger. The forest was dark and menacing, the trees seeming to loom over them like sentinels.

As they delved deeper into the woods, the silence was broken by the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs. Ava's heart skipped a beat - they were being stalked.

The howling grew louder, closer, and Ava's heart raced with anticipation. She knew that sound, had heard it before in the depths of the forest. It was a call to arms, a signal that the hunt was on.

Max's eyes locked onto hers, and she saw the same excitement and fear reflected back. They knew what was coming, what they had to face.

The trees seemed to close in around them, the darkness growing thicker, more oppressive. Ava's senses were on high alert, her heart pounding in her chest.

And then, they saw it. A shadowy figure emerged from the trees, its eyes glowing yellow in the dark. Ava's breath caught in her throat as the figure transformed into a sleek, powerful werewolf.

The stranger.

Max growled low in his throat, his body tensing, ready to spring into action. Ava's heart raced with fear and excitement, her mind racing with the possibilities.

The stranger began to circle around them, its eyes fixed on Ava, and she knew she was the target. Max moved closer, his body protectively blocking her from the stranger's gaze.

The air was electric with tension, the forest holding its breath as the three of them faced off. Ava knew this was it, the moment of truth. Would they emerge victorious, or would they fall prey to the stranger's sinister plans.

The stranger's eyes never left Ava's face, its gaze piercing and unnerving. Max's growl grew louder, his fur standing on end as he prepared to defend his mate.

The stranger began to move closer, its movements slow and deliberate. Ava's heart raced with fear, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. But her legs felt heavy, her body frozen in place.

Max took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the stranger. "Back off," he snarled, his voice low and menacing.

The stranger didn't flinch, its eyes never leaving Ava's face. "She's mine," it growled, its voice dripping with malice.

Ava's heart skipped a beat as the stranger took another step closer. Max's eyes flashed with anger, his body tensing as he prepared to attack.

But just as the stranger was about to pounce, a loud noise echoed through the forest, sending birds flying from the trees. The stranger's head jerked up, its eyes scanning the surrounding area.

Max took advantage of the distraction, launching himself at the stranger with a fierce growl. The two werewolves clashed, their bodies rolling on the ground as they fought for dominance.

Ava took advantage of the chaos to make a run for it, her legs pumping as she sprinted through the forest. She could hear the sound of fighting behind her, but she didn't dare look back.

Finally, she saw a glimmer of light through the trees and made a beeline for it. She burst through the underbrush and found herself back at the pack's headquarters, gasping for breath.

But as she turned to look back at the forest, she saw the stranger emerge from the trees, its eyes fixed on her with an unnerving intensity. Max was nowhere to be seen, and Ava's heart sank with fear.

She knew she was in grave danger, and this time, she had no one to protect her

The stranger began to move closer, its eyes never leaving Ava's face. She tried to run, but her legs felt heavy, her body frozen in place.

Just as the stranger was about to pounce, a loud growl echoed through the clearing. Max appeared out of nowhere, his eyes fixed on the stranger with a fierce intensity.

The stranger snarled, its eyes flashing with anger. But Max didn't back down, his growl growing louder as he prepared to defend Ava.

The two werewolves faced off, their bodies tense and ready to spring into action. Ava's heart raced with fear, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.

But she knew she couldn't leave Max to face the stranger alone. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the stranger.

"I won't let you hurt him," she growled, her voice low and menacing.

The stranger's eyes flickered to her, its gaze filled with surprise. And in that moment of distraction, Max launched himself at the stranger, his teeth bared and ready to strike.

The two werewolves clashed, their bodies rolling on the ground as they fought for dominance. Ava watched in horror,her heart racing with fear.

But as the fight continued, she realized that Max was gaining the upper hand. The stranger was weakening, its movements slowing as Max's teeth sank deeper it's fur.