Chapter 3 3

The early morning air is sharp, cold and harsh against Amelia's skin as she and her small group of warriors prepare to leave the camp. She looks toward the horizon where the first slivers of dawn is breaking through the gloom of the night, the sky painted with streaks of purple and red. Despite the beauty of the moment, her mind is clouded with tension.

Killian already is at the edge of the territory, waiting in silence, standing with a relaxed posture. But there is an unperceived threat in the way he carries himself. To him, its as if the whole world is a game he already won. His silver eyes caught the rising sun, making them glow faintly as they locked onto Amelia's.

"You're late," Amelia.

"We move at our own pace," Amelia shot back, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of irritating her.

Killian chuckles softly, "This isn't your territory anymore, Amelia. Out there," he gestured toward the forest beyond, "we play by my rules."

"Fine!" She swallows her irritation and signals to her men. A dozen of her best warriors stand behind her- silent. They wear cold faces, ready to follow her into the unknown. Despite their loyalty, Amelia sense their unease. Never have they ventured into rogue territory before-few had, and only fewer returned.

"We'll be moving fast," Killian warns, his gaze sweeping over her men. "Keep up, go hard or go home."

Without another word, he turns and began walking toward the forest, his long pace radiated confidence. Amelia pause for a moment, then follows. She keeps a cautious watch on Killian. He moved with a predatory grace, always aware of his surroundings, always watching.

The weight of what lay ahead settles heavily on her shoulders. They are leaving the safety of their borders into the unknown. Hours passes. The forest grows denser. The air colder. The deeper they go, the more isolated Amelia feels. The safety of her pack long behind her, replaced by unknown dangers of the lawless and dangerous rogue territory filled with enemies that would rip them apart than talk.

As they move deeper into the woods, shadows dance in the corner of Amelia's vision, as if hiding behind the trees and every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves set her on edge. The silence is heavy and killing, only broken by the steady rhythm of their footsteps-each step echoing their mutual distrust.

"You're quiet," Killian observed, breaking the silence.

"I don't have much to say," Amelia answers curtly, her eyes scanning the trees. Killian smirks. "You're thinking about your pack, aren't you?"

Amelia's jaw clenches. "Of course I am. You won't understand."

He stops, turning to face her, his expression unreadable. "You'd be surprised at what I understand."

Amelia narrow her eyes. "Why don't you enlighten me then? You've been hinting at things since all these started. If you know so much, why not tell me what really happened to my father?"

Killian study her with his piercing gaze for a moment. "Your father's death was not what it seemed. There's more going on, Amelia-things your pack don't even know, things your pack isn't telling you. He was a good Alpha, but he made enemies. Powerful enemies."

Her heart pounds at his words, but she refused to let him see her fear. "Who's behind it?"

Killian's lips curls into a faint smile, but he didn't answer. "You'll know when the time is right."

Frustration boils within her. "You're playing games, Killian. I need answers, not more of your cryptic warnings."

"You think I enjoy keeping you in the dark?" His voice is low. "This is not a game, Amelia. There is more to what is happening than you realize."

A rustling sound comes from the trees ahead. Killian's body tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Stay close," he murmurs.

Out of the brush, three rogue wolves appeared, snarling as they encircled them. Their eyes loaded with malice, but Killian didn't flinch. Instead, he steps forward, his voice commanding.

"This isn't your fight. Leave, or I'll make you."

The lead rogue, a burly wolf with scars crisscrossing his face, let out a low growl. "You don't scare us, Killian. You've been out of the rogue business too long."

Killian's response was a blur of motion. In an instant, he throws himself upon the rogue, slamming him into the ground with brutal efficiency. The other two wolves rushed at him, but Amelia moves in, her instincts taking over. She dodges the first attack, spins around to land a hard punch to the second rogue's jaw. He staggered back, stunned by her strength.

Within moments, the fight is over. The rogues, bruised and bloody, retreats into the forest-their tails in between their legs.

Amelia wipes the sweat on her eye brow and forehead while her chest moves at her fast breathing. She glanced at Killian, who was standing over the fallen leader.

"You're stronger than I thought," he said, eyeing her with reluctant respect.

"Don't sound so surprised," she retorted, still catching her breath.

Killian gave a small nod before stepping away from the unconscious rogue. "We should keep moving. There will be more of them soon."

They resume their journey, but something had shifted between them. The battle forged an unspoken understanding. Despite their differences, they were a formidable team.

As they walk, Killian continue to drop hints about the conspiracy surrounding her father's death, but each time Amelia press for details, he pulls back.

"He was killed because he knew too much," Killian said at one point, his voice low. "There's a hidden enemy pulling the strings, manipulating packs from the shadows."

"Who?" Amelia demands. Killian's gaze hardened. "Not yet."

Her frustration is growing with every step, but she cannot deny that something bigger was at play. And despite her better judgment, she was starting to believe him.

After what feels like hours of silence, Killian stops abruptly. He turns to face her, with an unreadable expression .

"We're close," he says, his voice quiet, almost too soft for the moment.

"Close to what?" Amelia asks as her pulse raced.

Killian didn't answer immediately. His gaze shot quickly toward a deep narrow valley ahead-where unevenly cut rocks stuck out of the earth like teeth. A low mist swirled around the base of the deep narrow valley, hiding whatever was below.

"Something you need to see," he said as he started toward the valley, and after a brief moment, Amelia followed.

As they approach the edge, a strange odor hit her- a strong offensive taste of blood mixed with something else, something even darker. Her stomach twists as she looked down into the valley and saw carcasses.

Wolves-dozens of them-scattered across the rocky ground, their fur stained with dried blood. While some had shifted back into their human forms, their bodies were twisted and broken as their lifeless eyes stared at the sky; others remained in their wolf shapes.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat. They were from her father's pack.

"What...what happened here?" she whispers with a voice barely audible.

Killian crouches at the edge of the valley to let his eyes scan the bodies below as if he was not getting a clear look. "They were ambushed weeks ago," he said calmly; probably by another pack-one that didn't want them crossing into rogue territory."

Amelia knelt beside him, her heart heavy, recognizing several of the bodies. They had been part of the scouting team her father had sent out months ago, searching for answers after the first attacks but they never returned.

"This is your doing!," she accuse him, her voice shaking with anger. "You led them here to die."

Killian turns sharply to show his hard-gaze expression. "I didn't lead them anywhere. They made their choices-like you."

Her left hand folds into fist by her side and her body tremble with a fury not contained . She wanted to lash out, to blame him for the carnage before her, but deep down, she knows this wasn't his doing. The rogues were wild, yes, but this was something more -something darker.

Killian stood, dusting off his hands. "This is the price of walking blind, Amelia. You can't afford to keep pretending you know the whole truth."

"I know enough," she answers through gritted teeth, though the uncertainty bites her.

"Do you?" Killian's voice drops, filled with something close to pity. "If you really know what is happening-who is pulling the strings-you will not be so quick to judge me."

Amelia stands and face him, her eyes shot with fire. "Then tell me," she demands. Killian stared at her for a moment, as if weighing whether she is ready for what he has to say.

"Your father was close-too close," he said. "He uncovered something that threatened more than just the rogue packs. There are wolves out there, powerful wolves-who would rather prefer the entire system to burn than let the truth come out."

Amelia's heart pounds in her chest. "What truth?"

A chill runs down her spine, and for a moment, the world seem to spin around her. Her father's death had been shrouded in mystery, but the idea that it had been orchestrated by someone more powerful-someone within the system-was almost too much to bear.

Before she could ask more, a howl rang out from the trees, sharp and urgent. Killian's head snapped toward the sound, his eyes narrowing.

"We're not alone," he growls.

Instantly, the tension in the air shifted. Amelia and her warriors draw their weapons as their eyes scan the trees for any sign of movement. Killian's warriors too. The howl came again, closer this time, followed with sound of footsteps-many footsteps.

"We need to move," Killian said, his voice low and tense. "Now."

Amelia didn't argue. She signal to her warriors, and they fall into formation as Killian led them away from the valley deeper into the forest. Whatever truth she is searching for will have to wait.

Because now, they are being hunted.