Chapter 4 4

The forest grew darker the closer they came to the southern border, the dense canopy of trees muting the sunlight and swallowing sound. Selene kept pace with Alaric, her heart pounding in sync with their steady march. The air here felt heavier, tinged with a metallic scent she couldn't place.

Warriors flanked them, their faces set with grim determination. Each man and woman moved with the fluid precision of those accustomed to danger, their weapons at the ready. Selene tried to match their composure, though the tension in her chest refused to subside.

Alaric's voice broke through the silence. "Stay close. The rogues don't usually linger after an attack, but I won't take chances."

She nodded, her eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement. Every rustle of leaves, every distant cry of a bird set her nerves on edge. The stories she'd heard of rogue wolves painted them as mindless killers, but there was something calculated about their recent attacks.

Reaching a clearing, the group halted. The ground was littered with signs of the struggle-blood spattered across the dirt, deep gouges in the trees, and a broken sword half-buried in the soil. The stench of death hung in the air, making Selene's stomach churn.

Alaric knelt beside one of the trees, his fingers tracing the carved symbols with an intensity that made the warriors around him uneasy. "It's the same pattern," he said, his tone cold. "The crescent entwined with the wolf's claw. This symbol hasn't been seen in decades."

Selene stepped closer, drawn to the markings despite herself. The crescent shape was unmistakable, and something about it tugged at a distant memory. She reached out to touch the rough bark, her fingers hesitating just before contact.

"It feels familiar," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Alaric's sharp gaze turned to her. "Explain."

"I don't know," she admitted, shaking her head. "It's like... I've seen it before, but I don't remember where."

"Convenient," one of the warriors muttered, earning a warning growl from Alaric.

Ignoring the tension, Selene turned her attention back to the symbol. "What do you think it means?"

"It's a warning," Alaric replied. "Or a challenge. Either way, it's meant to provoke."

A warrior approached, his expression grim. "We found the bodies, Alpha. They're just beyond the ridge."

Alaric rose to his feet, his expression hardening. "Show me."

Selene followed as they made their way through the forest, the scent of blood growing stronger with each step. When they crested the ridge, the scene below stole the breath from her lungs.

Two bodies lay sprawled in the grass, their forms mangled beyond recognition. Deep claw marks ran across their torsos, their eyes wide with terror. The brutality of the attack was undeniable, but what caught Selene's attention was the way the bodies had been arranged-facing one another, their hands outstretched as if in desperation.

Alaric's jaw clenched. "They're sending a message."

Selene crouched beside one of the bodies, her stomach twisting at the sight. "What kind of message?"

"That no one is safe," he said. "Not even under my rule."

His frustration was palpable, the weight of leadership bearing down on him. Selene wanted to ask more, but the warriors had already begun preparing the bodies for transport. She stood, brushing dirt from her hands.

"You think the rogues are targeting you specifically?"

"They have to be," Alaric replied, his voice low. "This pattern of attacks, the symbols, the timing-it's all too deliberate to be random."

Selene frowned, her mind racing. The Duskwind Pack had been wiped out in a similarly calculated manner, their killers leaving behind cryptic signs that were never deciphered. The parallels were too striking to ignore.

"They could be connected to what happened to my pack," she said cautiously.

Alaric's gaze snapped to her, his expression sharp. "Explain."

"I don't know for certain," she admitted, "but the symbols, the method of attack-it's eerily similar to what I remember. The night the Duskwind Pack fell, I heard whispers of a prophecy, though I didn't understand it at the time. Maybe these rogues are following the same path."

Alaric considered her words, his eyes narrowing. "If that's true, then the curse isn't just a threat to my pack. It's a plague spreading across the territories."

A howl broke the stillness, sharp and mournful. The warriors froze, their hands tightening on their weapons. The sound came again, closer this time, sending a chill down Selene's spine.

"They're here," one of the warriors said, his voice tense.

Alaric's command was immediate. "Form a perimeter. Protect the bodies and stay alert."

The group moved with practiced efficiency, forming a defensive circle around the clearing. Selene stayed close to Alaric, her senses heightened. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the silence oppressive.

A shadow flickered at the edge of her vision, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against stone. The rogues emerged from the trees, their eyes glowing with unnatural light.

There were five of them, their forms twisted and feral. They moved as one, their snarls cutting through the air like a blade. Selene's pulse raced, her body tensing in anticipation.

Alaric stepped forward, his presence commanding. "Leave now, and I might spare you," he growled, his voice filled with authority.

The lead rogue bared its teeth, a guttural laugh rumbling in its throat. "The Moon's Favor does not belong to you, Alpha. It never did."

The words struck Selene like a lightning bolt. She stared at the rogue, her mind reeling. How did they know about the Moon's Favor?

Alaric didn't waste time with a response. He shifted in an instant, his wolf form towering and powerful. The warriors followed suit, their snarls filling the air.

The fight was brutal and chaotic. Selene ducked as a rogue lunged at her, its claws slicing through the air where her head had been moments before. She grabbed a fallen branch, swinging it with all her strength and catching the creature across the face.

Alaric tore through the rogues with relentless precision, his movements a deadly dance of fury and control. Blood sprayed across the clearing as he dispatched one attacker after another, his growls resonating with primal power.

When the last rogue fell, the clearing fell silent once more. The warriors shifted back into their human forms, their bodies battered but their spirits unbroken.

Selene stared at the carnage, her chest heaving. She turned to Alaric, who stood amidst the bodies, his eyes still glowing with the remnants of his transformation.

"This isn't just about your pack or mine," she said, her voice trembling. "There's something bigger at play here."

Alaric's gaze softened, the weight of her words sinking in. "Then we'll face it together. But first, we need answers."

The forest seemed to hum with an unspoken promise, the weight of the past pressing heavily on their shoulders. Together, they would uncover the truth-no matter the cost.