Chapter 1 The Ambush

Author's POV

"Where is he?" Alistair growled, his eyes darting through the shadows of the forest.

"I don't know!" Raiden whispered back, panic creeping into his voice. "We've been waiting for hours. What if he's not coming?"

"He's coming," Alistair snapped. "He has to. I feel it."

Raiden shifted nervously. "What if it's a trap? Grayson isn't stupid."

"I know Grayson," Alistair's voice was sharp. "This is exactly where he'll show up."

A sudden rustling in the bushes made Raiden jump. "Did you hear that?"

Alistair didn't respond, his body tensing as he crouched lower. "Stay quiet."

The wind shifted, carrying a scent Alistair knew all too well. He gritted his teeth. "They're here."

Raiden's hand went to the hilt of his blade. "What do we do?"

"We fight."

Before Raiden could react, a low growl echoed from the trees. Alistair's muscles tightened, his eyes scanning the darkness. Three wolves stepped out, their eyes glowing in the moonlight.

"Well, well, well," came a voice Alistair hadn't heard in years. "Look who's still alive."

"Isaac," Alistair snarled, standing slowly. "I knew it'd be you."

Isaac grinned, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You didn't think you could come back without a welcome party, did you?"

"I'm not here to play games," Alistair's voice was cold. "Where's Grayson?"

Isaac chuckled. "Straight to the point. Always so serious, Alistair. You never learned, did you?"

Alistair's fists clenched. "Where is he?"

Isaac stepped even closer, his grin fading into a sneer. "You think you can waltz back in here and demand answers? After everything you left behind?"

"I didn't leave anything behind," Alistair's voice was low, dangerous. "It was taken from me."

Raiden shifted nervously beside him. "Alistair, we should leave. This doesn't feel right."

Alistair ignored him, his eyes never leaving Isaac. "I'm only going to ask one more time. Where is Grayson?"

Isaac's eyes flickered with amusement. "You think I'm just going to hand him over to you? Like old times?"

"If you know what's good for you, you will."

Isaac's laughter was cold, mocking. "You really haven't changed. Still the arrogant alpha, even after losing everything."

"I'm not here for you, Isaac," Alistair's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm here for Selene."

At the mention of her name, Isaac's smile faltered, if only for a moment. "Selene? You still think about her?"

"I never stopped," Alistair growled.

Isaac stepped closer, his voice a mocking whisper. "You abandoned her. Left her to fend for herself."

"I didn't abandon anyone," Alistair snapped, fury burning in his chest. "You betrayed me. All of you."

"You couldn't lead," Isaac spat, his eyes narrowing. "Grayson took what was rightfully his. And you? You disappeared. You left her, Alistair. Left us all."

"Where is she?" Alistair's voice rose, the anger in him boiling over. "Tell me now, Isaac, or I'll-"

Isaac's grin returned, cold and full of venom. "You'll what? Kill me? You're outnumbered. Look around, Alistair."

Raiden tugged on Alistair's arm. "We should go. There's too many."

"Shut up, Raiden!" Alistair barked, his eyes locked on Isaac. "I'm not leaving until I get answers."

Isaac took another step forward, his wolves flanking him. "Answers? You want answers? Fine. Selene doesn't want to see you. She's moved on. She's with Grayson now."

Alistair's heart skipped a beat. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Isaac's grin widened. "She's with him, Alistair. Right where she belongs."

"You're lying!" Alistair roared, his control slipping. He lunged at Isaac, his fist connecting with Isaac's jaw in a powerful blow.

Isaac stumbled back, blood trickling from his lip. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, a twisted smile on his face. "I see you still have some fight left in you."

Raiden stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Alistair, we need to leave. Now."

Alistair didn't listen. His eyes were fixed on Isaac. "Where. Is. She?"

Isaac straightened, cracking his neck. "You'll never find her. Grayson made sure of that."

"I'll find her," Alistair growled. "And when I do, I'll tear him apart."

Isaac laughed again, but there was an edge to his voice now. "You? Tear him apart? Grayson's stronger than you'll ever be. You don't stand a chance."

"We'll see about that."

Isaac's smile faded, his expression turning cold. "This is your last chance, Alistair. Leave now, or die."

Alistair's eyes burned with fury. "Not without Selene."

Isaac's wolves growled, taking a step forward. "You're out of your mind. You think you can just walk in and take her back? She doesn't want you anymore."

Alistair's body trembled with rage, but before he could move, Raiden grabbed his arm. "Alistair, please. We're going to get killed!"

Alistair shook him off. "I'm not leaving."

"Then you're a dead man," Isaac snarled, shifting into his wolf form in a blink. His dark fur rippled as he growled, eyes glowing with menace.

Alistair stood his ground. "I'm not afraid of you."

Isaac lunged without warning, his claws aimed for Alistair's throat. Alistair dodged, just barely, his own body shaking with the urge to shift.

"Come on!" Raiden shouted, his voice filled with panic. "We can't fight them all!"

Alistair's eyes blazed as he ducked another swipe from Isaac's claws. "I'm not running."

Isaac laughed, a deep, menacing sound. "You should've stayed gone."

Alistair moved fast, grabbing Isaac's arm and twisting it with a sickening crack. Isaac howled in pain, but quickly shifted back to human form, grinning through the pain.

"You'll regret that," Isaac growled.

Raiden tugged on Alistair's sleeve again. "There's more coming. We need to go!"

Alistair hesitated for a split second, his grip on Isaac loosening. Isaac took the opportunity, shifting again and pulling away, disappearing into the trees.

"You won't win this!" Isaac's voice echoed through the forest, his taunting laughter lingering. "Grayson will destroy you. And when he does, I'll make sure she watches!"

Alistair's heart pounded in his chest, fury and frustration burning through him. Raiden grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the clearing.

"Alistair, we have to leave! There's more of them coming!"

Alistair clenched his fists, his eyes still searching the shadows for any sign of Isaac. "This isn't over."

Raiden pulled him harder. "It's going to be over if we don't get out of here now!"

Reluctantly, Alistair turned, following Raiden through the dense trees, his mind racing with thoughts of Selene. He couldn't let Isaac's words get to him. Selene couldn't be with Grayson. It was a lie. It had to be.

"We'll come back for her," Alistair muttered, his voice barely audible.

Raiden glanced back, panting as they ran. "If we survive this, maybe."

The forest seemed to close in around them, the howls of Grayson's wolves growing louder in the distance. Alistair's muscles ached, but his mind was sharper than ever.

"I'll find you, Selene," he whispered to himself, his resolve hardening. "I'll tear them all apart if I have to."

The howls were closer now, almost upon them. Raiden stumbled, nearly falling. "We're not going to make it!"

Alistair glanced back, his heart pounding. The wolves were gaining. They had to keep moving.

"We'll make it," Alistair growled, determination flooding through him. "I'm not done yet."