Chapter 5 The Rising Howl

The forest was too quiet. Luna stood at the edge of the camp, staring out at the dark trees. The wind rustled through the leaves, but it didn't carry the usual sounds of birds or crickets. Something was wrong. She could feel it like a weight in her chest, like a scream just waiting to be let out.The rogue wolves were out there. And they were getting ready to strike.Behind her, the pack moved restlessly. Young ones were being ushered into hiding places under the floorboards of the gathering hall, and the older warriors sharpened blades and paced like caged animals.

Everyone could feel the tension building like a storm.Kael hadn't spoken in over an hour. He sat on a log near the fire, hunched over, one hand pressed to his ribs. Blood soaked through his shirt, and his face was pale under the dim torchlight. The rogues had already hit them once-just a warning attack-but it had been brutal. Kael had taken a hit meant for one of the younger wolves, and he hadn't fully recovered since.Luna hated seeing him like this. The Kael she knew was strong, calm, always in control. But now, he looked tired. Worse-he looked scared. And that scared her more than anything else."Let me look at it," Luna said quietly, crouching beside him.Kael shook his head. "I'm fine.""You're not fine. You're bleeding.""It's not that bad." His voice was strained, and he winced as he tried to move. Luna glared at him."Stop being stubborn. You can't lead the pack if you collapse halfway through a battle."That made him stop. His shoulders slumped, and he let out a sigh. "I don't think I can lead them at all," he admitted softly. "Not like this."Luna froze. It was the first time he'd ever said something like that.She looked around. The others were watching Kael, their eyes full of worry and fear. They needed him. He was the Alpha. But they also needed someone to do something now, not just wait.And so, even though her heart was pounding, Luna stood up and turned to face the pack."Listen to me," she said, loud enough for them all to hear. "Kael's hurt, but that doesn't mean we stop fighting. The rogues want us afraid. They want us to fall apart. We can't give them that."Several heads turned toward her. Some looked surprised. Others nodded slowly."We've made it this far because we have each other," she continued. "We've lost people. We've been hunted. But we're still here. And if they want a war, then we'll give them one."There was a murmur of agreement, soft at first, then growing stronger. Kael watched her from where he sat, his eyes meeting hers. And for the first time that night, she saw something like hope there.Something else happened too.She felt a jolt in her chest. A strange warmth spreading from her Moonmark, pulsing like it was syncing with something outside of her. She gasped, her hand going to her collarbone.And then she felt it-Kael's pain.It wasn't physical, exactly. It was deeper. Like her body had opened up to the ache in his. The frustration, the exhaustion, the weight of all the lives depending on him. It filled her for a second before fading, leaving her breathless."What... was that?" she whispered.Kael looked just as shocked. "I don't know. But I felt it too."Their eyes locked. The bond between them, whatever it was, had just deepened. It was no longer just emotion or attraction. It was real, raw, and dangerous.Before they could say more, a howl pierced the air.Not just one-dozens. All around them.The rogues had arrived."Positions!" someone shouted.The camp exploded into motion. Warriors took up arms, younger wolves ran for cover, and Luna grabbed Kael's arm to help him to his feet."You can't fight," she told him. "Stay near the shelter. I'll-""No," Kael said, gripping her arm. "Don't go out there alone.""I have to. They'll need someone to lead them, and right now, that's me."He looked like he wanted to argue, but then he nodded. "Be careful."She gave him a small, tight smile. "You too."Luna ran into the trees, the sounds of battle already beginning around her. Wolves clashed in the darkness, snarling and snapping. Shadows moved fast between the trees, and it was hard to tell friend from enemy.She fought with everything she had, using both her claws and the strange bursts of moonlight that sometimes sparked from her hands when her emotions ran too high. She didn't know what she was doing half the time, but instinct guided her.But the rogues were everywhere. For every one that fell, two more came. They were relentless.She was beginning to lose track of where she was when a sharp pain exploded in the back of her head. She dropped to her knees, the world spinning.Someone grabbed her.Through her blurry vision, she saw a tall figure with dark, gleaming eyes and a cruel smile. His scent hit her like ice.The rogue Alpha."Well," he said, dragging her to her feet. "This is quite the prize."She struggled, trying to shift, trying to fight, but she was too dizzy. Her limbs didn't want to obey her."Let me go," she hissed."Why would I do that?" he replied smoothly. "You're more valuable than any battle."He threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing and disappeared into the forest. Luna's vision faded in and out. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the moon overhead, half-covered by clouds.And then everything went black.