Chapter 5 The Hunt

The moon hung high in the ink-black sky, cloaked behind wisps of cloud that shimmered silver in its glow. Beneath it, the forest pulsed with life, every leaf trembling as if in anticipation. I crouched low beside a tangle of ferns, my ears twitching at every shift of wind. My fur-soft, silvery-gray with streaks of white-blended perfectly with the underbrush. Beside me stood Mark, his golden eyes gleaming, muscles coiled like a spring.

I had never felt so alive.

Every part of me buzzed with anticipation-the rustle of rodents in the brush, the scent of deer sweat on the wind, the whisper of owls above. It was my first official hunt with the pack, and the tension was exhilarating. I wanted to prove myself. More than that-I needed to.

Mark let out a low grunt, and the pack stilled. They were a dozen strong tonight, wolves of varying colors and sizes arranged in a loose formation across the clearing. I had spent the past two weeks training with them-learning the pack's silent signals, memorizing their formation shifts, and refining my pounce and kill moves. Every lesson led to this.

Tonight, I would shed the remnants of my old life and embrace the wild completely.

Mark gave the signal. Our pack surged forward as one, a blur of fur and fangs. I sprang into motion, my muscles rippling as I sprinted through the undergrowth, weaving between trees with effortless speed. My mind sharpened, instincts guiding my path. The scent trail grew stronger-the unmistakable musk of a stag.

Luna, sleek and russet-furred, flanked my side, our movements synchronized. A rustle ahead, a flash of white-there! The stag burst from cover, massive and panicked, crashing through the underbrush with wild eyes.

Our pack gave chase.

I could feel my blood sing. This was no longer about hunger or training. It was about unity, about the sacred rhythm of our hunt. The chase was a dance-fluid, instinctive, beautiful. The deer veered left, then right, trying to throw off its pursuers. But our pack was relentless. Mark led from the front, closing the distance with terrifying speed. Two wolves broke off to cut the stag's path.

I lunged.

My jaws snapped in the air, but I was gaining my ground. I pushed harder, my limbs burning with the effort I put into it. I could smell the fear in the animal, the adrenaline pumping through its veins. The deer stumbled-a root caught its leg-and Mark seized the moment. He leaped high, crashing down onto the stag's shoulders and driving it into the earth with a sickening thud.

Our pack descended.

I watched, my breath heaving, as our packs encircled their fallen prey. Mark stepped back and turned to me. His golden gaze locked on mine. "Finish it," he commanded.

My heart pounded. The final blow-was I ready?

Luna nudged me gently. "You've earned this," her eyes seemed to say.

I stepped forward, my claws digging into the damp earth. I gazed into the deer's eyes. They were wide and trembling, filled with a primal fear I now understood. A pang of guilt pierced me-but deep down still was a reverence. This was the way of the pack. The circle of life.

With one swift motion, I lowered my jaws.

The forest was silent for a moment after. Then came a chorus of howls-long, mournful, triumphant. A song of blood and moonlight. I threw back my head and joined them, my voice blending with theirs.

For the first time, I felt whole.

Later, our pack gathered around the remains of our kill. The air was thick with the scent of blood and victory. I sat between Luna and Mark, the warmth of the others pressing close. It was an unspoken tradition-after a hunt, they shared not just the kill, but stories, laughter, memories.

Mark stood and addressed us, his voice gruff but proud. "Tonight, a new wolf proved herself."

All the pack turned to me, their eyes glowing with approval.

"She hunted with instinct, with courage, and with heart. From this night forward, Jules is one of us-not just in blood, but in spirit."

Cheers erupted. Luna leaned over and licked my muzzle gently. "You were amazing out there," she said softly. "I knew you'd feel it."

My eyes shimmered with pride and emotion. "Thank you," I said, with my voice thick.

But beneath the warmth, questions still simmered. The hunt had grounded me in this new world, yes-but that world was not without threats. The rogue werewolf Mark had warned me about still haunted my thoughts. And the strange feeling I had experienced when locking eyes with that mysterious stranger, Ryan, and what he said last-the way my very bones had reacted to his presence-refused to fade.

As the firelight flickered and laughter echoed around me, I felt a chill. The night was far from over.

Hours later, when the others slept beneath the stars, I remained awake, my body curled near the embers of the dying fire. The forest had grown quiet again, but my mind was restless. My heightened senses told me something-or someone-was watching.

I rose slowly, silently, and slipped into the shadows.

The trees welcomed me like old friends, their leaves whispering secrets in the breeze. I moved like a ghost, my paws making no sound. The further I walked, the more the unease grew.

Then I saw it.

A figure stood among the trees, tall and still. Not an animal. Not quite human. Shadowed in the moonlight.

"Jules," the figure said, voice like gravel over ice.

I froze.

"I've been waiting."

The voice was achingly familiar-though I couldn't place it. My instincts screamed danger, but my curiosity was stronger.

"Who are you?" I growled, stepping closer.

The figure stepped into the moonlight. He had dark hair, eyes like silver fire, and a presence that made my blood turn cold. And yet, something in me stirred. Recognition. Memory. Pain.

"You know who I am," he said. "You've just forgotten."

He smiled-a slow, cruel curve of his lips. "But you will remember soon enough."

And then, he vanished.

I stood in the clearing long after he disappeared, heart thudding, breath shallow. The fire back at the pack's camp had long since died out. But inside me, a different fire had ignited.

One memory.

Of destiny.

Of something darker than I had ever imagined.

I had earned my place in the pack-but something told me that was only the beginning.

A storm was coming.

And I am at the center of it.

As I turned back toward the pack's camp, a faint, glowing mark burned against my wrist-something I had never seen before. A symbol that hadn't been there before tonight. And as the wind carried the stranger's last words to my ears again-"You will remember"-a part of me began to tremble.