Chapter 4 Alpha's thirst for Ember

Thorne's POV

"Alpha Thorne, we have a situation."

The guard's slightly panicked message came through the mindlink. "It's urgent, sir. There's been... an incident near the northern border. Alpha Matteo's warriors are involved."

I straightened up, my instincts now on high alert. "What kind of incident?"

"There's been a raid and several of our outposts were hit. Matteo's men were spotted, but..." He trailed off again, looking uneasy.

"But what?" I demanded impatiently.

"They weren't alone, Alpha. There's another faction involved. It's... unclear who's leading them."

Another guard burst into the room.

"Alpha, we've captured a prisoner from the raid. They're demanding to speak with you directly. They said... they have a message from Matteo."

"Hold them in the woods, I'll be there soon" I said, my voice heavy like steel.

My grip tightened around the glass in my hand, and before I could stop myself, I squeezed, feeling the glass shatter. The sharp shards dug into my skin, but I barely felt it.

Outside the room, I found my Beta, Darius, waiting for me.

"Darius," I growled. "Where is the prisoner?"

"He's being held at the northern border, Alpha," Darius answered, appearing from the shadows. "We've kept him there for you."

I nodded, not wasting any more time. Darius followed close behind, matching my pace. "What's going on?" he asked in a low voice.

"Matteo," I muttered, my jaw tightening. "He's playing something, I can feel it."

Darius didn't respond immediately, as if weighing his words carefully. "What do you think he's trying to pull?"

"And you think Serene is involved?" Darius asked, keeping his voice neutral.

I turned to look at him, locking eyes. "I'm sure of it. The way he's been looking at my territory, the way he tries to one up me at every turn... This is no coincidence."

"Stay close," I said, looking back at Darius. "This isn't going to be a simple interrogation."

Darius nodded, his eyes sharp. "Understood."

Without another word, I called on my wolf, feeling the shift ripple through me. My bones cracked and rearranged, fur growing where skin had been. Within seconds, I was in my full werewolf form, massive and powerful. The wind stirred the air around me, and I bounded into the woods with a single leap.

Darius's footsteps followed close behind, but I couldn't afford to slow down for him. My wolf had taken over, and the chase was all consuming. The prisoner was somewhere deep in the woods, probably anticipating my arrival.

The trees blurred around me as I ran, my paws hitting the ground with heavy thuds, my senses sharper than ever.

Darius was close behind me, his gait steady despite the uneven terrain. I knew he had questions, he always did. But before I could focus on his unspoken concerns, something hit me, a scent so potent it froze me mid stride.

I slowed, coming to an abrupt stop, my chest heaving. Darius caught up, looking confused. 'What is it?' he asked, but I barely heard him.

The scent wrapped itself around me like a command, primal and impossible to ignore. My wolf surged forward, clawing at my restraint and driving me toward it. Electricity prickled under my skin, and before I knew it, I bolted, leaving Darius without a word.

That scent was intoxicating, burning through every coherent thought. I didn't need to think. My wolf did it for me, pulling me deeper into the woods, away from the path, away from the prisoner we were meant to interrogate. Nothing else mattered.

The clearing opened up before me, and there she was.

A wolf with red fur so dark it shimmered like blood beneath the moonlight, streaked with shadows that made her appear both fierce and ethereal. Her golden eyes locked with mine, and I felt it, no, we felt it. The mate bond roared to life, sending a possessive growl rumbling from my chest.

'Mate.'