Chapter 1

Logan's POV

I couldn't bear the excitement a fortnight ago when I received the order to return home.

I had always been away from my pack since I had my first shift. But this was the first time I had spent almost a year at once outside of my pack.

My father prided himself in sending me on missions outside the pack's territory. It's safe to say I am a wayfarer.

I saddled my horse into the cold evening with about four guards trailing behind. I was supposed to meet Beta Peter at the borders, my father had promised to send him down.

The troops at the garrison of the new pack which I had helped to build saluted as I galloped away. The pack was still new and a high level of security was needed. It was a time when rogue wolves were running wild. They invaded and destroyed new packs easily.

"Stop!" I ordered the few guards that were with me as we neared the borders. They halted immediately, and I addressed them.

"I will go alone from here. Go back and reinforce the security around your pack," I declared.

One after the other they dismounted from their horses and bowed. Their faces were clad with emotions and I looked away from them.

"We are in a perilous time. The road is dangerous my Prince, we have chosen ourselves to lead you back to Moonlight Pack. We can't watch you go on your own," one of them said with one knee on the ground and one hand on his sword.

"The pack needs you more. My father has sent his Beta with some of his men to lead me home. I will meet them as soon as I cross the border. You should go!" I declared.

"Safe trip, my Prince!" They chorused in unison and mounted their horses. I watched them gallop away before I crossed to the other side.

********

"Prince Logan! Welcome home!" Beta Peter's voice boomed into the air, he was already waiting with his men.

"It's been almost 8 months, my Prince," he said cheerfully.

"You are good at keeping records," I responded with a dry smile.

"How is the new Pack doing? Beta Peter asked.

"We have no time to waste. The Night is fast approaching. Let's talk when we arrive at the palace."

"Pardon me, my Prince, I was too elated to think straight. It's been almost a year," he said and I nodded.

"Giddy up!" We yelled. Our horses galloped into the night, with the Beta's guards leading the way.

We had just covered a few grounds when the horses receded.

Beta Peter and I, who were riding side by side glanced at each other as the horses came to a halt.

"We are surrounded!" One of the guards exclaimed and we disembarked from the horses immediately.

The woods broke into life as men jumped down from the surrounding trees.

"Rogues!" I snarled.

 I moved back slowly until I came in contact with the rest of my men. We stood back to back, in formation. We all retrieved our swords from their sheaths and waited, eyes peering into the darkness.

We didn't wait much. They came at us at once and we were ready for them.

A man rushed at me blindly. With my free hand, I whipped my fist around. His jaw cracked and he went down. 

This seemed to have enraged his group as they all charged toward me. Beta Peter and his men retaliated and a fierce battle ensued.

I took a glance to see Beta Peter cut a man in half with one clean swipe. The other guards were holding up pretty well. While I looked around, somebody barrelled into me, tossing me to the ground. 

My back barely touched the ground, I leaped back up and dealt my attacker a deadly blow, he went down with a thud. 

I sprang to my feet only to behold another rogue swinging a dagger at me. Easily, I parried the blade and caught his hand. I twisted the hand forcefully until I broke his arm, and he went down screaming. 

Another rogue charged at me, I rolled away from his kick, stole his momentum, and slammed him to the ground. Whipping out two short knives from my waistband, I made quick slashes and tore out the ankles of another rogue. 

I lost focus as I looked around for Beta Peter. When I came around, I ducked a high kick aimed at my head from another rogue, slashing his thighs and stabbing him once in the chest. 

"Retreat! Logan! We are outnumbered!" Beta Peter's voice boomed into the air but I wasn't done.

Beta Peter's order distracted me. Someone came at me stealthily from behind and before I could react, I was knocked off by a heavy punch to my temple. I rolled and stood up feeling dizzy. 

"Ahhhh!" I groaned in pain as an arrow hit my chest. An excruciating pain sizzled through my body and instantly, I knew that it was a poisoned arrow. 

Turning around, I located the one who shot the arrow, he was preparing to take another shot. 

Howling in rage, I charged toward him like a deranged dog. I bit into his arm, making his bow fall.

Mustering all my strength, I lifted him and threw him against a huge rock. Blood splattered from his broken skull and his eyes clamped shut.

I staggered around and could hardly stand. I had exerted too much energy and I was out of breath. The venom was slowly circulating through my body, making me weak.

I was losing it. Everywhere was getting darker. My eyelids were getting heavy and I couldn't hold them open. 

I fell to the floor and felt myself roll down and over the cliff. My bones cracked and merged and I shifted in mid-air as I fell. 

With a heavy thud, my body hit the sharp jutting rocks at the bottom of the cliff, it was a great fall. 

The dark sky and the twinkling stars were the last things I saw before I was enveloped in darkness.