“All right, so slight change of plans,” Kai addresses their small group gathered on the forest edge. “Serenia is unable to travel in beast form, which means we won’t be able to take the same way that we took to come here.” “Going on foot will add at least a whole other day to our trip. Alpha Erik and the others are going to wonder if we’ve been delayed,” Gunnar calls out. “That’s why you’re going to go ahead and inform my father, Niklas and I will stay back and guard Serenia during the trip. Don’t worry, we’ve both made the journey enough times we know our way around. We shouldn’t be delayed by more than a day.” Kai can both see and feel the ashamed and nervous energy from Serenia, he can only imagine how guilty she feels for hindering the journey, though none of them find her at fault, telling her that will make no difference, he already knows. Therefore, he doesn’t want to make her feel any worse by voicing how much longer it will take.

By the time night falls Kai has successfully gotten a fire going and captured a couple of small hares to cook for the night, letting Niklas and Gunnar run wild and catch their own dinner, a great excuse to leave him and Serenia alone for a little bit. Sitting by the fire and eating their shares of meat sticks, Kai is expecting Serenia to ask questions about what to expect when they finally reach Wolfmane territory to get an idea of what she is about to walk into. Instead, she sits and listens intently to the rather noisy forest scene, the birds never ceasing their chirping and in turn, bothering the bullfrogs commuting to the stream. She reminds him of a wide-eyed doe sitting in the middle of a meadow, opening her eyes and ears for the first time and experiencing the natural sounds of life. Kai thinks back to the few times he had entered the forest territory of the Raseri Tribe and doesn’t remember hearing many sounds if any sounds of birds or insects.

“Is-Is that a human?” Serenia asks, cowering a little behind the crouched-over Niklas. “Why would you think that?” he asks. Serenia shrugs, feeling a little embarrassed now. “I don’t know, who else would attack us with silver-tipped arrows? We aren’t in rogue territory, are we?” “Everywhere that isn’t claimed by a tribe or pack is considered rogue territory, they roam wherever they please, but even they can’t get their hands on silver like that. Only tribes as big as ours could possibly have the need for something as lethal as silver,” Niklas says, glaring at the struggling body between Gunnar’s teeth. “I guess it’s time we found out,” she mutters. “Can you stand? I don’t think I can handle getting this guy to talk.” Niklas nods and tries his best to get on his feet but stumbles back to the ground. He groans and glares once more at the attacker before his eyes go wide. “Wait, stop him! He has so

The grass is lit with flames, the trees ablaze with embers. Everywhere Kai looks there is smoke and flames and no sign of Serenia. He can’t smell through the thick smog gathering in his nose and blinding his sight, the ground quickly turning to crumbled ash making it harder to detect movement or sound. But she is there, he can feel her. She is close and injured, he knows it through the mate bond, he felt it the moment it occurred but turned around to see nothing, the forest partially gone as is. Niklas! Kai calls out but there is no response. What the hell is happening? How is there another ambush? We took a different path! Gunnar, where are you? Still no response. Damn! Kai continues to push through the growing fire and fallen trees to find Serenia, just barely making her out along the edge of the small pool of water that is now rapidly turning red. Fear courses through him as he tears toward her, only for another barrage of lit ar

Kai stalks toward the war room and throws open the doors to see his father once again hunched over the large territorial map spread out on the round table, observing it closely. He doesn’t even turn to face Kai when he speaks. “I’ve finally managed to pull you from that room, that must mean she has awoken, yes?” “If you know this, why have you summoned me so soon? She is still recovering and I-” Alpha Erik slams his fists on the table and scatters the goblet of water next to him. “You still have yet to attend a single meeting with Aurora Iversen and her mother! You didn’t even once approach her while attending the alpha ceremony for Rune Iversen, her damned brother. Instead, you were running after this offspring of an Omega, ignoring the perfect daughter of an Alpha!” “That offspring is my mate. Of all the people, I thought you would be the happiest for me. I finally have a mate to stand next to me when I rule, no