Page 43 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

Prolonged urban tracking requires a level of control and focus that takes time to develop,I explain, my thoughts laced with concern.I think it would be best if you head back to the packhouse and warn the pack about what we've discovered.

I can feel Lila's disappointment and frustration through our bond, but there's also a glimmer of relief.

Are you sure?she asks, her wolf's ears flattening against her head.

I am,I confirm, my mental voice firm but gentle.The pack needs to know about Gio's involvement and the alliance between the rogues and hunters. You're the best one to deliver that message.

Lila hesitates for a moment, then nods, understanding the importance of the task.

Okay,she agrees, her resolve strengthening.I'll find Elena and tell her what's going on.

Be careful,I urge as Lila turns to head back to the forest.Stay out of sight and trust your wolf’s instincts.

She gives me a final, determined look before disappearing into the shadows, her sleek form blending into the night.

With a heavy heart, I watched as Lila's wolf form blended seamlessly into the darkness of the night. I know sending her back to the packhouse is the right decision, but it doesn't ease the ache in my chest. Every instinct screams at me to keep her close, to protect her from the dangers lurking in the darkness.

With determination, I compel myself to stay focused on the immediate task and resume following the trail of the hunters. Their scent leads me deeper into the city, winding through narrow streets and crowded alleys. The stench of exhaust and garbage mingles with the tang of their sweat, making my nose twitch in disgust.

As I turn onto a bustling main street, a wave of conflicting scents hits me like a wall. The aroma of street food, perfumes from passing pedestrians, and the ever-present urban smog overwhelm my senses. I pause, desperately trying to pick up the hunters' trail again, but it's gone, lost in the cacophony of city smells.

Frustration wells up inside me as I realize I've lost them. I'm about to backtrack when a new scent catches my attention – smoke, and not the usual kind you'd find in a city.

Chapter 15

Disaster Strikes

Axel

The pungent stench of smoke assaults my nostrils, but it's not the typical city smog I'm used to. No, there's something more to it, a sharp, bitter undertone that sends a jolt of recognition through my body. My pulse quickens as the realization hits me like a freight train. That scent, the one intertwined with the harsh odor of the smoke...it's unmistakable. It's the aroma that's permanently ingrained in my memory, the one that never fails to make my mouth water and my spirits lift. Lila's food truck. Even amidst the overwhelming reek of the smoke, I'd know that enticing fragrance anywhere.

Without hesitation, I change direction, following this new, alarming scent. As I race through the streets, my mind floods with worst-case scenarios. The smell of smoke grows stronger with each block, and I can hear sirens in the distance.

I round a corner, and my worst fears are confirmed. Thick, black smoke billows into the sky, and at its source, I see the charred remains of Lila's food truck engulfed in flames. Firefighters are already on the scene, battling the blaze, but it's clear they're too late to save the truck.

Suddenly, a familiar scent catches my attention, cutting through the urban miasma. It's Ethan, my beta, his wolf form emerging from the shadows to join me.

Axel,he greets me, his mental voice tense with urgency.

I tracked the rogues to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It looks like they're using it as a base of operations.

I nod, absorbing the information.Good work, Ethan. But look over there.

Ethan's eyes widen, understanding dawning on his face.

Amidst the confusion, a familiar figure catches my eye. Gio, his face twisted into a mask of smug satisfaction, slips away from the scene, melting into the gathering crowd.

White-hot rage surges through me, my wolf snarling for vengeance. But Ethan's steady presence at my side holds me back.

Not here,he warns, his mental voice a calming anchor.Too many witnesses. We need to wait for the area to clear before we investigate further.

I force myself to take a deep breath, the acrid smoke burning my lungs. Ethan is right. We can't risk exposing ourselves, not with so much at stake.

As the firefighters work to extinguish the blaze, Ethan and I blend into the shadows, our wolf forms hidden from prying eyes. We watch and wait, our hearts heavy, until there is no one left working on the fire. We shift into our human forms and walk over.

“Fuck,” I growl under my breath as Ethan and I approach the charred remains of Lila's food truck. The acrid stench of smoke and melted plastic burns my nose, but it's the anger churning in my gut that threatens to consume me.

As we cautiously circle the scene, Ethan suddenly freezes, his nose twitching. “Axel, over here,” he says in a low voice, moving towards a cluster of bushes a few yards from the truck.