Page 48 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

Three rogue werewolves burst into the clearing, their eyes glowing with feral intensity. Fear grips me, but my wolf refuses to cower. She pushes against my human instincts, urging me to stand my ground and fight alongside my pack.

As the pack members engage the rogues, I struggle to remember my training. My wolf's aggressive impulses threaten to overwhelm me, but Axel's presence at my side helps me focus. We face off against the rogue leader, a massive grey wolf with scars crisscrossing his muzzle.

Axel lunges forward, his teeth snapping at the rogue's flank. I circle around, seeking an opening to strike. My wolf guides my movements, her instincts melding with my human strategic thinking. I feint to the left, drawing the rogue's attention, then dart in to sink my teeth into his hind leg.

The rogue yelps in pain, turning to face me with a snarl. Axel takes advantage of the distraction, clamping his jaws around the rogue's throat. As they grapple, I catch a scent on the wind that sends a chill down my spine. It's familiar, but out of place among the rogues' scents.

My wolf becomes fiercely protective, her hackles rising as she scans the clearing for the source of the scent. I try to focus on the battle at hand, but the nagging familiarity of the scent tugs at my mind.

The scent of Gio's cologne hits me like a slap in the face, and my head snaps around, searching for the source. There, at the edge of the clearing, I spot him watching the battle with a smug expression. Shock courses through me, quickly replaced by a burning anger as the pieces fall into place.

Gio brought the rogues here.

My wolf surges to the forefront, her rage mirroring my own.Monster!she snarls in my mind, urging me to act. I catch Ethan's eye and jerk my head towards Gio. Understanding dawns on his face, and we both take off after Gio without hesitation.

Gio's eyes widen as he realizes he's been spotted. He turns and flees, crashing through the underbrush towards the distant sound of a road. Ethan and I push ourselves to the limit, our paws pounding against the forest floor as we give chase.

Branches whip at my face, but I barely feel them, my focus entirely on catching Gio. The scent of his fear mingles with the stench of his cologne, spurring me on. We burst out of the treeline just in time to see Gio scrambling into a hidden car.

My lungs burn as Ethan and I throw ourselves forward in one last desperate attempt to catch Gio before he reaches his getaway vehicle. Snapping jaws and flailing claws come so close but fall just short as the car door slams shut. The engine's roar is like a mocking laugh in my ears.

The taste of bitter frustration coats my tongue as Gio's taillights disappear into the distance. Ethan and I exchange a glance, our wolf eyes gleaming with shared determination. Without a word, we turn and lope back towards the pack, our paws padding silently on the forest floor.

As we run, I feel the now-familiar tingle of the pack bond in my mind. Ethan's thoughts brush against mine, clear and focused.

We need to regroup with the others,Ethan's voice echoes in my head.Axel needs to know what happened.

I send back a wave of agreement, still marveling at this new form of communication. Being a newly turned wolf, the pack bond feels both exhilarating and slightly overwhelming.

You're doing well, Lila,Ethan adds, sensing my mix of emotions.Just stay close.

We slow as we approach the clearing where we left the others. The scent of our packmates grows stronger, mingled with the sharp tang of blood and the lingering traces of fear and adrenaline.

We should shift back,Ethan projects to me, gesturing with his muzzle towards a cluster of bushes.You can use those for privacy. I'll go over there.

Grateful for his consideration, I nod and move behind the thick foliage. Once hidden from view, I focus inward, willing my body to return to its human form. The familiar sensations wash over me - bones reshaping, fur receding, claws retracting. It's still a strange, almost painful process, but I'm slowly getting used to it.

As the shift completes, I quickly pull on the clothes we'd stashed earlier, my hands shaking slightly from the residual adrenaline and the lingering newness of the transformation.

"I'm ready," I call softly, stepping out from behind the bushes.

Ethan emerges from his own hiding spot, fully dressed and alert. "Let's go," he says, his tone respectful but urgent. "Axel will want our report."

Together, we step into the clearing. The cloying metallic tang of spilled blood accosts my nose, much stronger now in my human form. Three broken rogue bodies lie strewn across the leaf litter like discarded rag dolls. I spot Kate, Finn, and Elena tending to their wounds, but I'm relieved to see the gashes already knitting closed. My heart feels rubbed raw with a mix of anger, confusion, and sorrow as the reality of what just happened sinks in.

Axel looks up as we approach, his expression grim. "I don't ever want to turn around and find that you have ran off like that again, Lila. What happened? "

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Gio was here, watching the battle. He fled when we spotted him. Ethan and I chased him, but he got away in a car."

The pack members exchange concerned glances, murmuring amongst themselves. Axel's brow furrows, and I can see the wheels turning in his mind as he processes this information.

"What could he possibly gain by sending rogues our way?" he says, his voice low and serious. "If Gio is going to continue sending rogues, we need to stop him before he causes pack members to die."

The others nod in agreement, their faces set with determination. Despite the gravity of the situation, I feel a swell of pride in my chest as I realize that I'm truly becoming a part of this pack now, united in our shared purpose.

Axel turns to me, his eyes softening slightly. "You did well today, Lila. Both in the battle and in spotting Gio. Your instincts are sharp, and you're learning to trust your wolf."

I manage a small smile, but guilt gnaws at the pit of my stomach. If it wasn't for my past with Gio, would the pack be in this danger now? I can't shake the feeling that I'm somehow responsible for the threat we face.