Chapter 5:
The Eastern forests were alive with whispers. Leo moved silently along the narrow paths, each step measured, every sense alert. The letter had arrived that morning, sealed with the official insignia of the Eastern Border Security, but its contents burned hotter than any flame.
A rogue pack—ten strong—had ambushed a group of merchants and sailors heading south. Twelve had died, two were injured, and one had gone missing, though the corpse was found later. The blood spilled was fresh still in Leo's mind, images of twisted bodies flashing unbidden.
John, his loyal beta, moved beside him, eyes scanning the underbrush, alert for even the faintest hint of movement. "Double security," John reminded him, voice low and tense. "We don't know what we're walking into."
Leo's jaw tightened. "I don't need to tell my brothers. I can handle this. This is my territory, my responsibility. I will see justice done."
John raised a brow, unconvinced. "Handling it alone? Leo, you're not a lone wolf. Not when they're organized, not when lives are at stake."
Leo's green eyes flared. "I don't need anyone watching my back. You and I are enough. Double security is sufficient. If I tell Edgar or Lucas, they'll want to interfere. I won't risk hesitation or distraction. Not now."
John hesitated but nodded. He knew arguing was pointless when Leo had that fire in his chest. "Then let's move," he said quietly.
The forest thickened as they pressed onward. Shadows grew long beneath the towering pines, sunlight filtering through in pale streaks. Every rustle of leaves, every snapping twig set Leo's nerves on edge. His mind replayed the details from the letter: ten rogues, small but deadly, unafraid of trespassing in Pack territory. Their audacity was infuriating.
"They think they can hide in my lands," Leo muttered under his breath. "They'll learn why the Eastern border bears my name."
John's wolf-like gaze followed him, calm but watchful. "We'll find them. We just have to be careful. Their numbers aren't enormous, but they move like shadows. They'll strike and vanish before you know what hit them if we're not meticulous."
Leo exhaled sharply, a low growl escaping his throat. "They won't vanish. Not from me."
Meanwhile, far to the north, Lucas's mood was no lighter. He had received a message from his own border security: a rogue had entered their territory. They had chased the trail, but somehow, the intruder had masked their scent. Every attempt to track them ended in frustration.
Lucas gripped the letter tightly, knuckles white. "They think they can elude me," he murmured. His green eyes burned with rage. "They think they can trespass in the Northern forests and escape?"
Felix, his loyal beta, stepped closer. "Do you want me to ride with you, Alpha?" he asked cautiously. "You're… furious."
Lucas shook his head, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him. "No. This is my fight. I will find this rogue. Every instinct tells me I can catch them. I will not wait for anyone to act on my behalf."
Felix's eyes flickered with concern. "You're letting your anger guide you, Alpha. Don't let it blind you."
Lucas's fists clenched. "Anger is my compass right now. Without it, I'd be nothing but a shadow while they destroy everything I swore to protect."
Back in the East, Leo and John had reached the site of the attack. The ground still bore the scars of the battle—broken carts, overturned crates, and a trail of blood leading into the forest. The stench of death hung heavy, making Leo's stomach twist.
He knelt beside one of the bodies, examining the wounds. "These aren't just random killings," he muttered. "They're precise. Calculated. Someone with training, someone who knew what they were doing."
John's eyes scanned the treeline. "We should set a perimeter. If there's one, there are more. Always more."
Leo stood, his green eyes blazing. "I'll follow the trail. You cover the perimeter and make sure nothing escapes."
John's lips pressed into a thin line, but he obeyed. "Don't push too far, Leo. We need a plan if we run into the whole pack."
Leo's jaw tightened. "I have a plan. Observation first. Strike later. Just… trust me."
Hours passed as they traced the rogue's movements. Leo's mind raced, replaying everything he knew about the Eastern forests and the patterns of past Rogue attacks. He noted subtle signs—broken twigs at odd angles, faint footprints, disturbed undergrowth. Each clue told a story. Each mark brought him closer.
And then he saw it: a faint symbol etched into the bark of a tree—a mark left intentionally by the rogue. A signature. Someone confident, perhaps arrogant. Leo's teeth clenched. "You're daring, I'll give you that," he whispered. "But not enough to escape me."
John glanced over, a hint of unease in his wolf-like eyes. "This trail… it goes beyond the border. Into Canada. Whoever this is, they're bold, Leo. Are you ready for that?"
Leo's lips curved into a grim smile. "I've never been more ready in my life. Let them think they can hide. Let them think the Eastern lands are free for the taking. They'll find out what it means to cross the Lunaris Pack."
Far north, Lucas mounted his fastest steed. The rogue's scent lingered faintly, masked and twisted, but his sharp senses honed in on it. "They'll pay," he muttered through clenched teeth. "Every step, every lie, every death—they'll answer to me."
Felix fell into stride beside him. "Do you want me to ride with you? I can help track."
Lucas shook his head. "No. I need to feel their presence, track them with my own hands. Let them know I am coming, not some messenger."
Felix's expression softened. "You're burning with fury, Alpha. Just don't let it consume you before you reach them."
Lucas didn't answer, focusing on the faint, twisted scent left by the rogue. Every heartbeat was filled with rage and precision. Every muscle coiled for action.
By nightfall, both brothers had established their positions. Leo watched the Eastern trees under the pale moonlight, listening for any sign of movement. He could feel the forest vibrating with tension, every creature holding its breath. He stayed alert, knowing one misstep could be fatal—not just for him, but for John and the territories he guarded.
In the North, Lucas crouched atop a ridge, wind whipping through his hair, eyes scanning the shadowy expanse. Every rustle, every distant sound, made him flare with anger. He refused to rest. He refused to lose.
And in the quiet of their respective packhouses, neither brother had opened the letters that had arrived earlier. The letters remained sealed, heavy with potential and unknown consequences.
One rogue in the East. One rogue in the North. Two Alphas ready to hunt. One secret that would change everything… waiting in the letters.
The hunt for vengeance—and truth—had begun.