CHAPTER 176
I stayed by the window, arms crossed over my chest, watching the scene unfold outside. The evening light was fading, throwing long shadows across the yard. The air smelled faintly of wet earth, faint smoke from the fireplaces, and the lingering musk of the wolf in its pen.
Emily was there, loose strands of her hair catching the last slivers of sun as she leaned against the fence, talking and laughing with Gage, Arlo, and worse, Asher. They were all relaxed, smiling, joking. She had that effect, I realized again, that magnetic pull that made everyone around her want to please her, want to follow her lead.
It wasn’t right. Not the way Asher’s eyes softened when she laughed, the way the twins hung on her words like she was some kind of lifeline. My stomach twisted, an unpleasant mix of frustration and unease.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder, checking to make sure everything I needed was inside. Maps, water, supplies, a small first aid kit, and a few weapons just in case. I didn’t take more than necessary. I needed to be fast, efficient and invisible.
David emerged from the shadows near the backdoor, probably intending to alert the others. He froze when he saw me, eyes widening slightly.
“David.” I said quietly, leaning toward him. “Don’t tell anyone. Not a word. Not the alpha, not
the twins. No one. Understood?”
He nodded, voice barely a whisper. “You’re leaving…?”
“Yes.” I said firmly. “I need to go. And no one can know.”
David’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Okay… okay. I won’t tell anyone.”
I gave him a quick nod, slinging the backpack fully over my shoulder. “Good. And David… thank you. I trust you.”
He gave a slight bow, and I turned away, heading for the backdoor. I stayed in the shadows, moving silently, avoiding the main yard where Emily and the others were still laughing, oblivious to my presence. The wolf in the pen lifted its massive head at my movement, ears flicking, but it didn’t make a sound. I felt it watching me, its awareness unsettling but strangely comforting.
I stepped over the threshold and out into the cool night air. The forest beyond the packhouse lay dark and quiet, save for the faint rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal birds. The world felt heavy, almost like it knew I was taking this step.
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< CHAPTER 176
+25 Points
I moved quickly, keeping low, following a path I knew led away from the main territory. Every step was deliberate. I wasn’t running yet I needed to disappear without alerting anyone.
Emily’s laughter carried faintly on the wind. My chest tightened. She didn’t notice me leave. None of them did. And that was exactly how I wanted it.
By the time I reached the tree line, the packhouse lights were a small glow behind me. I paused for a moment, glancing back. Asher was standing near the pen, his expression relaxed, talking to Gage and Arlo. He hadn’t seen me.
Good. He couldn’t see me. Not yet.
I tightened the straps on my backpack and took a deep breath, letting the night air fill my lungs. The forest swallowed me in its shadows as I moved deeper, leaving the familiar paths behind. My destination was dangerous, unknown, and possibly hostile. But I had no other choice. I needed answers.
The Redwater Falls pack had been destabilized after their former alpha disappeared months ago. Rumors spread quickly. Rogue packs taking advantage, minor skirmishes over territory, the occasional wolf sighting that didn’t add up. But I knew there was more. I had to find the former alpha, find out what had happened, and discover why the pack had fallen apart.
I followed the faint trails along the river’s edge, letting the sound of flowing water guide me. The moon above was thin, barely bright enough to light the forest floor. I kept to the shadows, moving silently, alert for anything that might cross my path.
By the time I reached the outskirts of the old Redwater Falls territory, I was exhausted but steady. My senses were heightened, ears picking up every small sound. The snap of a twig, the scuff of paws, the distant call of a lone wolf. I had trained for this, prepared for situations where stealth and patience were key. And now, it mattered more than ever.
I paused, listening. There was movement up ahead. Paws crunching softly over the gravelly path that led deeper into the abandoned pack lands. The scent of wolf was thick here, familiar and foreign all at once. It smelled of old battles, of fear and of survival.
I crouched low, taking care to remain hidden. A figure appeared, larger than most, moving with deliberate precision. It was a wolf, fully in its natural form, with a coat that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. My heart rate picked up slightly. I wasn’t alone here.
I froze, letting it pass, observing. The wolf stopped ahead and sniffed the air, ears twitching. It didn’t notice me immediately. I could feel it sizing me up, and though it was cautious, it wasn’t aggressive.
The forest remained quiet, the only sound was my own breathing as I watched the wolf move through the underbrush. I didn’t make a sound, letting it move ahead before I resumed my
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CHAPTER 176
path.
+25 Points
After several hours, navigating through broken trails and fallen trees, I reached a clearing near the river. The Redwater Falls packhouse, or what was left of it, loomed in the shadows. The building had been partially destroyed over time, some walls crumbled, windows missing. Nature was reclaiming it.
I approached cautiously, staying low. Every sense was alert. Something about this place felt… heavy. Like the air itself remembered past conflicts.
A soft rustle drew my attention. From behind a collapsed wall, a figure emerged. Human, tall, lean, and unmistakably strong. My heart skipped a beat.
“Alpha?” I whispered under my breath.
The figure turned slightly, sensing me but not fully seeing me. My pulse quickened. This had to be him. The former Redwater Falls alpha. But something was… off. His stance, the way he moved. It was wary, cautious. He didn’t immediately recognize me, which was good. I needed that advantage.
I stepped out slowly from the shadows. “I’m not here to fight.” I said, voice calm, controlled. “ I’m here for answers.”
He froze, eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”
“Someone who needs to know what happened to your pack.” I said. “And why you disappeared?”
He studied me for a long moment, then relaxed slightly, though the wariness remained. ” You’re brave to come here alone.” He said finally. “And foolish.”
“Maybe both.” I admitted, keeping my hands visible. “But I didn’t come unprepared. And I didn’t come for a fight.”
He let out a low hum, pacing slightly. “Most who come to me don’t survive the first ten minutes.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced a small smirk. “Then I’ll make it through the first ten, and see if I can last longer.”
The alpha, if he was truly the former alpha, studied me closely. His eyes scanned me, as if trying to see what I carried inside me. Not weapons, not tricks, but something else. A presence. A strength. He finally nodded. “Alright. Step into the clearing. Keep your hands visible.”
I did as he asked, stepping fully into the moonlight. The forest was silent except for the
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gentle rush of the river nearby.
+25 Points
He came closer, eyes never leaving mine. “You’re not from here.” He said softly, almost like a statement rather than a question. “Not originally.”
“No.” I admitted. “I’m from Moonflare. I came because I need answers about what happened here. And what you know.”
He studied me a long moment, then let out a low, humorless laugh. “Moonflare, huh? Recently just renamed to erase it’s past. I’ve heard of your pack. Strong, organized… dangerous if provoked. And yet here you are. Alone.”
“I work best alone when I need to.” I said carefully. “And sometimes alone is the only way to get the truth.”
He glanced around the clearing, eyes flicking toward the remains of his former packhouse.” Truth.” He said slowly, “Is dangerous. You want answers, little wolf. But once you have them… you can’t go back.”
I nodded, swallowing. “I understand.”
He studied me for a final moment, then motioned for me to follow. “Then come with me. But know this, what you find will change everything you think you know.”
I took a deep breath, adjusted the straps of my backpack, and stepped forward. Every sense was alive. I didn’t know what I’d find, or if I’d even make it out unscathed. But I had to try.
And as the shadows of the forest closed around me, I felt a strange certainty settle in my
chest.
This wasn’t just about Emily, or the wolf, or even the pack I’d left behind.
It was about finding the truth. Before anyone else decided it for me.
And with that, I disappeared into the night.
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
