The Shadowfang Pack was a storm barely contained.
Their lands, rugged and raw, buzzed with life and tension as the hour of the King's arrival crept closer. Warriors lined the perimeter, shifting restlessly, their senses stretched taut as bowstrings. Every shadow was a threat, every movement scrutinized.
The pack house, a sprawling fortress of dark stone and timber, pulsed with frantic energy. Omegas darted through the halls and open courtyards, arms laden with fresh linens, polished silverware, and platters of food. The scent of roasted meats and baked bread clung to the air, heavy and rich.
Everywhere Jade turned, there was motion — frantic, nervous, desperate to be perfect.
She moved quickly along the edges, doing as she was told, careful not to draw attention. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she heard the sharp, commanding voice of the Alpha ringing through the grounds.
"Double the patrols at the eastern ridge! I want every approach covered!" Alpha Darion barked, his voice laced with a sharpness that bit into the ears of his warriors.
"Yes, Alpha!" the guards echoed, scattering like startled birds to obey.
Closer to the house, elders supervised the young, making sure every flower wreath was properly placed, every surface scrubbed to shining perfection. Even the children had been roped into the effort, sweeping courtyards and polishing wooden rails until their small arms ached.
Fear and excitement hung thick in the air, a mixture so potent Jade could taste it at the back of her throat.
The King was coming.
The shadow in the dark.
The reaper of traitors.
The cold, unyielding hand of justice.
Jade had heard the whispers all her life — stories murmured around the hearth at night, warnings woven into lullabies meant to scare wayward pups into obedience. Tales of a King whose mercy was fleeting and whose anger was legendary.
No one spoke such things aloud now, of course. Not with the Blood Moon emissaries already drawing closer. But it didn't stop the way shoulders stiffened or how eyes darted nervously toward the forest's edge, half-expecting to see those infamous black-cloaked warriors already standing there, watching.
Jade tried to keep her head down, willing herself invisible.
It didn't work.
A sharp hand clamped down on her shoulder, making her flinch.
"Stay out of sight, you little curse," sneered Marla, one of the senior omegas. Her lip curled in disdain as she looked Jade over like she was dirt tracked in from outside. "The last thing we need is your bad luck ruining everything."
Others nearby murmured agreement, their gazes sliding away like she was something unpleasant that might stain their clothes.
Jade nodded mutely, the old, familiar shame coiling in her chest.
"Yes, Marla."
Without waiting for dismissal, she turned and fled.
The frantic heart of the pack pulsed behind her, louder with every step she took until the noise became a dull roar in her ears. She needed space. Air. A place where she wasn't a mistake waiting to happen.
Instinct guided her feet.
Past the barracks. Past the bustling kitchens. Through a narrow path winding between the trees — a trail few remembered, fewer used.
The scent of moss and fresh water grew stronger with every breath.
The waterfall appeared like a secret whispered by the forest itself.
Tucked between towering rocks and dense trees, hidden from the bustling heart of the pack, the waterfall cascaded down a sheer cliff face, its water sparkling in the afternoon sun. Ferns crowded the base, and wildflowers poked shyly through the cracks of stone.
The sound of the water was a balm, drowning out the clamor of duty and disdain.
Jade exhaled slowly, the first true breath she'd taken all day.
She kicked off her shoes and padded to the water's edge, the stones cool beneath her feet. Kneeling, she dipped her fingers into the clear pool, watching the ripples chase each other across the surface.
For a while, she simply sat there.
Letting the mist kiss her skin.
Letting the sun warm her face.
Letting herself forget.
Above her, birds chirped softly in the trees, oblivious to the chaos brewing not far from their sanctuary. A dragonfly skimmed the water's surface, its wings catching the light in flashes of blue and gold.
Jade smiled faintly.
Here, she wasn't the pack's jinx.
Here, she was just... Jade.
She leaned back on her hands, gazing up at the sliver of sky framed by ancient branches, her mind drifting.
She knew she couldn't stay long.
Soon, someone would notice her absence.
Soon, she'd be dragged back into the frenzy.
But for now... for just a little while... she would pretend.
Pretend she belonged somewhere.
Pretend she wasn't a walking curse.
Pretend she could be free.
The wind shifted slightly, carrying with it the faint, unmistakable scent of foreign wolves — unfamiliar, strong, sharp like iron and rain.
Jade's heart stumbled.
They were close.
Far closer than anyone realized.
And for the first time in days, Jade didn't feel fear.
She felt something deeper.
Something she couldn't name.
A prickle of something on her skin.
The future — whatever it held — was racing toward them all.
But for now, she closed her eyes and listened to the song of the waterfall.
The last true moment of peace before the world changed forever.
Meanwhile at the pack house, As Alpha Rowan barked out final orders to his warriors — securing the perimeters, checking patrol rotations, ensuring every corner of the pack house and its surroundings gleamed with readiness — a lean warrior approached at a brisk jog. He dipped his head respectfully and murmured low into the Alpha's ear.
Rowan stiffened slightly, eyes sharpening.
"They're close," the warrior confirmed, barely above a whisper. "The Beta leads them. They'll be here any moment."
Without hesitation, Rowan gestured sharply to his top lieutenants and executive council members. Together, they strode swiftly toward the stronghold's main entrance, hearts pounding with a mix of tension and anticipation. Warriors adjusted their stances, standing straighter. Omegas scurried faster, smoothing out final imperfections with frantic precision.
The gates loomed open, the path cleared.
And Alpha Rowan positioned himself at the forefront, shoulders squared, expression carved from stone — ready to meet the King