The forest was eerily quiet, save for the soft crunch of leaves beneath their boots. Axel and Lia moved ahead, their heads bent close together as they whispered back and forth. Aiden couldn’t hear what they were saying—not that he cared to. He needed to be alone. His mind was too loud, filled with a thousand thoughts clashing like swords.
Aiden trailed behind, letting the shadows of the trees swallow him whole. It was better this way.
He knew what had to be done once they reached his father’s old pack. And he knew he had to prepare himself for it.
Aiden’s eyes scanned the treeline, his senses sharp. The familiar scent of pine and earth filled the air, mingling with the distant scent of something faintly metallic, almost like blood. Familiar for an area populated by werewolves.
His stomach twisted at the thought, but he pushed it aside. This was no time to show weakness. He had to be ready.
Suddenly, there was a rustle behind him.
Aiden’s body tensed, and he stopped in his tracks, his head whipping around to pinpoint the source of the sound. "Stop," he called out to Axel and Lia.
They both froze, turning back to face him. "What’s wrong?" Lia asked. "Did you see something?"
"No, but I heard something," Aiden muttered, eyes narrowing as he scanned the dense undergrowth behind them. The forest, which had once seemed silent, now felt alive, as if something—or someone—was watching them from the shadows.
Axel frowned and stepped closer, his hand instinctively curling into claws. 
"What did you hear?" Lia repeated.
Before Aiden could respond, there was another rustle. This time, it came from the thicket to their left. The leaves shook violently, and then a figure stepped out from the shadows.
Aiden’s heart dropped for a moment, but he quickly steadied himself.
Raven.
There was a mix of fear and frustration clear on her face; she looked both annoyed and scared. Her body language was tense and defensive—fingers playing nervously at the beads on her neck, eyes flicking between Aiden and the surrounding trees, throat working up and down as she swallowed.
“What are you still doing here?” she hissed. “I told you to leave, Aiden.”
Aiden’s lips pressed into a thin line. He stood his ground, even as Raven glared at him. Behind him, Axel and Lia remained quiet, hidden from Raven’s view by the trees.
“I heard you the first time,” Aiden said, his voice steady, “but I’m not leaving.”
Raven’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing in frustration. She stepped closer, her movements quick and deliberate. “You don’t understand. The Council of Alphas is still out there. If they find out you’re still around, they won’t hesitate to come after you. You’re walking a fine line here, Aiden.”
“I don’t care about them,” Aiden snapped. “Let them come.”
Raven scoffed, her eyes hardening. “You think I don’t see it? You don’t value your life anymore.”
At that moment, Axel and Lia stepped out from behind Aiden, revealing themselves to Raven.
“Great,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “You brought company.”
"Hello, Raven." Lia greeted.
Raven’s gaze shifted to Lia, and her expression darkened. “And you,” she said sharply, “Girl, why are you still here? After Jacob’s death, most of the pack has scattered. The rest of you should have left by now. You in particular, should have left. The Council would be looking for you.”
Lia didn’t flinch. Her voice was steady, though there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. “I stayed because I have to help destroy Dr. Makovsky. He killed the only person I see as a parent. He killed Alpha Jacob, Raven. He’s a threat to all of us.”
Axel stepped forward, stretching a hand towards Raven. “Look, we’re not here to linger and exchange words. We need to gather what’s left of the pack. We need their help to take down the Council of Alphas and Makovsky.”
Raven let out a bitter laugh. “You think they’re still willing to fight? More than half the pack was wiped out in the last battle. Those who are left are either too scared or too wounded to fight. They’ve lost hope. I honestly won't blame them, after they lost their own Alpha to this same battle."
Aiden stepped closer, his voice low but determined. “Then what can we do to convince them?”
Raven blinked in sadness, but the tension in her shoulders remained. She looked away, as if debating whether to give them any information at all. Her fingers twitched at her side before she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Go home, Aiden,” Raven said softly, shaking her head. “I am sorry, but you just can’t win this.”
“We’re not leaving,” Aiden insisted. "So it's either you help, or you stay out of our way."
Lia took a step closer to Raven, her tone pleading but resolute. “You know what’s at stake, Raven. If we don’t stop Makovsky now, he’ll destroy everything. There won’t be any packs left, and he’ll come for the rest of us werewolves.”
For a moment, Raven’s gaze wavered. She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. “The Council of Alphas has been a constant menace. They’ve been bleeding the pack dry for weeks now, since Alpha Jacob died. Most of our members have left for neighboring packs, but the ones who couldn’t afford to leave... they’re suffering.”
Axel’s brow furrowed. “So, what do we need to do?”
Raven’s jaw tightened. “If you want the remaining pack members to fight with you, you need to free them from the Council’s grip. Right now, they’re too scared to act. They won’t risk it, not after everything that’s happened.”
Aiden’s eyes darkened, his jaw clenched. “Where are they?”
Raven’s gaze flicked up to meet his. “They’re scattered. But most of them are still hiding in the woods, somewhere close to the pack's seat. The Council of Alphas is keeping a close watch, and anyone who tries to leave is punished.”
“We’ll do whatever it takes,” Lia said firmly. “We’ll get them out.”
Raven hesitated for a moment before nodding. “If you can free them... then they’ll follow you. But don’t underestimate the Council. They’re ruthless.”
With those words, Raven took a step back, her eyes scanning the treeline. “I’ve told you what I can. Now go. Before they find us.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest, her figure blending into the trees.