** Ryder’s POV **
The forest is quiet tonight. Too quiet. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ FіndNovel.net
It’s the kind of quiet that makes every instinct in me hum with warning.
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Before we set out on our first patrol together, I’d gathered the new enforcers in the clearing outside the cabins. They stood in a semicircle, Midnight wolves, strong and disciplined, waiting as I extended the pack link.
It’s a strange feeling, letting outsiders in, even temporarily. The pack link feels different when it touches foreign wolves. It’s cooler somehow, but necessary. Their Alpha had agreed without hesitation, understanding the risk of patrolling together without being able to communicate in their wolf forms.
“For the duration of your stay, you’re under my command,” I told them, my voice carrying through the night air with the authority only an alpha has.
Sometimes I still can’t quite believe I’m an Alpha. The title is my birthright, but it still feels strange after growing up with humans, and not knowing what I was. I’ve seen Alphas like Josh, blunt, traditional, carved from old pack law and instinct, and I wonder if I’d have turned out like that if I’d grown up under my father’s rule instead of among humans. Some still think it makes me weaker, that empathy softens a leader. Maybe they’re right. But in a world that’s always changing, I think it gives me an edge the old bloodlines lack. I know one thing for certain: if I’d lived that life, I never would’ve met Paige, and never would’ve had Jaxon, who is the most amazing kid with a heart of gold. I’ll be damned if I raise my son to be ruthless for the sake of pride. I want him to grow up kind and strong. The kind of Alpha this world actually needs.
“You’ll have access to the pack link for safety and coordination.” I continue. “There could be a major threat at any given moment. We work in groups of three or four at all times. No one wanders off alone, no one crosses the border without a direct order. Clear?”
A chorus of “Yes, Alpha,” rings out, firm and respectful.
Now, as we run through the forest, I can feel their presence threaded into the pack’s mental hum, steady heartbeats, shared focus, the rhythm of many wolves moving as one. It’s efficient and safer, but there’s a nervous undercurrent. A reminder that trust is something you build, not assume, and this is only the start of building that trust.
The moon hangs low and full tonight, cutting through the trees in pale beams of light as Parker and I lead the first patrol with the Midnight enforcers. We move fast, the air cold in our
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lungs, paws hitting the ground in rhythm. The new wolves keep pace well; they’re disciplined, silent, and smart enough not to crowd us.
I can’t help the flicker of pride that hits me as I run. I used to see patrol as nothing more than a job that had to be done, but now it has so much more purpose. It’s not just a duty now; it’s an honour, and I know a lot of the pack feel the same way. Whether or not the pack approves of Paige, they can’t deny the shift she has brought with her.
There’s a steadiness in them lately, a quiet confidence I haven’t felt since I arrived. Wolves who used to keep their heads down when I passed now meet my eyes with respect instead of doubt. Having a Luna, a real one, and an Alpha heir… it’s changed everything. Jaxon’s laughter echoes through this place; he’s like sunlight breaking through the darkest clouds. He’s hope, he’s proof that our pack has a future worth fighting for.
Even those who were slow to accept Paige have softened towards her, whether they admit it or not. She’s earned it in the way she listens, in the way she sees them. She talks to everyone who will listen, especially the enforcers, and she remembers their names. No Alpha command could’ve achieved what she has with a smile and genuine kindness. It’s not dominance that unites this pack anymore. It’s belonging.
She’s changed everything, and damn, if that doesn’t make me proud.
I can still see her earlier, standing in front of those enforcers like she was born for it, calm voice, steady eyes, making them feel welcome while commanding respect without even trying. My wolf had been in awe at the sight of it. She doesn’t even realise how much power
she has.
I’d thought bringing a human into this life would make her fragile, but she’s anything but. She’s a fierce fire wrapped in soft skin with a heart that somehow manages to hold all of us without breaking.noveldrama
I shift my weight, slowing my pace as the faint scent of wolfsbane cuts through the night. Sharp, metallic and wrong.
“Wolfsbane,” Parker’s voice flickers through the link, as he comes up beside me. He’s caught
it too.
We break formation, moving ahead while Rowan instructs the others to spread out and hold position. I lower my head, drawing in another breath, and the scent burns in my nose. It’s faint, but recent, maybe a few hours old at most.
Hunters have been here.
My wolf growls low in my chest. The bastards are getting bolder.
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We push through the underbrush, stopping at the edge of the treeline just beyond the trail cameras. That’s when I see it, a shallow pit of blackened earth, the remains of a small campfire hidden behind a fallen log. There’s a bullet and a small brown vial in the ash, and a strip of dark fabric caught on the bark nearby.
Parker sniffs the air. “There’s blood. It’s human.”
I crouch low, shifting back into human form long enough to inspect it closer. The ground’s scuffed, boot prints, at least three sets, maybe four. They’ve been watching.
“They were close,” I say quietly, my voice still rough from the shift. “How did the patrol not
notice them?”
“Too close,” Parker agrees. “They must’ve come between patrol passes. They didn’t stay long.
I pick up the bullet, rolling it between my fingers. My jaw tightens. “They’re testing us again.”
Parker’s eyes flick to me, sharp and knowing. “They’re adapting fast.”
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The thought sits heavily in my gut. After they wiped out almost our entire pack all those ago, they seemed to disappear. The newer generation was not the same or as organised; they operated in the shadows, picking off loners, targeting small packs, and never daring to push too close to patrolled territory. But something’s changed. They’re more coordinated now, reckless enough to risk coming this close to a border that they know we guard.
I grab a leaf and use it to pick up the small bottle, holding it up to the light, I can see it contains a little liquid. I sniff it and instantly recoil at the bitter, earthy smell. It’s some kind of herb or plant extract, but it’s not wolfsbane.
“Carter,” I call one of our own enforcers forward.
His wolf stalks towards me, his hackles raised as he scans the trees around us, his eyes are wild and alert. “Alpha,” he says through the mind–link as he comes to my side.
“Can you run these back to
Carter transforms from wolf to human in front of me, his blond hair looking silver in the moonlight. He nods and holds out a hand to take the bullet and vial from me.
I wrap the leaf around both items carefully and hand them to him. “Be careful not to touch it, we have no idea what it is or the effects.”
“Yes, Alpha. Should I return to patrol afterwards?”
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“Yes, we need to be on high alert tonight.”
Carter turns and begins jogging back the way we came.
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“Oh, and Carter, make sure to put some shorts on before entering the clinic. We have a human female in there who is not used to casual nudity just yet,” I add through the mind–link.
“Got it,” he responds.
I shift back into wolf form, my mind restless, but for a moment, everything feels calm again, too calm, considering what we just found.
I shake out my fur, trying to rid myself of the unease clinging to me. We finish sweeping the area, collecting a few more faint traces of human scent before regrouping. The Midnight enforcers fall into formation easily; their discipline is impressive. They remain calm and alert, but I can sense their unease. They weren’t expecting this close of a threat so soon. None of us were, and it makes my wolf restless.
Something feels off.
It starts small, a strange warmth beneath my skin, spreading through my muscles like I’ve been running too hard for too long. I extend my neck, stretching out the tension, but the ache doesn’t fade. If anything, it deepens.
I ignore it. It’s nothing. Probably just adrenaline.
“Let’s move,” I send through the pack link, pushing the others back into motion. “We’ll sweep east, then return to the border.”
We run. The world rushes past in a blur of trees and shadows, the ground cool under my paws. But it’s different now, heavier somehow. Every stride feels like I’m trying to wade through water. My paws hit the earth a fraction too late, my muscles slow to respond.
A pulse of unease ripples through the link. Parker feels it.
“Are you good, Rye?” his voice brushes through my mind, edged with concern.
“Fine,” I answer quickly, even though the word feels too thick to leave my mind, like sending it through mud. “I’m just tired.”
He doesn’t push, but I can feel him watching me carefully.
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