Chapter 111

The Pack

In the modern age, there are many ways to track prey. Some are still able to use their senses, sniffing out a weaker animal and waiting for it to tire out as it runs from you. You may also, as many choose, plant a microscopic tracker within a bottle of liquid meant to make your target lose their mind.

And so we find Celeste, a raven-haired woman with a lost soul and an undying delusion that the past is a reachable destination. She still could be saved, but only she can make that choice for herself. But she’s chosen her path, and that way madness lies.

Dominic exited the Alpha mansion so quickly that she barely had time to put on shoes before she was outside. Luckily, she had her supplies ready by the door to her room until the time came to use them.

Now, as she followed the trail that Dominic had set when he escaped, Celeste looked once more into the bag hanging at her side. Three syringes, taken from Mira, were safe and secure inside. She zipped the bag and smiled.

I wonder if the doctor used one of the needles I left behind.

In fact, she had, and the saline solution within did very little to stop the storm raging inside the werewolf that was attacking her.

Dominic was headed deeper into the compound, towards a park in the center of the town. Celeste thought he would go towards the woods, but for some reason he had chosen to run among the houses and the Pack members inside them.

She shivered in the night air, in spite of the warm temperature.

And so she followed him.

Mira

We didn’t wait long before Wyatt and I were up and out the door and looking for Dominic. Signs of destruction and chaos along the hallways made it easy to see his rampage took him out a side door of the house. From there, it was anyone’s guess where he had gone.

“The woods,” I said to Wyatt as we burst out into the night, “he usually heads for the woods.”

“True,” the Beta agreed, looking westward to where the tree line met the yard. “I’ll send a unit out there, while we search the local area.”

“He wouldn’t go after any citizens, neighbors— do you think?” I had to face the fact that I had no idea what Dominic was capable of at this point. “He still has some awareness of who we are, he won’t want to hurt anyone…”

“Hopefully we can find him and bring him home before we find out.”

Just then, a howl went up from the other direction. Off the front driveway, through the winding streets and out into the larger residential area. The wolf was roaming in towards the center of town.

“Let’s go!”

Wyatt didn’t wait for me before he was running at full speed towards the howling bass note that was reverberating off the night sky. The moon seemed to twinkle brighter, to shiver in astonishment at the power of the enraged Alpha down below.

Horrible thoughts and images tore through my head as we ran, the pounding of my heart matching rhythm with the sound of rubber soles slapping against the pavement. I was grateful it was late, and prayed that not many people were out on the streets tonight.

And thank the goddess it wasn’t a full moon.

A staticky voice was loud on Wyatt’s shoulder, but somehow he understood.

“Towards the green!”

Wyatt pointed at the next intersection and we veered southeast. I followed behind him so closely that I almost collided with his back when he stopped short around the corner from the park. He held a finger to his mouth, and I fell silent instantly.

Shouting voices came into focus, along with the snarled growling of Dominic, Alpha wolf. We peeked around the low fence in front of a house and saw him in the center of the park. It was like he was holding court, surrounded by half a dozen guards who were clearly unsure how to take down an enemy that was actually the leader of the Pack.

We watched as one guard approached him, unarmed, trying to reason with the villain in front of him. The black wolf took one swipe and sent the man flying, as if he weighed nothing at all.

I looked around the area, and noticed lights were coming in nearby windows. Confused faces appeared then quickly pulled curtains aside. If we didn’t stop this, the whole Pack might be awake and alert to the scene on the town common.

I had an idea, and whispered quickly to Wyatt. His face told me how much he didn’t like it, but he decided to trust me.

With a prayer to the moon goddess, I jumped out from my hiding spot and ran towards the park and the scene unfolding in it. I knew my plan was either genius or foolish, but I didn’t have time to figure it out.

What I would do afterwards, I hadn’t a clue. But all we have is the present moment.

“Hey!”

I shouted as loud as I could when my feet hit the grass. I needed to keep my distance in order to assure I had the upper hand.

“I thought this was between me and you!”

I was taunting him, goading him, accusing him of disregarding and disrespecting me. And I was trying to lure him into a chase.

“These Betas don’t matter, leave them be,” I said, removing my sneakers and the sweater I threw on over my shoulders. “I’m the one you’re angry with, so why don’t you come deal with it like a man.”

I emphasized the last word, hoping I could get through to the humanity within the beast. Dominic hated to be thought improper, so maybe my insults would bring him back to me. And if not, my bigger plan might do the trick.

“Mira…”

The gravelly groan rumbled my bones as he sent his thoughts across space and time. Turning my face towards the sky, I closed my eyes and turned my focus inward. With a deep breath my third eye bloomed, and I called up my wolf from my deep subconscious.

Did anyone else see the flash of light, a golden burst just before my body transformed from woman to wolf?

Standing before the crazed Alpha and the Betas who were sworn to serve him, I let out my own howl to rip apart the night and assure my dominance as Luna. The black wolf froze as he listened to me, then a demented look came into his eye. I saw the saliva starting to drip from his teeth, his long rough tongue scraping over his lips.

He saw me, and he wanted me, and I knew what I had to do.

I had to run.