Aura’s silver form weaved through the forest like the wind. She knew today was a bad day, but she wasn’t aware how bad it would get. Her life was falling apart faster than she could run to join her Alpha in battle. Alpha Enoch had declared war on the Grim Guild and the hunters today, but Aura feared that still didn’t know who they were really up against. How did this situation get so out of control?

Aura could smell the blood and see the flashes of magic before she could see the battle. There were howls, snarls, grunts, and groans from both sides. Aura crept along the tree line, watching as her comrades bite and swing around the hunters while being blasted with fire, lightning, and wind magic. She imagined this was how the last Great War looked. Beast shifters in animal forms being battered by magic and weapons while the opposition was torn apart by the strength of the beasts they sought to kill. It was tragic.

Aura took a moment to swallow her sorrows and plunged into the fight. She aided a brown wolf she thought to be Jalen by sinking her fangs into the back of an elf’s knee. The skin was shredded and gushing blood. Aura didn’t wait for the elf to react as she pounced on the elf and ripped out the elf’s throat. Her breath became heavy and blood dripped from her muzzle. Aura wanted to bring this conflict to a swift end.

Fourteen wolves and an ax-wielding dwarf took on a party of fifty hunters. Magic flew through the air like misguided fireworks. The Burnt Bark Woods were set ablaze again by this bloody fight. It was midday when the fighting finally ended with Aura ripping the last hunter off of Enoch and crushing the hunter’s throat. Aura made the last strike.

Six wolves lay dead with the fifty hunters. Flames surrounded the battlefield, and Enoch knew they needed to move, or over a century’s worth of secrets would end here today. “Gather our dead. We need to move before someone comes to investigate.” His voice was somber through the mindlink. “All of us are going home,” he commanded, looking at Jalen and Aura when he said this. Both wolves lowered their heads in submission to their Alpha. Enoch led the run back to the valley. He could hear a large group approaching the battleground, and he could feel Aura’s pained thoughts of who might be behind him. If he wasn’t already exhausted, he would be enraged by her thoughts. Hearing her thoughts had been nothing but a pain for him. Why would he fall for someone who could just crush him like this? Was God just playing with them like pawns? It was truly a cruel fate he was living.

In the clan’s village…

The six dead wolves reverted to their beast forms on the trip back to the valley. Alpha Enoch had them taken to the Grove of Heroes to prepare for burial. There their bodies would be prepared, their polymorphic rings returned to the great hall, families informed and a service held three days from now. He had so much to do between briefings, visiting families, and figuring out what’s next. The Elders’ Council would be watching his every move because he was still new to his position. To make matters worse, he was alone. Beta Nyko, his best friend in the world, had died during this battle. It made him question every choice he made.

“Alpha…” A voice called to him as he paced in the main chamber. “Alpha...please stop. You are going to make a hole in the ground if you continue.”

Alpha Enoch stopped his pacing to glare at where the voice had come from only to find a set of teary, violet eyes staring at him. “Raika…” His voice cracked. This wasn’t who he thought would be here. Why was she here? Shouldn’t Aura be here? Aura was to be his mate soon. Why had Raika come instead? He knew Aura was injured, but she hadn’t been badly injured. “Why are you here?” He stared at her violet eyes searching for answers.

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“Enoch, you just lost your best friend and several comrades. I wanted to see if you, my friend, are okay.” Raika emphasized her words. She didn’t think her presence here would be questioned. Enoch was alone, and she knew he wouldn’t ask for help. Sure, part of her wanted him to say that he was glad she was there, but she knew better. Raika knew he didn’t see her that way, but they were friends. She was going to be there for him whether he asked for it or not. They had spent the last month training together and eating together, so he could get a break from the stress of being Alpha Hunter.

Enoch’s brown eyes just stared at her as if this whole scenario was impossible. It made Raika feel sadder than she already was for her friends like Nyko who had just passed. “Please don’t make this hard, Enoch. The Elders’ Council has gone to help prepare the bodies for burial, and Lead Councilmen Titan and Aura have gone to inform the families. There is no rush for you to do anything right now. No one is expecting anything. So, please let me be here for you. Just as a friend.”

Enoch was stunned. Who had done this? Did this make him seem weak? He could decide if he was angry or thankful for everyone. He watched Raika approach him slowly. Did she do this? Has Aura done this? Raika’s violet eyes softened. Her eyes were beautiful and full of kindness for him. There was no trace of pity. His expression softened to match hers. He let her come and hug him. It was warm and full of comfort. A tear rolled down his cheek as held her tightly. Something was so satisfying about Raika’s hug. “I miss him... I miss all of them.” He whispered into her shoulder.

On the other side of the village…

“That was the last one, Councilmen Titan. We have visited all six families.” Aura said as she left the last house. Lead Councilmen Titan had asked her to help inform the families in place of Alpha Enoch because Enoch needed time to grieve. He lost his Beta, best friend, and cousin, Nyko. Enoch was still new to his position, and he would need time to grieve. Aura had no problem helping out, but she worried what the Elders’ Council might ask of her. She needed to get back to the Village of Lilies before the royal visit next week. Not to mention Dax and Rhys probably had a hundred questions for her.

“Aura, we need to move up the mating ceremony.” Lead Councilmen Titan said as they walked through the village. “Enoch and the clan have taken a huge loss today. They need a sign of strength, and you can do that for them.”

Aura understood what he meant, but she couldn’t do that. She had unfinished business outside of the valley, and Enoch was not the right man for her. Enoch may have feelings for her, but he doesn’t love her as a mate should. He proved that with the kiss and council meeting. Aura was not going to let herself become a tool for the council, her clan, or her Alpha to use.

“I take it from your silence that this isn’t what you want, but the clan needs this. You and Enoch have a good relationship. It will take time, but you may just fall for him.” Councilmen Titan urged.

“No,” Aura bit her tongue to hold back a growl. “We were friends once. He threw that away last month, and I have no desire to mate with him. He’s not a male that I am attracted to.”

“But is there a male that you are attracted to?” He paused looking at a flustered Aura.

“No one worth mentioning.” She answered quickly.

“He doesn’t belong to our clan?” He said with an angered voice as Aura’s worst fears came to life. “He must not belong to our clan otherwise you would have said his name. This is why you won’t mate Alpha Enoch? It’s treason to court anyone outside of our clan, Aura! As a Huntress, you know that!”

Aura tried to process his words. Was he forcing her to mate Enoch? “I haven’t done anything wrong. But I refuse to mate Enoch just because it would be good for the clan or because the council thinks we would be a good fit.” Aura did her best to hide her rage as she ranted to Titan. “I am a Huntress. The youngest in our clan’s history, but that does not mean I will let you rule my life. Other things still need to be done outside this valley to protect this clan. My mission with Dax-”

“Ah. So, there is a name. Is he that human you were sent to gather intel on? The one that invaded our valley.” Titan crossed his arms.

“He is, but that-”

“Kill him,” Titan said without hesitation. “Go now, and kill this threat to our valley, Huntress. Then, come back and mate the Alpha with a clear mind. You are a Huntress before you are anything else. Protect your people like you swore to do, Aura.” Lead Councilmen Titan’s voice boomed on the small village road, but Aura was sure the whole village heard his command. “I expect to see you back at sunrise with his head in your hands.”

He walked away leaving Aura standing there dumbfounded. Her whole life had fallen apart in one day. How could Councilmen Titan ask her to do that? She was not his to command. This was the last strike. Aura will not let these men run her life.