Chapter One: Shadows at the Edge

The moon was a sliver in the night sky, half-hidden behind the dense haze of city lights. Beneath its faint glow, Lunar Heights thrummed with live cars honking, music blasting from open windows, and the faint murmur of footsteps on the pavement. To most, the city was nothing more than a concrete jungle. To Alex, it was a hunting ground.

He crouched on the rooftop of an old warehouse in the industrial district, his sharp eyes scanning the empty streets below. This part of the city had been abandoned years ago, the factories left to rot. It was the perfect place for rogues those who rejected pack law and lived by their own chaotic rules.

Alex’s breath fogged in the cool night air as he reached for the comm link clipped to his collar. “Nothing yet,” he whispered. “You sure this is the right spot?”

A crackle of static preceded Kara’s voice. “You doubt my intel? That hurts, Alex.”

Alex smirked despite himself. Kara’s tone was light, but he could hear the tension beneath it. They were deep in rogue territory, and neither of them could afford to relax. “Just saying, it’s quiet. Too quiet.”

As if on cue, a sound broke through the stillness a low, guttural growl that sent a chill racing down Alex’s spine. He froze, his sharp senses immediately snapping to attention. The growl was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

“Kara, you hear that?” Alex whispered, his body tense.

“I’m picking up movement on the east side,” Kara replied. “Stay sharp. You’re not alone.”

Alex didn’t need the reminder. He’d been feeling it all night the sensation of eyes watching him from the shadows. He slid off the edge of the roof, landing silently on the cracked asphalt below. The industrial district stretched out around him, a maze of rusted pipes, broken machinery, and crumbling walls. Every corner seemed to hold a secret.

He stepped cautiously, his boots crunching softly against the gravel. His heightened senses were on overdrive, picking up every shift in the air, every faint sound. The scent of rust and oil mingled with something else something wilder.

A sharp clang echoed to his left, and Alex spun, claws extending instinctively. He crouched low, his golden eyes scanning the darkness. A figure emerged from behind an overturned dumpster, its movements slow and deliberate.

The rogue wolf was tall and wiry, its frame covered in scars. Its amber eyes glinted in the moonlight, and its lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth.

“Well, well,” the rogue said, its voice a low rasp. “What’s a beta like you doing out here? Lost without your alpha?”

Alex didn’t respond. He kept his stance low, his muscles coiled like a spring. The rogue tilted its head as if considering him.

“Let me guess,” it continued. “Lucas sent you to do his dirty work. You’re his little lapdog, right?”

The words hit a nerve, but Alex didn’t let it show. Instead, he stepped forward, his claws glinting under the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. “You’ve been attacking our borders,” Alex said, his voice steady. “I’m here to send a message: Stay out of our territory.”

The rogue chuckled, a low, mocking sound. “Bold of you, beta. But you’re out of your depth.”

Before Alex could respond, the rogue lunged. It was fast, faster than he’d expected. Alex barely had time to dodge as claws swiped inches from his face. He spun, countering with a slash of his own, but the rogue leaped back, its movements fluid and feral.

The fight was on.

Alex darted forward, his strikes precise and controlled. He wasn’t as strong as an alpha, but he made up for it with speed and strategy. The rogue snarled, feinting to the left before aiming a blow at Alex’s ribs. He twisted, the claws grazing his side but not drawing blood.

“Not bad,” the rogue taunted. “But not good enough.”

It lunged again, this time with reckless force. Alex ducked low, sweeping the rogue’s legs out from under it. The rogue hit the ground with a snarl, but before Alex could press the advantage, he heard a low chorus of growls surrounding him.

He glanced up, his heart sinking. More rogues were emerging from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

“Kara,” Alex hissed into his comm link. “We’ve got a problem. I’m surrounded.”

“I see them,” Kara’s voice came through, tight with urgency. “Hold your ground. I’m on my way.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. There were at least five of them now, circling him like vultures. The first rogue rose to its feet, grinning wickedly. “You’re outnumbered, beta. Looks like your luck just ran out.”

Alex’s mind raced. He couldn’t take on all of them not alone. But he couldn’t back down, either. If he ran, it would send a message of weakness, and weakness was something a beta couldn’t afford to show.

The rogues closed in, their growls rising in unison. Alex bared his teeth, his claws ready. “Come on, then,” he growled. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The first rogue lunged, and Alex met it head-on, their claws clashing in a flurry of sparks. Another came at him from the side, and he twisted just in time to avoid the blow, countering with a strike that sent the rogue stumbling.

But there were too many. For every blow he landed, another came from behind, tearing at his jacket and scraping against his skin. He fought with everything he had, but the odds were stacked against him.

Just when it seemed like he might be overwhelmed, a sharp whistle cut through the air. The rogues hesitated, their ears twitching toward the sound. Alex looked up to see Kara perched on a nearby rooftop, her crossbow aimed and ready.

“Back off,” she called, her voice sharp and commanding.

The rogues snarled but didn’t move. Kara fired a warning shot, the bolt embedding itself in the ground inches from their leader. “Next one goes between your eyes,” she said.

The leader glared at her, then at Alex. For a moment, it seemed like it might attack anyway, but then it let out a low growl and backed away. “This isn’t over,” it said, its eyes locking with Alex’s. “We’ll be seeing you soon, beta.”

With that, the rogues retreated into the shadows, their growls fading into the distance.

Alex straightened, his breath ragged and his body aching. Kara dropped down from the rooftop, landing gracefully beside him.

“You good?” she asked, her eyes scanning him for injuries.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Alex replied, though his side throbbed where a claw had grazed him. “Thanks for the save.”

Kara smirked. “What would you do without me?”

Alex didn’t answer. His mind was still racing, replaying the rogue’s parting words. This wasn’t just an attack. It was a warning a declaration of war.

And deep down, Alex knew the pack wasn’t ready for what was coming.