The Rogue Threat

The moon hung low in the sky as Kai crept through the bush with the outcasts. Every shadow made them jump. Ever since they had made their choice to stand with Luna and the others, they felt like eyes were always watching.

"You okay?" Luna whispered, her face half-hidden in darkness.

Kai nodded but didn't feel okay at all. "Just nervous."

Suddenly, a twig snapped nearby. Everyone froze. Jax held up his hand, telling them to be quiet. Then they heard it—the low growl of wolves. Not just any wolves. Rogue dogs.

"Run!" Jax yelled as five massive wolves burst from the trees.

Kai's heart pounded as they sprinted through the trees. Behind them, they could hear the snarls and heavy footsteps of the rogues. Luna grabbed Kai's hand, pulling them faster.

"We need to warn the packs!" Luna yelled.

Just as the words left her lips, a rogue wolf leaped from the bushes, cutting off their escape. Its eyes glowed red in the moonlight, teeth bared in a wicked snarl. Kai had never seen a wolf so big or so angry.

"That's Fenrir," Jax whispered, his voice shaking.

The massive wolf growled, his lips pulling back to reveal teeth as sharp as knives. Kai felt their blood turn to ice. This was the rogue alpha they had heard stories about—the one who wanted both packs killed.

Suddenly, a flash of silver fur crashed into Fenrir. Kai gasped as Rowan, in his wolf form, tackled the rogue alpha. The two wolves rolled across the ground, teeth popping and claws tearing.

"Rowan!" Kai yelled, their chest tight with fear.

More wolves burst from the trees—members of the Silverfang Pack. They charged the rogues, giving Kai and the outcasts a chance to escape.

"Come on!" Luna tugged at Kai's arm. "We have to warn your pack too!"

They ran toward Blackthorn land, howling the alarm as they went. Soon, they heard answering howls as the Blackthorn wolves joined the fight.

For the first time in history, the two rival packs fought side by side against a shared enemy. Kai watched in wonder as wolves who had once hated each other now defended one another from the rogues.

In the chaos, Kai lost sight of Rowan. Their heart ached with worry as they searched for him. The bond between them pulled like a string, guiding Kai through the fight.

They found Rowan trapped by three rogues, bleeding from a gash in his side. Without thinking, Kai leaped forward, shifting into their wolf form mid-jump. They landed on the back of a rogue, sinking their teeth into its neck.

Rowan's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly took advantage of the confusion. Together, they fought the rogues, moving as one. Kai had never felt so attached to anyone before. It was like they could read each other's thoughts, expecting each move before it happened.

When the last rogue fled, Rowan shifted back to human form. "You saved me," he said, his voice filled with awe.

Kai shifted too, breathing hard. "You saved me first."

Their eyes met, and something passed between them—something stronger than words. But the moment was broken by a cold voice.

"Traitor."

Kai spun around to see Elder Thorne standing there, his face twisted with rage. Behind him stood several Blackthorn wolves, their faces a mix of confusion and anger.

"You fight alongside our enemies?" Elder Thorne growled. "You betray your own pack?"

"They're not our enemies," Kai said, standing tall despite their fear. "The rogues are the real threat. We need to work together to stop them."

Elder Thorne's eyes narrowed. "You've been meeting with him." He pointed at Rowan. "With outcasts. With traitors."

"Because they're right!" Kai shouted, shocking everyone, including themselves. "Our traditions are tearing us apart when we should be uniting. Can't you see? Fenrir is using our hatred against us!"

As if called by his name, a bone-chilling howl cut through the night. Everyone turned to see Fenrir standing on a rock overlooking the fight. In human form now, he was still terrifying—tall and strong with scars crisscrossing his face.

"How touching," Fenrir sneered. "The packs that exiled so many of us now want unity? Too late."

"What do you want?" Elder Thorne asked.

Fenrir's grin was cold as ice. "Everything. Your territories. Your power. Your lives." His gaze landed on Kai and Rowan. "And especially you two. The fated mates whose bond could change everything."

Kai felt a shock run through them. How did Fenrir know about their bond?

"The full moon rises in three days," Fenrir continued. "When it does, I will take what's mine. And you will all bow to me or die."

With those words, he shifted back into his wolf form and fled into the forest, his rogues following behind.

A heavy silence fell over the clearing. Wolves from both packs looked at each other, unsure what to do next. The danger of Fenrir hung over them all like a storm cloud.

Elder Thorne turned to Kai, his eyes cold. "You will return to the pack and stay there. No more meetings with outcasts or Silverfangs."

"But—" Kai began.

"That's an order," Elder Thorne snapped. "Or you will be exiled."

As the Blackthorn dogs turned to leave, Kai felt a hand on their arm. Rowan looked at them, his eyes filled with purpose.

"Meet me tomorrow at dawn," he whispered. "At the sacred falls. We need to talk."

Kai paused, torn between loyalty to their pack and the pull of their bond with Rowan. Finally, they nodded.

As they walked back to Blackthorn land, Luna fell into step beside them. "This isn't over," she whispered. "Fenrir knows about your bond with Rowan. That makes you both targets."

Kai's stomach twisted with fear. "Why does he care about our bond?"

Luna's eyes were serious. "Because a true fated mate bond is powerful magic. The kind that could defeat even a rogue alpha."

That night, as Kai lay in their bed, they couldn't sleep. Fenrir's threat echoed in their thoughts, along with Luna's words about their bond.

Just before dawn, they slipped out of the Blackthorn camp, headed for the sacred falls. What they didn't see was the shadow that detached itself from a nearby tree and followed quietly behind them.

Elder Thorne had been right about one thing—someone was watching Kai. But it wasn't who they thought.