The Fated Series

Chapter Five – Blood and Moonlight

Evandra

The next day was rain again. All day long. Evandra went out to hunt and came back to her hut with a small rabbit. She shifted outside of the hut and allowed Sage a moment to devour the rabbit. She couldn't build a fire with everything being so wet and she knew she couldn't eat the rabbit raw. Letting Sage it for them in her wolf form was the easiest way to go about it. Evandra couldn't let herself starve. She needed her strength and energy.

The night came fast and it was heavy with silence. Too heavy.

It had finally stopped raining and the storm had passed, but the air still clung with dampness. She was able to dry out some wood. Evandra sat near the weak fire she had pieced together, coaxing it to life little by little. She listened-every crackle of flame, every shifting branch outside her hut-her body tense.

Then she caught it.

The scent. Bitter, foul, carrying rot and fury. Rogues.

Her blood iced. She stood, eyes darting toward the door. They were close, circling. She could hear the low growl of one, the answering snarl of another.

Sage, Evandra whispered inwardly. They've found us.

Her wolf surged forward, claws scratching against the inside of her skin. Then let me fight.

The first rogue lunged through the stick made doorway with a guttural snarl. Evandra didn't think-she let go. Pain seared through her as bones cracked and skin split, fur bursting forth in silver-gray waves. She hit the earth on four legs, and Sage roared free.

The hut shattered around them as Sage leapt, jaws clamping down on the rogue's throat. Hot blood sprayed the dirt, and the body collapsed.

Two more came at once. Sage's teeth tore, her claws raked flesh, but they were vicious, desperate, half-mad. One caught her shoulder, ripping deep. Pain lanced through them both, but Sage only snarled, twisting to snap its spine. Another clawed at her flank, leaving fire in its wake. Sage spun, slamming her weight into him, biting down until the air stilled in his lungs.

Three corpses lay cooling in the clearing, blood staining the ground, their foul scent clinging to the air. Sage stood over them, panting, injured but unbroken.

Evandra surfaced faintly in her wolf's mind, trembling with horror and awe. We killed them...

We survived, Sage corrected, blood dripping from her jaws. And we will again.

The next night, the howls rose again. Louder. Closer.

Sage paced restlessly inside her, every nerve alight. They've brought more. They want blood. There's too many!

Evandra's heart sank. She could not face another pack alone. Her wounds still burned, her strength barely restored. Yet the rogues came, their stench filling the night, their eyes glowing like sick fire beyond the trees.

There was no choice.

Run, Sage commanded. Run until the moon breaks.

Evandra shifted, the pain of her healing wounds flaring as Sage surged into control once more. They burst from the clearing, paws pounding the forest floor, breath ragged. Behind them, rogues chased, their howls rattling the night.

On and on they ran, through tangled roots and cold streams, across hills slick with dew. Evandra's human mind screamed exhaustion, but Sage was relentless, driving them onward.

We cannot stop, Sage growled. Not until we are safe.

Hours blurred together until the scent of the rogues finally faded behind them. But another scent rose in its place-stronger, sharper. Wolf, but not rogue. The air was thick with it. Borders.

Stop, Evandra gasped inwardly. We can't-

But Sage did not stop. Her paws carried them forward, beyond the invisible line that divided packs.

And then they broke through the tree line, collapsing in the open courtyard of a great stone estate, lit silver by the moon. Wolves stirred at the edges, sentries already growling, eyes blazing at the intruder who had stumbled onto their land.

The Melting Moon Pack.

Sage wavered, bleeding from the healing wound being torn open again in her shoulder made anew, her sides heaving. Evandra barely clung to consciousness inside her.

Enemy territory, Sage whispered weakly. But alive.

The last thing Evandra saw before darkness claimed her, was a massive white wolf stepping into her sight, his eyes almost glowing green, his growl echoing through the night.