Page 43

THE BLACK WOLF

My eyes pierced through the darkness, but even with my human eyes I could have navigated my way to the portal. I knew these woods better than any of the fae’s other guards. Every rock, every tree, every stream.

Movement caught my eye and I froze, watching the small tharax leap between the branches above me.

I huffed and went on my way. I wasn’t hungry—my human was kept well fed for the most part—but even if I was, tharaxes were stringy, with too much fur and bone to be a decent meal.

The fire moon was rising, and the water moon waned. If the fae wanted me back with a full pack of alphas under my command by morning, I needed to hurry. There was no telling where they’d run off to.

I had hoped they’d been foolish enough to go straight to the castle to their omega and I would meet them soon, but she must have warned them through the bond that I was coming.

It must be nice to have a bond. And a pack.

The omega was from my litter, but she wasn’t my pack. Not in the way I wanted or needed.

My human didn’t realize how difficult it was for me to run alone. Why did I even listen to the fae’s orders to not form a pack again? I was an alpha, I certainly didn’t need to answer to him.

I finally made it to the portal, but the ground was covered in a thick, sparkling dust, dulling my senses. I circled the area three times, but there was no trail to pick up on. It was as though they hadn’t even been here.

I growled as a pixie flew in front of my face.

“Mean alpha, rude alpha. You won’t find them!”

Before I could bark and demand her return she flew off, leaving me in my defeat.

The fae would not be pleased. And it annoyed me that I should even care.