Chapter 149: First Blood

Lyla’s breath sharpened as she crossed the eastern ridge beneath the dark glow of the moon.

The cold bit deep through her jacket, but she barely felt it. Her senses were sharp tuned to the unnatural pulse beneath the earth.

He was close.

Jonas moved at her left side, his dark gaze cutting toward the treeline. Eli flanked her right, his silver eyes gleaming beneath the dark sky. Dani moved just ahead of them, her dagger spinning between her fingers. Mason trailed at the rear, his dark gaze sharp and watchful.

Ten wolves followed behind them Blackwood and Alder wolves moving in tight formation, their bodies tense beneath the weight of the cold night air.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "You feel that?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "Yes."

The air here was wrong. Thin. Pulled too tight beneath the cold press of the forest’s magic.

"He’s marking territory," Eli said quietly.

Lyla’s jaw flexed. "Not just marking it."

Jonas’s gaze sharpened toward her. "Then what?"

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

"He’s claiming it."

A ripple of tension slid through the group.

Jonas’s jaw flexed. "We need to stop this now."

"Agreed," Mason said darkly.

Dani’s mouth curled faintly. "Finally."

Eli’s silver eyes gleamed. "You expecting a fight?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "No."

Jonas’s gaze sharpened. "No?"

Lyla’s chest tightened. "I know there’s going to be a fight."

Dani’s eyes flashed. "Good."

A sharp crack sounded through the trees ahead.

Lyla’s gaze sharpened. "Hold."

The group froze.

The shadows ahead of them pulsed. Dark veins curled beneath the thin layer of frost on the forest floor.

Jonas’s breath hitched. "That’s not normal."

Lyla’s silver gaze narrowed. "No."

A low sound slid through the dark.

Not a growl.

A hum.

Deep and resonant beneath the earth.

Cold magic.

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "He’s here."

Dani’s dagger twitched between her fingers. "Finally."

Jonas’s gaze darkened. "Positions?"

"Form a perimeter," Lyla said.

Jonas’s body tensed. "And when he shows himself?"

Lyla’s silver gaze gleamed.

"We don’t give him the chance to run."

The wolves fanned out through the clearing, their bodies low and sharp beneath the dark stretch of the trees.

Lyla’s breath steadied. Her silver gaze burned toward the dark line of the ridge.

The shadows curled unnaturally along the tree line.

And then

A figure stepped from the dark.

Dark hair. Amber eyes.

The rival’s smile curled faintly beneath the pale gleam of moonlight.

"High Alpha," the rival said smoothly. His voice slid beneath her skin sharp and cold. "What a surprise."

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "You were expecting me."

The rival’s smile widened faintly. "Of course."

Jonas’s gaze darkened. "You’ve been pulling wolves."

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed. "I’ve been expanding the pack."

Lyla’s jaw flexed. "This territory belongs to Blackwood."

The rival’s smile sharpened. "Not anymore."

Dani’s body tensed. "You think you’re going to walk away from this?"

The rival’s gaze slid toward her. "I wasn’t planning to."

Lyla’s silver gaze narrowed. "You think you can take this territory from me?"

The rival’s smile widened. "I already have."

And then

The shadows moved.

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "Positions "

The rival’s amber gaze flashed.

The ground beneath Lyla’s feet split.

Dark energy pulsed through the earth sharp and cold. Black veins spread beneath the frost-laced dirt.

The wolves behind her tensed.

Jonas’s breath hitched. "Lyla "

A dark shape burst from the treeline.

Massive.

Fast.

A wolf dark-furred, amber-eyed lunged toward them.

One of the Alder wolves nearest the front line shouted

And then the dark wolf’s claws tore through his chest.

Blood sprayed across the frost-bitten ground.

Jonas’s body tensed. "Shit "

"Lyla " Eli’s breath sharpened.

More dark shapes burst from the treeline black-furred wolves with amber eyes.

The rival’s wolves.

Dani’s dagger flashed as she lunged toward one of them. Jonas shifted beside her, his body low and lethal.

The clearing exploded into motion.

Jonas’s body slammed into one of the dark wolves, his claws tearing through dark fur. Dani’s dagger flashed sharp and quick. Mason’s form blurred as he lunged toward another.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Eli’s breath sharpened. "Lyla!"

A dark wolf lunged toward her

Lyla’s body twisted. Her claws slid free beneath her skin.

Her fist connected with the wolf’s ribs.

A sharp crack.

The wolf crumpled beneath the impact.

Blood sprayed against the frost-laced earth.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed beneath the dark sky.

"You’re outnumbered," the rival said.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "Not for long."

She lunged toward him

The rival’s body twisted fast.

Their claws collided.

A sharp pulse of energy burst through the clearing cold and sharp.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

The rival’s amber gaze burned. "You’re slipping."

Lyla’s jaw flexed. "Watch me."

She drove her claws toward his chest

The rival twisted beneath the blow. His hand shot toward her sharp and fast.

His claws sliced across her ribs.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

Pain bloomed beneath her skin.

Eli’s breath sharpened. "Lyla "

Jonas’s body slammed into the rival’s side, knocking him back. The rival slid across the frost-bitten ground, his dark gaze flashing beneath the moonlight.

Jonas’s breath was sharp. His body was tense, blood trailing down his side.

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed.

"Not bad," the rival said. "But not good enough."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

And then

One of the rival’s wolves lunged toward Jonas.

Jonas’s body twisted

But the wolf’s claws caught him across the chest.

Jonas’s breath hitched.

Blood sprayed across the ground.

"Jonas!" Lyla’s breath sharpened.

Jonas’s body hit the ground.

The rival’s smile sharpened.

"You’re losing," the rival said.

Lyla’s silver eyes burned.

"You think this is over?" Lyla’s voice was low and lethal.

The rival’s amber gaze glinted. "Soon."

A sharp pulse of dark energy tore through the clearing cold and cutting.

The rival’s form blurred into the shadows.

The dark wolves followed.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

Jonas’s body lay still against the ground.

"No." Lyla’s knees hit the frost-laced dirt.

Jonas’s breath was thin. Blood soaked his shirt.

"Lyla " Eli’s breath sharpened.

Lyla’s hands pressed against the wound.

Jonas’s breath hitched. His dark eyes flicked toward her.

"Lyla," Jonas’s voice was quiet.

"No," Lyla said.

Her silver eyes burned.

"You stay with me."

Jonas’s breath sharpened.

And then

His eyes closed.

Lyla’s chest seized.

"No."

The forest was silent.

Cold beneath the dark sky.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned beneath the moonlight.

"You’re not taking him."

Lyla’s hands pressed against the wound in Jonas’s chest.

Warm blood slicked her fingers. Too much.

His breath was thin ragged. His dark eyes fluttered beneath half-closed lids.

"Jonas " Lyla’s voice was sharp and low.

Jonas’s breath hitched. His hand twitched against the frost-laced ground.

"No," Lyla said. "Stay with me."

Jonas’s breath thinned. His skin was too pale beneath the moonlight.

Eli’s breath sharpened as he dropped to his knees beside her. His silver eyes darkened.

"Lyla "

"I’ve got him," Lyla’s voice was hard.

Eli’s jaw flexed. "He’s losing too much blood."

Lyla’s breath hitched.

She pressed harder against the wound.

Jonas’s chest heaved. His eyes fluttered.

"You’re not dying here," Lyla said. Her silver gaze burned.

Jonas’s breath sharpened weakly. "Lyla "

"Don’t," Lyla said. "Don’t you dare."

Jonas’s hand twitched toward hers. His fingertips brushed her wrist.

"Lyla "

"No," Lyla’s breath hitched. "You stay with me. Do you hear me?"

Jonas’s breath thinned.

His dark eyes fluttered.

Lyla’s chest seized.

A ripple of dark energy pulsed beneath the earth.

Cold.

Familiar.

The rival’s mark.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

She inhaled sharply and felt it.

The hum of the forest beneath her skin. The thin pulse of magic wild and cold beneath the surface.

The forest’s power.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

She pressed her palm against Jonas’s wound.

"Take it," Lyla whispered.

Eli’s gaze sharpened. "Lyla "

Lyla’s silver eyes flashed. "Quiet."

Magic curled beneath her fingertips. Cold and thin.

Jonas’s breath hitched beneath her hands. His body trembled.

Lyla’s jaw flexed.

"Take it," Lyla said again. Her voice sharpened.

Jonas’s body jerked beneath her hands. His breath sharpened

And then

The forest’s pulse shifted beneath her skin.

Jonas’s chest arched upward as the magic slid through her palm. The black veins curling beneath his skin flickered faint and dark.

And then

They vanished.

Jonas’s breath steadied. His chest heaved sharply.

Lyla’s hand tightened around his wrist.

"Jonas." Her voice was sharp.

Jonas’s dark eyes opened beneath the thin light of the moon.

He exhaled roughly.

"Lyla." His voice was raw.

Relief punched through her chest so hard it almost hurt.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "What… was that?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"The forest’s magic," she said quietly. "I pulled it through you."

Jonas’s breath hitched. "How?"

Lyla’s jaw flexed. "I don’t know."

Jonas’s dark gaze burned.

"Lyla "

"Don’t," Lyla said quietly. "Not now."

Jonas’s chest heaved. His hand brushed hers warm and rough beneath her fingers.

"I’m fine," Jonas said.

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "You almost weren’t."

Jonas’s mouth curled faintly. "But I am now."

Lyla’s silver gaze sharpened. "And next time?"

Jonas’s dark gaze burned beneath the thin light.

"You won’t let there be a next time," Jonas said.

Lyla’s breath steadied. "No," she said quietly. "I won’t."

Lyla stood at the edge of the clearing beneath the dark sky.

Jonas leaned against the trunk of a low tree, his chest rising steadily beneath the thin material of his jacket. His color was returning slowly.

Dani crouched nearby, wiping blood from her dagger. Mason stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze sharp beneath the dark stretch of the trees.

The surviving wolves were scattered throughout the clearing silent and tense beneath the cold press of the forest’s magic.

Eli stood at Lyla’s side, his silver gaze narrowed toward the treeline.

"He’s getting stronger," Eli said quietly.

Lyla’s jaw flexed. "I know."

Eli’s gaze sharpened. "And if the forest is feeding him "

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "Then I cut him off."

Jonas’s breath steadied. His dark gaze slid toward her. "How?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"By taking the forest back."

Mason’s dark gaze sharpened. "You think you can do that?"

Lyla’s silver eyes flashed toward him. "You have a better plan?"

Mason’s mouth curled faintly. "No."

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Mason’s gaze sharpened. "But you’re not the only one bleeding."

Lyla’s breath hitched. "What does that mean?"

Mason’s dark gaze narrowed.

"The other packs are losing ground," Mason said. "Alder’s border was breached two nights ago. Blackwood lost a scout this morning."

Lyla’s pulse hammered.

"How long have you known?" Lyla’s voice sharpened.

Mason’s dark eyes burned. "Long enough."

"And you didn’t tell me?"

Mason’s jaw flexed. "Because I knew you’d overreach."

Lyla’s chest tightened. "And you thought you could handle this without me?"

Mason’s mouth curled darkly. "No."

His dark eyes sharpened beneath the pale glow of the moonlight.

"I thought you’d get someone killed."

A sharp pulse of anger slid beneath Lyla’s skin.

"You don’t get to decide that," Lyla said coldly.

Mason’s gaze darkened. "No?"

"You don’t lead this pack," Lyla said. Her silver gaze burned. "I do."

Mason’s breath sharpened. "And if the pack stops believing that?"

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s dark gaze sharpened toward Mason.

Eli’s silver eyes darkened.

"You want to challenge me, Mason?" Lyla’s voice was cold.

Mason’s mouth curled faintly.

"No," Mason said. "But someone will."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

"And if you lose to him," Mason said darkly, "he won’t stop at you."

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "Then I don’t lose."

Mason’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment.

Then

He stepped back.

"Make sure of that," Mason said.

He turned and walked toward the dark line of the trees.

Dani’s gaze sharpened toward Lyla. "We’ve got a problem."

Lyla’s breath steadied. "I know."

Dani’s mouth curled faintly. "Good."

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "What now?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned beneath the thin light of the moon.

"We gather the packs," Lyla said.

Jonas’s dark gaze sharpened.

"And after that?"

Lyla’s breath steadied.

Her silver eyes gleamed beneath the cold press of the night.

"Then we take the forest back."

Lyla stood alone beneath the cold glow of the moon later that night.

Eli’s voice was quiet behind her.

"You okay?"

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

"No," Lyla said.

Eli’s silver eyes darkened. "But you’re not stopping."

"No," Lyla said.

Eli’s breath sharpened.

"Good," Eli said quietly.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"I’m done playing defense," Lyla said quietly.

Eli’s mouth curled faintly.

"Then let’s go to war."