Chapter 102 WRONG MOVE
WILLA’S POV
The ground beneath my paws as I ran through the trail on the far eastern side of the moorland was familiar. So was the crisp breeze brushing through my pelt while I towed in a slow jog behind two adorable pups that were rough-playing and making each other stumble every now and then.
Gillian’s fur was much darker than Calisto’s. She could almost pass a good camouflage in the darkness of the night to anyone with eyes that were less vivid and sensitive. If she could just sharpen her stealth skills, Gillian would be a force to reckon with in hiding and spying. She would make an excellent hunter in the night.
Meanwhile, it seemed like Calisto had little to no hope for that. But it wasn’t because he was slightly larger than Gillian, nor was it because his pelt was deep gray and had a very high resemblance with Grandpa’s. It was because he was quite ungainly on four legs. On top of that, he was a little too playful and loud, trotting and hopping and yipping the night away.
It was an endearing sight. But one I didn’t allow myself to get fully distracted by.
After all, we were still out and about at night, and we were almost skirting the border of my pack's territory. Snakes could also be lurking around for all I knew.
Suddenly, Gallahan, who was in his glorious wolf form as he led us on the trail like the dependable Alpha wolf he was, halted. He took a step back, looking all alert.
This caused me to be highly vigilant too. My ears perked up, and my nose tried to sniff something amiss in the air.
But I couldn’t sense any lurking danger.
Still, I remained on guard.
This behavior from Gallahan had never happened before. Our full moon night runs had been peaceful and uneventful thus far.
I prayed it wouldn’t be different tonight.
But perhaps I had used all my luck because a low rumbling snarl erupted from Gallahan through his bared teeth.
It was at this moment that I deeply hated his inability to communicate with a mind link.
Sure, we’ve managed to agree on certain gestures that would allow us to communicate to a certain degree while in wolf form, but a mind link was infinitely much better still.
Gently and as furtively as I could, I crept closer to Gillian and Calisto, who both thankfully had the sense to remember two of our rules: stay between Daddy and Mommy always, and keep quiet and still when one of us goes on high alert.
‘Gillian, Calisto, under Mommy. Quietly. And do it now,’ I instructed through the mind link I had with them.
It was still a little weak, and they still weren’t as adept at using it to communicate as an average adult werewolf typically was.
Even then, they got the order and immediately acted on it, carefully retreating to stand beneath my belly and behind my front legs.
‘Gallahan,’ I tried to say to him through the mind link, hoping it would get through. ‘What is it?’
But I had no such luck.
Gallahan remained still as a statue in front of us, still letting out a low gravelly snarl that resounded with warning.
Heavy tension shrouded the air as seconds ticked by along with the pounding of my heart.
A particularly strong breeze flew by, carrying with it a distinct smell that I hoped I only imagined.
Just then, a growl, foreign and ringing manic, came from several meters ahead of us.
‘No. No, no, no…’ I thought with flaring panic.
It was a rogue wolf.
A bloody rogue wolf.
One that could’ve been Gillian or Calisto in a few years if Gallahan and I failed to nest and nurse back our parental blood link with them.
Rogue wolves, unlike shape-shifting wolves like us, were uncontrollable. They were much more violent, volatile and aggressive than ordinary wolves and shape-shifting wolves combined.
‘Gallahan!’ I called out, desperation clinging to my attempt.
If it was just the two of us, I wouldn’t have worried too much.
Gallahan was the General of the Culling Army. Not only was he a capable and strong wolf, but he also had it in him to match the aggression of a rogue wolf.
I also wasn’t a bad fighter. While I wasn’t the same as I was at my peak during my time as one of the Peacemakers, I could still keep pace and hold my ground in a fight.
Except… the twins were here.
We couldn’t afford to come across a rogue wolf now. Especially if it was a territorial one.
Bloody hell.
We didn’t come across it last time, so it must’ve been here for only less than a month.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if no one from our pack’s Warriors patrolled this area. Because why in the bloody hell was this wolf here?!
Another growl erupted, making me take a quick but meticulous scan of our immediate surroundings to find where the intruder was lurking.
That same growl, menacing as ever, also made Calisto whimper softly as he brushed his nuzzle against my leg for comfort.
‘Ssshhh. Daddy and Mommy are here. It’s okay, my love,’ I soothed as warmly and as confidently as I could manage to sound through the mind link.
This was their first encounter with a rogue wolf, and I was certain that the growl sounded frightening to their ears, especially when they were used to the sounds Gallahan and I made, which were always playful and affectionate and lacked the hostility that the intruder had.
Gallahan must’ve heard the whimper because he went even more protective. He no longer sent a warning snarl. Instead, he took a step forward, standing his ground. He was all poised to defend while letting out a much louder growl.
‘Gallahan, please,’ I tried again. ‘Gallahan. We couldn’t do this. We shouldn’t engage. The twins!’
But the plea didn’t reach him.
This fucking aggressive Alpha wolf.
Why did I even hope he would back down and retreat?
Bloody fucking hell.
In response to Gallahan’s growl, three dark wolves emerged from their hiding spots. One rose from behind the tall moor grasses roughly fifteen yards from our left. The second one, which had also hidden behind moor grasses, appeared at the same distance to our right.
The third one, which I assumed was the dominant wolf, stood near the lone leafless tree that was ten meters ahead of us.
I didn’t dare make a single move, just waiting for my mate to make the call. Because I couldn’t just decide and act on my own. Not when the twins were cowering behind my front legs.
Again. Damn his inability to use the mind link.
It would’ve been our greatest advantage in this situation. We could’ve been communicating with each other clearly while we were locked in this standstill.
But I couldn’t truly bemoan about this matter because Gallahan was moving forward yet again, growling and baring his teeth.
Resigned but with adrenaline pumping through my veins, I backed my mate and let out a growl of my own too, standing lowly on my front legs in a defensive stance, letting these rogue wolves know I was ready to pounce should they take a misstep around my family.
Wrong fucking move.