Ravenshadow Territory - Pack House - Alpha's Office - July 05th 26 2:38 PM

"You have to be fucking kidding me." Eamon was standing behind his desk, by the window, staring out at the forest, while his left hand held his phone to his ear. His eyes were searching the tree line, while his other hand was safely tucked into his pocket.

"Something isn't right. If we don't investigate further, we'll miss it. But I have to remain neutral. Even toward him," Nicholas answered. Even though his tone was as steady as usual, Eamon could hear the worry in his voice.

Eamon inhaled deeply through his nose and let the air escape through his mouth. "You were there three months ago... didn't you find anything at all?" he asked.

Nicholas scoffed loudly, and Eamon could hear him moving around. "Nothing I could substantiate. He gave Kira wolfsbane and mistreated her, but never in front of witnesses. It's her word against his. I can't act on that alone..." he answered quietly.

"But you went there because of rumors, Nicholas," Eamon said, moving away from the window. He pulled back his leather chair and sat down at his desk.

"Yes, but those were rumors from wolves who reached out to me from within Bloodmoon. My mate is his illegitimate daughter, and I don't need to explain to you that Kira is half-human and that he despises humans," Nicholas answered.

Eamon listened, leaning back in his chair as he let out a frustrated sigh. "What do you want from me? Send some scouts into the Buffer Zone and keep an eye on him?" he asked.

"No. That would violate the peace treaty. And we can't afford a war between two packs. I can't use you or your wolves as pawns on a chessboard," Nicholas answered.

Eamon responded with a sarcastic huff. "Not that I'd let you," he replied.

"I know. I need your support at the next Frost Oath Gathering," Nicholas replied.

"Why?" Eamon asked, his brows furrowed.

"If I answer you now, you'd tell me I was an idiot."

"Probably," Eamon replied with a laugh, some of the tension easing.

For a moment, there was nothing. Just silence that grew heavier with every passing second. No sighs. No deep breaths on either end of the line. Eamon understood immediately. There was something weighing heavily on Nicholas' shoulders, and Eamon could tell his friend was preparing for whatever might come next.

"You don't want to talk about it yet. I get it. But you have to, Nicholas. Before the next Frost Oath Gathering. Otherwise, I can't give you my support. Simple as that." Eamon spoke first, leaning back in his chair as the leather creaked beneath him.

Nicholas let out a long breath. "You can curse me soon enough. I'll tell you when I can. Until then, a piece of advice between friends: bring more guards than usual," he answered, his voice growing deeper. Not as a threat to Eamon, but as a warning.

"Okay, I'll take your advice. But Nicholas, don't wait until the Frost Oath Gathering. If you find out anything before then, talk to me. I'm not exactly fond of walking straight into a fucking blade, so spare me that shit," Eamon answered, bringing his free hand up to massage the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

"I will," Nicholas replied and ended the call.

For several minutes, Eamon stared at the black screen of his phone, and he could tell that something was up. Something wasn't right. But he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Not right now. He was definitely missing information, and Nicholas' call hadn't made it any better.

Eamon was so lost in his spiral of thoughts that he didn't hear the knock at his door. It was the movement of the door opening that finally caught his attention. Cherry-red hair appeared first, followed by Alura's silver-flame eyes peeking through the small gap. His gaze darted toward his Gamma, and with a wave of his hand, he allowed her to come inside.

"What?" she asked as soon as she noticed his expression. "You've got that same look you always get whenever your sister reminds you she's coming to visit."

"Funny. Get Hadrian. We need to talk," Eamon answered, placing his phone back on his desk.

"Good thing I knew you'd say that. I brought him with me," Alura replied, opening the door completely to reveal Hadrian already standing there.

"It's not like you ordered me to come here, Alura," Hadrian replied.

"Stop the banter. Come in and close the door," Eamon ordered, watching his Beta and Gamma enter his office.

"Okay, you're getting way too serious for such a beautiful day..." Alura commented, taking a seat in front of his desk, while Hadrian just rolled his eyes and took the other chair.

None of them spoke.

Eamon tapped his finger against the back of his phone while thinking. "Anything you two need to report?" he asked, his attention still fixed on the phone beneath his finger.

"Nothing specific. Some rogues were traveling south," Alura answered.

"South?" Eamon asked.

"Yeah, they used the Buffer Zone. Didn't cross our borders," Hadrian added.

"We drove them further northwest until they escaped into the mountains," Alura finished, while Eamon listened.

"They escaped?" Eamon asked.

Hadrian and Alura nodded.

Another moment of silence settled between the three of them.

"Anything unusual?" he finally asked.

"Nothing unusual. But Eamon, what's going on? You're taking this pretty seriously. Did something happen?" Hadrian asked.

"I don't know yet. Nicholas' call raised some concerns, but I can't pinpoint anything. Stay alert over the next few months. Tell the guards to do the same," Eamon answered, his finger finally stopping its tapping.

"Okay, now you're making me nervous. Eamon, what happened?" Alura asked. Her eyes settled directly on him, narrowing slightly.

"Nicholas called. He's concerned, and that alone is enough to put me on alert. So we keep our eyes open, and if you two or any of our guards find anything suspicious, report it to me immediately. No need to alert the pack members. Not quite yet," Eamon explained, keeping his answer as vague as possible.

He rose from his chair, walked around the desk, and clapped Hadrian on the shoulder. "Go home, get some rest. I'll take the next patrol," he added, his hand moving from Hadrian's shoulder to Alura's back for just a second before he left.

Eamon stepped out of his office, his eyes darting around. Normal pack life in the Pack House. Some younger wolves were testing their strength, pushing their boundaries, and had started a fight.

"Hey, you two! Outside. Training grounds. Now!" he ordered, his voice booming through the hallway.

He watched them disappear through the main door and followed them. Not to keep an eye on them. He just needed some air. He needed to think, because twenty different possibilities were racing through his mind at once.

---

Ravenshadow Territory - northwestern border - July 05th 26 6:58 PM

His paw pads slammed thunderously against the dry forest floor. Dry leaves swirled around him as the silver-coated wolf ran through the undergrowth, his nose raised to the wind, searching for rotten scents. Signs of rogues and ferals. He had started an hour earlier, and he was sure he needed this right now. Even if the hunt wouldn't produce anything at all. The freedom. The wind running through his fur. The fresh air in his lungs.

His wolf had taken him toward Silvermere Falls, and he could already hear the sound of water hitting the stone and feel the spray as he approached. The droplets grew more frequent as he reached the bottom of the basin. Eamon raised his head, his eyes scanning the area for any intruders. He sniffed the fresh, watery air for any scents that didn't belong there. His ears perked up.

Then he heard it. A branch snapped behind him.

He spun around and planted all four paws firmly on the ground, searching. Then he saw a shadow moving, and Eamon leaped forward. His paws hit the ground hard, kicking up the dry earth.

And then he smelled it. Two different scents. One of them was definitely rotten. A rogue. He had crossed the border and somehow slipped past his guards. Eamon would have a talk with them later. But there was another scent. A different one, unlike anything he had ever smelled before. He could hear his wolf.

Mate.

And that settled everything. He had a thousand questions, but the most important one was where she was.

Running through the undergrowth and thickets, pushing through bushes and shrubs, he could feel branches catching in his fur. Somehow, the rogue had managed to disappear from his sight. Eamon came to an abrupt stop, dust swirling around him as his eyes searched the surroundings. For a second, he forgot to use his nose. His wolf was completely locked onto the faint scent of his fated mate.

His ears perked up at a scream filled with terror and fear. His head turned immediately, and his wolf took off before Eamon could even register it.

He approached a small clearing, and there, in the middle, stood the rogue. Patches of fur were already missing from his body, a sign that he had been away from his original pack for more than three months. The smell was devastating, but Eamon couldn't think clearly because, in front of the rogue, was {{user}}. She had fallen and was now scrambling backward across the clearing.

Eamon moved, every muscle in his body tense and his eyes fixed on the rogue. Before the creature could lunge at {{user}}, Eamon jumped forward, his wolf baring his teeth as his massive body collided with the rogue. His claws were the first to make contact, tearing across an exposed patch of skin before his teeth sank deep into the rogue's neck. The sharp taste of copper filled his mouth as blood spread between his jaws. Eamon tightened his grip and pulled, ripping away a piece of flesh before releasing the rogue and stepping back.

Blood stained his silver fur as he moved between {{user}} and the injured rogue, keeping his massive body firmly in the creature's path. The rogue stumbled, blood running down its emaciated frame and dripping onto the grass. It bared its teeth again, fury and wildness burning in its eyes. And without any further warning, it lunged forward, aiming straight for Eamon's throat.

But Eamon wasn't driven by instinct alone. Not like the rogue was.

He moved backward, stepping over {{user}} and shielding her with his entire 185-centimeter (6'1") wolf body. The rogue's jaws snapped shut on empty air as Eamon pulled his head out of reach. His paws dug into the earth, and before the creature could turn for another attack, Eamon lunged forward again.

His claws struck the rogue's neck, forcing it off balance, while his teeth found their grip just below its jaw. With the full weight of his body, Eamon drove the rogue down into the grass, pinning it beneath him. One massive paw pressed against its throat, cutting off its air as the creature struggled against his hold. Its claws scraped across the ground, its body twisting beneath him, but Eamon only tightened his grip.

He could have snapped its neck right there. One movement would have been enough.

But Eamon had other plans for him.

He kept the pressure on until the rogue's movements weakened and its body finally went limp beneath him. Only then did Eamon loosen his teeth and lift his head, blood dripping from his snout onto the grass. His eyes moved immediately toward {{user}}, his attention leaving the defeated rogue behind.

He shifted back and stood completely naked in front of her. Blood covered his skin as he moved his hands to cover his groin, trying not to overwhelm her any further. "Hey, it's okay... I'm not going to hurt you, okay? I just needed to get rid of the rogue," he explained, his own nudity seemingly not bothering him.

"What's your name? Where are you from?" Eamon asked, taking a step back to give her some space. For now.