Ripley
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"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" growls the obnoxiously loud Alpha of Howling Winds. Alpha Connor's broad shoulders are practically shaking with barely held back rage at the mere thought of ignoring the endless death that has followed our packs for the last year and a half. His startling emerald eyes flash silver, indicating his wolf has joined the conversation. I'm suddenly very glad that I'm not the one his anger and hateful gaze is directed at as he glares around the room at the many wolves present for the Annual Council.

Alpha Boone of Red Star speaks up then. His dark eyes terrify me. They're as dark as the midnight sky but hold a mischievousness that makes me believe that I never want to get on his bad side. "We don't have proof that there's something out there murdering wolves," he offers up, his voice gravelly and deep.

"So I'm expected to believe my daughter just randomly died with no apparent cause? The same exact situation that fell upon a few of my warriors and other pack members?" a very calm and elegant voice whispers into the air. Despite the lack of volume, the questions cause everyone to pause in utter shock as the attention is diverted to Bright Waters Alpha Leto.

The graceful Alpha stares around the room with defiance and grief, her deep blue eyes uncharacteristically hard. Until now, no one had realized another wolf of Alpha blood had fallen victim. My heart breaks. Callisto was so young. When my dad told me another Bright Waters wolf had fallen, we hadn't known that it was my dear friend and fellow future Alpha. My chin hits my chest as my head droops from the weight of my grief. I can only imagine Alpha Leto's internal storm.

Her mate, Alpha Roman, touches her hand gently with his, deep gray eyes soft as he looks at Alpha Leto. A glossy sheen covers his eyes at the discussion of his freshly lost daughter.

Alpha Boone's lips part, dark eyes dilating slightly. "Alpha Leto, Alpha Roman... I give you both and your pack my condolences... but I'm afraid there's just no proof."

"You'll change your mind when the killer takes down wolves in your pack," snarls Alpha Connor, face contorted in disgust with fresh pain painting his expression. The only other wolf of Alpha blood who was killed was his father, leaving Alpha Connor the youngest of all the Alphas at only eighteen. "For all we know, you could be behind it. The only wolves that have died have been from packs that rival yours."

At that, my own father's lips curl in disgust at the thought. I glance up at the wolves filling the room, seeing a wide range of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma faces looking around in bewilderment. Voices suddenly fill the room as all of the wolves finish processing Alpha Connor's accusation. I see the Howling Winds wolves facing off with Alpha Boone's, instantly on their feet. My parents step up slightly to back Alpha Connor, seeing as he's our ally. Alpha Leto and Alpha Roman do the same. Everyone appears to choose a side.

Snarls fill the air and growling reverberates around the room. I make eye contact with Gabriel, the son of the Dark Claw Alpha, part of a pack known for being abnormally strong in both physicality and mental fortitude. His caramel colored eyes sparkle with bewilderment at the situation as a wordless message passes between us. This is insanity. I'm glad I have at least one friend in here that agrees with me.

As if hearing my thoughts, Alpha Verity of Silver Moon suddenly howls a piercing noise, her voice powerful and demanding. "Enough!" And that's all it takes. "There will be nobody left for this... this ghost, to kill if we kill each other first." Her hazel eyes glare around the room, sharply contrasting against her short black hair. I'm not surprised she spoke up, what with her being known for her fierce honesty and bluntness, a common characteristic of Silver Moon wolves.

At her words, Alpha Boone's lip curls and his eyes become several shades darker, if that's even possible. He looks dangerous.

"We should say what we know to try and puzzle piece it together. After all, we don't know what we don't know," states a soft voice. It's the first time Alpha Jude of Black Forest has spoken the entire meeting, and as always, his words are filled with wisdom that has earned him endless amounts of respect across all of the packs.

Alpha Leto clears her throat, taking a moment to pause so everyone can settle down in their respective seats once again. "We know the killer has no scent and never leaves a trail. They don't leave any blood or weapons behind. Nothing."

Alpha Connor nods, adding, "We know there is no physical harm done to the bodies; it's as if their bodies just randomly shut down in seconds. We know the killer targets higher ranked wolves but doesn't hesitate with lower ranks either."

"Like I said, this killer seems like a ghost to me." Alpha Verity says, tilting her head in thought as she fiddles with a piece of her hair.

Alpha Boone rolls his dark eyes, running his fingers through his long chestnut colored hair that is neatly styled. "And what are we going to do about this ghost?"

No one can answer him.

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After the Annual Council adjourned, everyone decided to stay and continue the meeting within the next few days since no one had a solution to stopping The Ghost, as everyone had begun to call the killer. Alpha Boone was still a bit apprehensive of there being a murderous creature on the loose but could not come to explain the deaths anymore than anyone else.

The Alphas all quickly retired to their respective rooms at the top floor where my parents and I live. I'm not thrilled at all. It just feels... off.

After the meeting, I had reached out to Gray telepathically via our mind-link to inform him of the meeting's proceedings. Normally, all Betas were required to attend the meeting but some, like Grayson, stayed home due to the threat. The Annual Council was rather empty this year, indicating that there are not a lot of wolves who share Alpha Boone's sentiments of a killer being nonexistent.

I feel as if we are sitting ducks.

In all my thinking, I did not realize I had reached my destination; the kitchen. Moonlight streams in through the tall windows, lighting the room romantically. It feels impossible to sleep with so many unfamiliar wolves in my home. Despite the Annual Council meaning there is an unbreakable truce among every pack, it does not cover up the very nature of what we are; wolves. Violent. Aggressive. Chaotic. Impulsive. You can never be too safe.

I shift the steel knife attached to my hip beneath my pink polka dot pajama pants. I always carry it with me. Like I said. You can never be too safe.

A quiver of the shadows catches my eye. Instantly, I'm facing it, hand darting to my side. The figure stands, the moonlight casting a glow so bright around the shape of the being in front of me that I cannot tell who it is.

A familiar scent hits my nose.

"You're up late," muses Alpha Boone. His dark eyes come into focus, like pools of night. My eyes narrow. He looks as if he didn't even change for bed, still wearing the suit he wore earlier with his hair neatly slicked back and tucked behind his ears. The dull light emphasizes the harsh lines of his face.

My arms cross. "You're one to talk," I mutter. Despite the sass, I dip my head to him in respect. This is not a man I want to be enemies with. I turn to the task at hand, the whole reason I came down here. The sound of water fills the quiet of the room as it splatters into my cup.

His eyes light up in amusement. "I suppose I am." He dips his own head to me, light brown locks falling forward. "Goodnight, Miss Ripley." I keep my eyes on my cup while I hear him set something in the sink near me. He turns, footsteps receding away from me until they stop. I lift my gaze in curiosity, seeing his back. He tilts his head to the side so I can barely make out his cheekbones. "Be careful. There are monsters in the dark." Despite his dreadful words, his voice holds a lightness to it. With that, he disappears out the door I came from and back up to his room on the same floor as the rest of us.

What a strange man. Goosebumps pebble on my skin after our interaction. I wouldn't mind if I never saw him again.

With a sigh, I take a swig of my water, relishing in the coolness. Before long, I have finished the entire cup, setting it alongside the cup I assume belonged to Alpha Boone.

Suddenly, I feel my heart clench and the hairs on my arms stand on end. My wolf stands at attention, suddenly wide awake and vividly alert. My nostrils flare, but I can't scent anything abnormal. I make my way to the stairs leading to my room, every step making me feel heavier and heavier as it feels like my heart is sinking. Before long, I reach my room where it resides diagonally across from my parents' and only slightly further away than all the other Alphas' rooms.

My hand reaches for my door knob when I see motion out of the corner of my eye. My eyebrows furrow when I turn to see the door to the Dark Claw Alphas' room wide open. Gabriel's parents. It was not like that when I went downstairs, and I did not see either Alpha in passing when I came back up. Plus, it's two in the morning. Something is wrong.

I feel my heartbeat slow as if sensing the need to be quiet. An Alpha would be able to hear it.

I quickly scurry behind my own door so as to not be out in the open. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Despite trying to tell myself that, I can feel a lump form in my throat.

Suddenly, through the darkness, my eyes adjust and I can make out the shapes within the room at the end of the hall. The Alphas sleep peacefully in their bed, oblivious to the dark shape standing next to them. With their door open, the scent of the two Alphas washes over me and I find myself taking comfort in it. Gabriel's parents were always a friend to me.

I blink rapidly, trying to make sure that I'm not just seeing things after the events of the day. It appears the shape has a hand on the Alphas, not doing anything other than touching them. Everything happens quickly then.

It moves for the door as the scent flooding my nose coming from the Alphas turns bitter, making me want to gag as it clogs my throat. What on earth...?

The realization makes my eyes widen as the figure steps into the dull moonlight filtering into the hallway, shutting the door behind them. The Alphas are dead. Despite what I witnessed, I still have no idea how, but I know that this can only mean one thing.

The Ghost is here.

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Author's Note.

Dun dun DUUUUUUUUN!

The Ghost has arrived. *insert evil laugh*

What do you think is going to happen next?

A lot of characters were introduced, who stood out the most to you?

How do you think The Ghost kills werewolves? Why?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Thanks for reading and if you liked it, don't forget to vote!

Next chapter coming next Friday! Stay tuned for a picture of how I picture The Ghost!

Xoxo
Sydnee