Wind caressed my fur as I ran, the ground soft beneath my feet until it wasn't. I leapt in the air over a fallen tree, I let myself soar for a second longer than I should have and felt my joints buckle under the unexpected impact but I remained on my feet. 

Well I won't be doing that  again. 

I slowed a trot, casually taking in the wooded area, I knew every tree and rock now like I knew the palm of my hand. I came out here so often I began to think of it as my second home. Out here in nature I didn't have any responsibilities. I was just a wolf part of the natural cycle of life. I'd even crossed paths with a real wolf once, I remember how it had stared at me and sniffed the air. I waited patiently, wondering if it would approach or if it could tell there was something off about me. 

Much to my disappointment, it ran off in the opposite direction, away from pack territory, probably scenting the markings on the trees. Other creatures didn't seem so inclined to hang around either, sensing my otherness as I passed. 

I couldn't help but think about the families that lost someone today, their mourning was a faint echo that rang down the pack link. It was a small silver thread that bound us together. A thread that could be easily broken, I thought darkly.  Then my thoughts jumped to Osckar, the man that was meant to be my soulmate. Was he though? The thread that bound us as mates hadn't returned since I'd died. Not even as we spent time together. I huffed, who was it that tied our fates together? If anyone at all. 

Even though I'd declared my love for Osckar just over a week ago I wasn't sure about it now. Sure, he was devastatingly handsome and one of the strongest alpha's I'd even known and I'd kissed him heavily only a few hours ago. My face heated at the thought, it was a really good kiss. There was just something missing in how I felt about him, my heart didn't wildly race every time he looked at me. I didn't get butterflies in my stomach at the thought of seeing him again. Was I just being childish? Maybe I'd seen too many romcoms that made romance sound so magical when my life wasn't normal. I wasn't like the characters in those books who only had to worry about mundane things. I need someone to talk to, and not Cordelia or anyone else here. Amy, I hadn't spoken to her since the trial. I made a promise to myself that I'd text her tomorrow. 

A distant noise had me freezing in place as I was brought back to the present. It could be nothing, a small animal digging away at the soil but something about the sound didn't settle my nerves. I strained my hearing but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Then there was another sound a sound of two bodies struggling in the brush. 

I crouched low to the ground, my paws not making a sound on the ground below me, not even as I stepped over dead crunchy leaves. That was thanks to the spell that still wove through our pack bonds. In my silent approach the two figures didn't hear my arrival, but my mind took a moment to fully comprehend the scene before me.  

A man with long limbs wearing a navy suite pulled right out of the seventeenth century kneeled above a limp body. A corpse? It had to be, I couldn't hear another heartbeat nor did the corpses chest rise or fall to give me any sign of life. I could confront the man right here and now but my instincts told me to wait, to watch. 

The man unfolded from his position into a tall man, when he turned I caught a glimpse of his profile. He was sickly pale, like his skin had been leeched of any colour to make matters worse his face was gaunt. Like this man had been starved for half his life but the rest of him didn't add up. While his body was lanky, I could see the muscle beneath his tightly fitted trousers. I could see the bulging of his forearms and he hauled the limp body up and dragged it to the nearest tree propping him up with ease. Too much ease for a human to be dragging dead weight. 

The corpse was of a human girl, her brown skin had taken on a blue hue and her curly hair was in disarray after being dragged in the dirt. She couldn't have been older than twenty five, I wondered if her family was out there looking for her right now. 

My eyes were drawn back to the man, he paced in front the girl impatiently like he was waiting for something. I settled down further in the brush, careful not to make another sound. I looked around around them and strained my ears. Perhaps he was waiting for someone to arrive. An accomplice maybe. The wind shifted, blowing downwind and expected to get hit by the smell of decay and something else but nothing came. Absolutely nothing was picked up by the wind and my whole body stiffened. This was the killer of two members of my pack. Whatever he was he was here. And on pack territory. 

Osckar my tone was hushed even in my head. 

Calla, about everything. 

Forget that. I said impatiently I'm on the north eastern part of our territory, I've found the killer. 

What?!  Why didn't anyone pick this up?

I don't know, but I need you to come here. He's got his latest victim and I don't think he killed her less than an hour ago. 

Stay put, and please don't do anything until I get there. 

Just get here. 

The man was still pacing, his steps light but impatient, then like a plane flying over head, a wildly fast heartbeat disrupted the serene sound of the woods. The dead girls eyes flew open and a startled gasp escaped her parted lips. The man in that same second was at her side faster than my mind could comprehend. Not human.

Was he some sort of witch? One powerful enough to bring back the dead much like Cordelia had done for me. This could be the man she was investigating, but, it didn't quite add up. She'd said a witch wasn't nearby, unless she lied. I doubted that she would, not after everything we'd been through. 

"What did you do?" the girls shrill voice had me nearly jumping out of my skin. "Get away." 

The man didn't seem surprised by the girls distress, he instead grabbed her wrist and pulled her up into a standing position so violently I thought her arm might pop off. His lips curled into a sneer as she struggled against his grasp but even I knew it was no use. He was clearly stronger and she'd have to think of some other way to escape. 

My muscles had tensed though, ready to leap in between them the minute he threatened to kill her again. I had to wait, gather as much information as I could. 

"You'll be by my side," the man's voice had a lot of base, his thick European accent rolled over the syllables in a way that forced my brain to fully hear what he'd said. "I made you to be mine." 

Made you? I didn't have time to mull over his words because there was a sudden burst of energy through the woods followed by thundering paws. The man darted to the nearest tree, looking out towards the sound. 

"Those damn mutts." he spat before darting back to the girls side. "We will run." 

Both were gone a second later and my body kicked into action. I followed the absence of smell and the light steps ahead of me, pumping my legs faster than I'd done in a long while. Behind me the thundering paws followed, they were so damn loud!

I'd appreciate it if whoever's behind me can lighten their feet. I thought you'd all been training to be silent. 

There was indistinct chatter through the pack mind link as everyone began bickering. Like a boom in my head Osckar's voice filtered through. 

We're not behind you Calla! Osckar sounded angry and weary all at once. We are on that scent though. 

Stay on the scent. I'll deal with these intruders. 

I'm on my way. 

No, I can handle them. You need to catch that murderer. 

With a growl I turned, snapping my jaws at the wolf about to cross my path. They came to halt, dragging up dirt as they forced themselves to stop. I bared my teeth, challenging them to try and take another step in my territory. The wolf was white with streaks of grey along their muzzle, it was like they were painted battle markings. A waft of cedar and honey drifted my way filling me a warmth that reminded me of a warm, comforting hug. 

The wolf's teeth was bared, shackles raised as we stared down one another. He let out a throaty elongated growl, a familiar sense of authority washed over me. This was an alpha, but so was I. 

In answer I let out one of my own, stepping toward him with no fear. This was my land, my pack and he had no rights here. I wouldn't let some random alpha come in and take charge. I had no doubts that he was the Dreadclaw alpha. He couldn't be anyone else. 

His eyes widened recognising that I wasn't some random wolf on patrol that would bow out of his way. He shifted, and now a tall brown drop dead gorgeous man stood in front me, his naked body rippled with muscles as he took a step back. His arms raised. If the situation was so dire I'd be drooling at the specimen in front of me. 

"I'm after that thing," he began, his eyes flickering in the direction we were heading before. "He's going to kill more people. Make more of his kind. You've got to let me help take him down before it's too late." 

I didn't budge. 

I couldn't shift, not if I wanted to be just as naked as him. I huffed. 

"I promise, all I want is him." he jerked his chin to where we'd last seen the pale man. 

Another wolf came bounding into our space, his wolf. It's fur was rustic brown, caked in dirt and mud as if he'd just pulled himself out of a lake. 

"Stay back Dorian." 

Dorian stayed back but both their eyes took on a distant glaze and I knew they were speaking. Two against one, I think I can manage that. 

"Ah, we've crossed pack lines."

I snarled in confirmation and took a step forward. Warning them to turn around, they seemed like smart men. I hoped they'd listen. 

We've lost him Calla, Osckar's voice floated in my head, I'm on my way to you. 

The disappointment that flooded me was overwhelming, because of the two males in front of me we'd lost the murderer. Who knows how long it'd take for us to catch up to him again. That girl, ugh, I should've stepped in sooner. I hated to think what she must be going through right now. 

Good, I'm at a stand off right now with the alpha of the Dreadclaw pack. 

The males shifted their weight, leaning too far forward for my liking and I prepared myself to strike.