Alpha Talia's POV

The dense forest of Falcon Valley felt familiar as I explored it. My enhanced hearing began to detect murmurs from the surroundings, and with it the primordial need to hunt swiftly emerged. The air felt musty in these woods, as if creatures were lurking around every corner. It was a bright night just like this when Hugo was tossed away to me by the Kaos Pack. And now the thought of him accompanying me on the hunt brought a smile to my face.

"I can hear them up ahead" Hugo whispered.

Despite being concealed and having our scents masked, he crept into the woods with precaution. It was the only way Frieda would allow us to leave the mansion. Her spell wouldn't hold for long as she was using most of it on the concealed empty spelled page alongside Rhea who refused to let Frieda out of her sight.

Although Frieda was oblivious as to why Rhea was acting in such a manner, she didn't seem to mind the attention. But I knew once we got home, I needed to have a conversation with Frieda about werewolves imprinting. Werewolves rarely imprint, but when they do, it could be due to a number of reasons. It could be a form of eternal friendship, it could also be a sisterhood bond or it could be pure love. However, from the way Rhea was staring at Frieda, I felt as though it was the latter. Now, I could be wrong. But I'm definitely invested on how things would pan out.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a branch snapping in half. The moonlight remained obscured by the clouds as we made our way deeper into the darkness. I yawned a little while I waited for Hugo's instructions. If it had been just me, I would have barged right into their den unannounced and gone on a murderous rampage, but Hugo took his time.

"What exactly is your plan?" I finally had enough and asked.

"To use you as bait" Hugo glanced at me with a smirk on his face.

"Like a damsel in distress?" I inquired while obliviously rolling my eyes.

"No, like a damsel in heat that is in distress" Hugo emphasized. I had spent the entire day casting spells to fight back and prolong my heat. I was worried that if I had to mimic a heat howl, it may truly activate my heat and prevent me from hunting these monsters.

"Sure" Despite the repercussions, I agreed. Going on this hunt with him seemed like going out on a date, and I kind of wanted him to take the lead now that he was an Alpha. However, all I have seen thus far is a lot of caution and waiting.

When will the killings start? I wanted to whine and complain, but I contained myself.

Hugo took another glance at his surroundings before nodding his head in my direction. I promptly removed the cloaking from our bodies and summoned my wolf to take charge. I waited a moment, then let out the biggest howl I could conjure to attract the Silverbacks' attention. Meanwhile, I anticipated Hugo to hide, but he remained right next to me. As several footsteps drew nearer, the trees trembled in the wind and the bushes rustled.

"Shift" Hugo demanded out loud and my wolf instantaneously reverted me back into my human form. I tightened the grip on my legs, pretending as though I was in tremendous pain. In a split second, a shadow resurfaced from the shadow. As the moon finally peaked from the clouds and was now at its brightest, I cast a quick glance at the five muscular men who were now surrounding Hugo and me.

"Well well well, if it isn't the glorious sight of a beautiful female in heat" The Silverbacks' Alpha spoke while making subtle, stealthy motions towards Hugo's direction.

"Back off" Hugo stood in front of me as his scarlet eyes glowed snarling at the pack in an effort to claim me as his own. Usually in such situations where a female wolf howls for a mate while in heat, she gets to decide who she'd mate with regardless of who finds her first. In this case, the Alpha of the Silverbacks had every right to contest. And I bet Hugo intended it so.

"My territory, my claim" Alpha Samuel growled and shot Hugo a glare. In comparison to the Kaos Pack, the Silverbacks were bigger in size but lacked intuition.

"I found her first. She's mine. Back off" Hugo growled.

"Looks like the Alpha's got it under control, Sam" With a sarcastic chuckle, the pack's beta spoke out as he was striding alongside Alpha Samuel. Hugo maintained his composure as the Silverbacks inched closer. Meanwhile, I let out a little groan in an attempt to sell my act.

"Ah but Hunter, you've got it wrong. She doesn't have a mark. No mark, no claim. And no claim means she's ready for the taking" Alpha Sam with a jagged smile smirked. Hugo turned to face me and gave me a small wink before mind-linking me.

"Pick him" He urged.

"What?" My eyes grew wide in confusion.

"Pick him. Trust me."

"Sorry Random Alpha, you've got no pack to back you up. It's you vs. us five. Either you leave or we'll make you" Alpha Sam issued a warning. Hugo had a pensive expression on his face as he faced Alpha Sam. He took a few steps back, clearing a path for Alpha Sam to approach me, and then let out a loud sigh as if he had conceded defeat.

"You're right. You can have her" Hugo mumbled hoarsely. Even though I was aware that it was all a ruse, I felt a strong need to punish him for saying so. I glared at Hugo before turning to confront Alpha Sam, who was grinning broadly.

"Now that's a smart move. I appreciate that. We Alpha's need to support one another" Alpha Sam chuckled giving a nod of approval to Hugo. Hugo walked a little distance to the right before deciding to cross his arms and lean against the massive tree.

"Actually, I'll stay and watch" Hugo stated casually. The rest of the Silverbacks, including Alpha Sam, peered at him in confusion. I sent a doubtful look Hugo's way as I gazed at him. Hugo, however, was not taken seriously enough by the Silverbacks to cause them to be concerned about his presence, especially because he had no pack to support him.

"Watch? Umm. . okay I guess. Maybe you'd get your turn once she's all used up" Alpha Sam chuckled not feeling threatened by Hugo. From the corner of my eye, I could see Hugo clenching his fists and struggling to contain his rage as Sam approached me fearlessly.

"Now, what is a pretty girl like you doing out here in the dark woods of Falcon Valley, alone and in heat?" He smirked lifting my chin up.

"Grrahh" I glared at him.

"What now?" I mind-linked Hugo as I awaited further instructions. From where Hugo was standing, it would be impossible to sprint towards Sam without the rest of the Silverbacks intervening. The rampage Hugo has planned must start on my end. So I decided to wait until Hugo gave me the green light.

"You know the best form of therapy is sometimes to let out all your frustrations at once, Tal. The Silverbacks hurt Rhea but the pain she's enduring, you've endured it once before. Monsters like these should be wiped out. And it's only fitting to let you decide how they go. I'll let you have this one" Hugo mind-linked me.

I turned towards him when I realized that, despite my long-standing tendency to bury my emotions, he was encouraging me to let them out as a way of overcoming any lingering emotional traumas. I understood Rhea's pain, how violated she must have felt and how terrified she must have been. I let out a loud growl as anger rose inside of me.

"Feisty this one eh? It's okay, daddy's home now. And daddy will show you a good time" Alpha Sam remarked.

I could hear Hugo chuckle under his breath at Sam's words. My hands moved across to Sam's face, laying both of my palms lightly on both sides of his cheeks. He grinned at my gesture. While the rest of his pack watched in anticipation, I smirked at him.

"You're warming up to me, I like that" He leaned in closer, tilting his head. How did this loser become the Alpha of a pack when he lacked intuition so badly? Hugo cleared his throat as our lips drew closer to one another, appearing anxious and impatiently awaiting my move.

"How warm do you wanna get?" I asked with a sly smile. Alpha Sam looked at me strangely completely underestimating the real threat he was under.

My crimson eyes glowed as I harnessed my magic to warm up his brain gradually until it got so hot that it completely exploded from within. He collapsed to the ground flat, bleeding from his eyes, nose, and ears. The rest of his pack took a few seconds to process what had happened before shifting into their wolf forms and charging at me to avenge their Alpha.

I tossed them one at a time, flicking my hand and utilizing all of my magic's might. Even after multiple tumbles to the ground, the Silverbacks sprang up and sprinted at me. I immediately shifted into my wolf form whilst my body was being fed by fury. Three wolves roared in rage as they leapt on my body and pressed against me.

"A little help?" I mind-linked Hugo, shooting a glance at him.

"Do you need help?" He asked standing casually resting his back on the tree bark.

"No, not really" I smirked, snapping two of the wolves' necks and inserting my hand into the third wolf's heart and detaching it from his body. My entire body was splattered with blood as I scanned the area for more wolves.

"That's my girl" Hugo walked towards me and knelt down to pet my head, wiping the blood off my eyes. The sound of one wolf racing back into the woods caused both of us to cast a glance to the left. There were only four dead wolves on the ground and I wasn't about to let even one escape their fate tonight.

"I got this one, babe" Hugo murmured, then transformed back into a wolf and sped in his direction. While rolling on the woodland floor, my wolf began to breathe heavily. As I shifted, the heat began to aggressively set in, and exhaustion took over my body. A whoosh in the air emerged as the runaway wolf soared and crashed to the ground in front of me. The beta of the Silverbacks leapt on the ground switching back to his human form.

"Please spare my life" he begged Hugo who had fury written all across his face.

"Hunter, was it?" Hugo walked towards him. He put his foot on Hunter's face in full force digging his face deeper into the soils of the forest.

"Please" Hunter begged more as tears streamed down his face.

"Rhea was your friend. She begged too. But as her friend what did you do?! You betrayed her" Hugo growled kicking Hunter in the guts, making the beta cry out in anguish.

"I'm sorry" Hunter cried.

"No, you are not. You're sorry because you're on the brink of death!" Hugo yelled pressing his feet harder.

I collapsed on the ground gasping in agony as the heat took over. Given that it was the final full moon heat wave, perhaps utilizing my powers to resist the heat all day was a terrible idea. As the thought crossed my mind, I whimpered.

"Hugo, need . . you" I managed to grumble as I clenched my fingers against the dirt and fallen leaves.

Hugo glanced at me with his scarlet eyes and then back at Hunter. As time was of the essence, I felt Frieda's cloaked spell fade away and I lacked the mana to summon it back. This was on me, I should have known better. I could almost hear Frieda's impending lecture that awaited back at the mansion. I tossed and twisted on the ground as I heard Hugo deliver his parting words to Hunter.

"I wanted to make you suffer, but looks like there's no time. Goodbye lil fucker" Hugo squished Hunters face until his brain scattered on the floor. Hugo rushed climbing up to me, placing his hand under my head, and embracing me in his arms.

"Not here" I murmured faintly.

"Then let's go back to the mansion" He suggested.

"Not there, either" I whimpered. The thought of engaging in a sexual act anywhere near Rhea brought out a maternal instinct in me. As the Luna I felt an immense responsibility to protect the sentiments of the now growing pack.

"Ahhh" I groaned as the heat pain seeped through my body.

"Teleport us somewhere, anywhere Tal. If you don't, I will fuck you right here" Hugo stated unwilling to see me in pain. I shut my eyes, gathered all of my strength, and teleported us to the Shaw residence. I squirmed and rolled in the fetal position as soon as our bodies struck the ground.

My powers seemed feeble in comparison to the heat, which may have been because this was the final full moon. Or perhaps the agony was getting intolerable levels because I had postponed the heat for such a long time.

Hugo's arms stumbled upon my frail body, but I stopped them just as they were about to touch me. The atmosphere changed, nearly giving the impression that we weren't the only ones in the vicinity. I felt as though I was enduring the heat pain as a punishment for my recklessness in endangering his life.

"There's someone here" I whispered. Whatever danger we were under, I knew I was of no use to eliminate it. Despite the fact that my body was feeling weak, my ears were cognisant of the approaching footsteps.

"I don't care, bend over" Hugo instructed. Hugo moved to hoist me closer when a familiar voice froze us in our tracks.

"Hugo . . . " Izzy gasped, horrified to see Hugo embracing me.