Page 58 of Fated Wolf's Destiny

“Where’s Ryder?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intend.

“Still at the lodge. He and Bella…”

“Got it,” I cut him off, not needing to hear the rest. Ryder deserves his moment of peace, especially after everything he and Bella went through to get here. But peace is a luxury we can’t afford right now.

“Stay here,” I tell him, already moving. “If they get closer, signal the others. I’ll check it out.”

“Lucas…” he starts, but I’m already gone, slipping into the shadows of the forest.

The north ridge is quiet when I arrive. Too quiet. There’s a distinct buzzing in my head and I lean against a tree trying to get my bearings. Something has sent my internal senses into a tailspin. I slow my pace, my wolf on edge as I scan the area.

Then I see them.

Three figures stand at the edge of the ridge, silhouetted against the moonlight. They’re too far to make out their features, but their posture—upright and alert—and their scent tells me one thing.

They’re humans, but not purebreds.

“Who the hell are you?” I mutter under my breath, stepping closer but careful to stay in the cover of the trees.

One of them turns, her gaze sweeping the forest as if she can feel me watching. The buzzing in my head intensifies and is somewhat disorienting. My wolf bristles, a growl threatening to rise in my throat, but I swallow it down. I crouch lower, letting the shadows cloak me.

“We don’t have time for this,” the tallest of the figures says, his voice carrying easily in the cold night air. The voice is deep and commanding, with an edge of irritation. “If the Nightshade wolves find us in their territory…”

“They already have,” I say, stepping out of the shadows before I can think better of it.

The figures whirl toward me, their movements sharp and precise. Not Crimson Claw, but shifters. I can feel it in the way their energy hums against mine, their presence setting my instincts on high alert, especially the female.

The woman steps forward, signaling the other two to remain where they are. “You must be Lucas.”

Her words hit me like a blow, my wolf snarling at the familiarity in her tone. “And you are?”

“Just passing through,” she says, though the way she holds himself suggests otherwise. “We mean you no harm.”

I take a step closer, my muscles tensed, ready for a fight. “If you meant us no harm, you wouldn’t be creeping around in our territory without an invitation. Start talking, or I’ll...”

“Relax,” she soothes, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “We’ll just move on. We were only searching for answers. We thought we might be able to help.”

“Help?” I snort. “You don’t belong here. This is Nightshade territory.”

“Exactly,” she says, a sly smile creeping across her face. “And if you want to save it, you may find you need our help more than you’d like to.”

My blood runs cold at her words, my wolf snarling louder in the back of my mind. “Save it from what?”

The woman’s smile fades, and for the first time, I see a flicker of something in her eyes—fear. “From what’s coming.”

The weight of her words settles over me, heavier than the silence that follows. My heart pounds, my wolf restless as I stare at her, the sense of foreboding tightening like a noose around my neck.

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