Page 20 of Alpha's Heir

And then it happened—the rustling.

It came from the shadows that pooled just beyond the reach of the moonlight, a sound out of place in the silence of the clearing. My head snapped toward the noise, heart thundering in my chest, my hand reaching for the knife I’d tucked into my boot.

The shadows shifted, and then it was upon me—a creature straight out of a nightmare. It was massive, the size of a bear but shaped like a cat, muscles rippling under a coat of glossy black fur. Its wings were those of a giant bird, stretched wide, the feathers glinting like obsidian.

There was no time to run, no time to even think. The creature lunged, all claws and teeth and fury, a wildcat and bird hybrid forged from the dark whispers of the forest. Its eyes blazed with an intelligence that was terrifying, a knowingness that this creature was no ordinary beast.

Our eyes locked, and I knew—I was prey.

A scream built in my throat as the creature crouched, its hind legs tensing, wings slightly lifting. It was going to pounce, and I had nowhere to run. The clearing offered no shelter, no place to hide.

Its muscles coiled, and the creature leapt.

Chapter ten

Weston

Myeyessnappedopento a too-quiet room, the kind of silence that screams wrongness. I rolled over, reaching out for Cora, but my hands found only cold sheets. A thread of unease started to weave its way through me as I sat up, scanning the room. Her side was untouched since last night, pillow still carrying the indent of her head.

"Cora?" I called out, the word a little more than a hushed whisper against the morning light filtering through the curtains. No answer. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, the floor cold under my feet. A quick glance at the clock - she'd never get up this early without good reason.

I pushed through the house, my worry ramping up notch by notch. "Cora!" Louder now, a demand rather than a question.

The living room was empty, her jacket still draped over the back of the couch. Kitchen - the coffee pot cold, the mugs hanging untouched. Bathroom - her toothbrush dry. Every new discovery punched the breath from my lungs. Where the hell was she?

I grabbed my jacket, the fabric rough against my skin, a stark contrast to the fear slicking my palms. I broke into a jog, out the door, into the chill of the early morning.

The compound was just waking up, a few of our pack members moving about, starting their day. I caught the eye of the first person I saw, a young kid who looked up to me like I had all the answers. Not today, kid.

"Have you seen Cora?" I asked, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.

He shook his head, shrugging his thin shoulders. "Not since yesterday, Weston."

I cursed under my breath, moving on. I stopped by three more houses, urgency painting my words sharp and quick. "Seen Cora? This morning, any time?"

Negative shakes of the head, confused frowns, worry creeping into the eyes of my pack - a mirror of my own fears. I balled my fists, feeling the anger and dread mix into a toxic cocktail in my gut.

Finally, I spotted Jared leaning against a fence, his eyes tracking the forest line. He had been with the Unseen, his instincts honed on paranoia and secrets. If anyone knew something...

"Jared!" I was panting now, my voice a blade cutting through the morning calm. He turned, his face tightening when he saw me.

"Weston." He straightened, an unreadable mask slipping over his features. "What's wrong?"

"It's Cora. She's missing. Have you seen her?"

His eyes flicked away for a fraction of a second, and I knew. "She headed towards the forest at dawn," he said, his voice low. "Alone."

"Fuck!" The word exploded from me, and I took a step back, my mind racing. Alone. Dawn. Forest. The words repeated like a mantra of doom.

"Why the hell didn't you stop her?" I could hear the accusation, loud and clear, even if it was unfair.

"I... didn’t think that’s where she was really going. Not alone," he said, the defense weak even to his own ears.

Fuck. My Cora, fierce and stubborn, stepping into danger because I wasn't there to hold her back, to go with her. What had she been thinking? I scrubbed a hand down my face, the stubble there a rough reminder of the night's rest I took for granted.

"Thanks," I muttered, though it didn't feel like thanks at all.

I turned back to the house, needing to gear up, to be ready for whatever I'd find in that forest. My mind was a chaos of scenarios, each more horrifying than the last. She was pregnant, for God's sake. What if something happened? What if I was too late?

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