Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

F innar’s claws dug into the bark of the fallen log on which he was perched, leaving deep grooves in the weathered wood. The ancient trees towered above him, their thick canopy casting dappled shadows across the moss-covered ground. This was his home, his territory, but the familiar surroundings brought no comfort. The rage that always lived inside him swirled through his veins, demanding vengeance. A vengeance he’d been denied.

“Stay away from the humans.”

He snarled as the memory of Seren’s words echoed in his mind. His alpha’s order had come after Finnar’s last… incident with a human. He’d expected, perhaps even hoped, to be punished. Had waited for the alpha’s teeth at his neck.

Instead Seren had only studied him with eyes that saw far too much.

“Your anger blinds you. It makes you dangerous to everyone, including yourself.”

His jaw clenched. The alpha didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand. He hadn’t lost anyone to human violence.

“I am not concerned about myself,” he muttered.

“You should be.” Seren regarded him a moment longer, then sighed. “You will not leave these mountains. Is that understood?”

The order was imbued with the alpha’s power and he had no choice but to agree. He’d spent the winter on the outskirts of the Vultor enclave, healing and brooding. Very few members of the pack approached him and he’d rejected those who did. When spring came he left, he’d started spending long periods in the woods even though Seren had asked him to stay close. But he hadn’t made it an order and he’d ignored the request.

But changing his location hadn’t helped. His rage simmered in his veins like a living thing but there was no outlet for his anger. He’d drifted restlessly through the forest until he found himself at the base of the mountains, close to a human settlement.

The other Vultor stayed away from this side of the mountains, but he’d found himself watching the settlement, tempted by thoughts of revenge. But the settlement was outside the boundaries of the mountains and Seren had ordered him not to leave them.

His need for vengeance warred with the compulsion to obey his alpha’s orders and he finally gave way to a frustrated howl. But when it emerged, it was marked more by loneliness than rage. He had no one. His family was gone, torn away from him by human scum, and it had become clear over the winter that his pack didn’t trust him. They thought he was too dangerous, too volatile, even for a Vultor, and they were right.

A scent drifted past him, carried on the breeze that rustled through the leaves. Sweet, like summer berries, but underlaid with something richer, more complex. A human. Female. Young.

In my territory .

His ears pricked forward, catching the faint sound of footsteps on the forest path. The human was alone, her tread light and quick. He inhaled deeply, tasting her scent on the air. There was something about it that caught his attention, pricked at instincts he tried to deny. The urge to investigate tugged at him, a restless energy thrumming beneath his skin.

The scent shifted direction. She was moving closer to his position. His claws extended further, scraping against the log. He could intercept her path. Show these humans they weren’t as safe in these woods as they thought.

Seren would not approve. The alpha’s words rang in his ears again.

“We need peace with the humans, not more bloodshed. Your vendetta will only bring more pain to our people.”

Another howl escaped as his body trembled with the effort to remain still. To honor his alpha’s command. To push down the rage that threatened to consume him. The beast within him paced, hungry for release. For revenge.

Unable to remain still, he finally rose, his bare feet silent against the moss-covered earth. The human’s scent pulled at him, a reminder of that last failed attempt at vengeance against a human female. He’d set fire to her home but when it came right down to it, he’d been unable to kill her.

Weak , his beast snarled.

Unable to resist he began tracking the human, every sense razor sharp as he moved through the shadows of the ancient trees. Every snapped twig and flutter of leaves registered with crystal clarity. A cottma darted out of his path and into its burrow—smart creature. Birds went quiet in the branches above. Even the insects stilled at his passing.

The wind shifted, her scent clearer now. Beneath the sweetness of berries and spice lay something else. Something that made his hackles rise. No fear. This human walked through Vultor territory without the proper terror such foolishness deserved. And yet… that scent intrigued him in a way he couldn’t define.

No. Focus on our prey.

His claws extended, then retracted. Extended. Retracted. The motion matched his breathing as he prowled between the trees. Last time, he’d let rage rule him. This time he would be smarter.

A branch creaked overhead and his head snapped up, enhanced vision cutting through the shadows. Just a small rodent scurrying up the tree trunk. His lip curled. He was jumping at shadows now, like some green pup on his first hunt.

The human’s path wound ahead of him, obvious to the rest of his senses even though he had yet to see her. She kept to the trail, unaware of the predator tracking her movements, alone, unprotected. Her scent grew stronger, carried on a playful breeze that mocked his dark mood.

His muscles bunched, ready to spring out of the shadows. To take what revenge he could. But Seren’s words coiled around his throat like a noose, holding him back. A small part of him knew that the alpha was right—that attacking random humans wouldn’t bring his sister back, bring his family back. Wouldn’t balance the scales.

Still, he followed. Listened. Cataloged every detail of her journey through his territory. His territory. His woods. How dare this human walk through them as if she had any right to be here?

A flash of red through the trees caught his eye. He was close enough now that he could hear the soft crunch of her boots on fallen leaves and the quiet humming that spoke of her complete unconcern for the dangers that lurked in these woods.

His lip curled again. Stupid, reckless human. He should teach her a lesson about wandering where she didn’t belong. But he hesitated, constrained not only by his alpha’s command but by something in that distinctive scent, so different from the usual stink of fear that clung to humans who ventured this deep into the woods. A growl built in his chest as his claws flexed against the tree trunk, leaving deep grooves in the wood. How dare she act so… carefree?

He drew even closer, close enough to pick out details through the shadows beneath the trees. A cloak, rich as fresh blood, draped over slender shoulders. Hair only slightly darker than the cloak spilled down her back, catching glints of sunlight that filtered through the canopy. His enhanced vision picked out the scatter of freckles across her nose, the curve of pretty red lips as she hummed an unfamiliar tune. For a human, she was unusually attractive.

The thought horrified him and he immediately rejected it. He had no interest in human females. No curiosity about the slender body beneath the cloak.

His muscles coiled with predatory tension. One leap would close the distance between them. He could end this maddening curiosity, teach this human the proper fear these woods deserved. But his body refused to move, trapped between his usual rage and this odd fascination.

The red cloak disappeared behind a thick stand of evergreens, and he followed, his instincts drowning out the last whispers of his alpha’s warnings. The scent pulled him forward like a hook buried deep in his chest, following her as she moved easily down the path.

She has no idea how vulnerable she looks.

His beast stirred within him, and with it came the restless, possessive growl he’d been grappling with since first catching her scent. How could a human stir something deep within him? Something he’d thought long dead?

She stopped suddenly, her head snapping toward a nearby rustle in the bushes. He should have been pleased by the sudden tension in her posture, but something unfamiliar unfurled in his chest. Sympathy? No, that was too human a word for it—this was something deeper. Even though he’d wanted it, the hint of fear in her scent made his beast uneasy.

She was everything he despised—fragile, soft, human. Yet he found himself studying the curve of her neck, the way her fingers gripped the handle of her basket as she scanned the woods. The sight of her stirred something primal in his chest, something that had nothing to do with hunting or killing.

The realization sent another surge of fury through his veins. He bared his teeth, tasting the metallic tang of rage on his tongue. How dare this human make him feel this way? Make him question everything he felt?

“Hello?” she asked tentatively, her voice low and musical, and he had to clench his fists to keep from answering her.

After a moment, she started walking again. Her humming resumed, the melody weaving through the trees like a spell. His anger clashed with his fascination, leaving him dizzy with conflict. He should leave. He should turn back. Instead, his feet carried him forward, following her path like a shadow.

Even though her pathetic human senses couldn’t have detected his presence, he was sure she knew he was there. She walked more slowly, scanning the woods, then whirled around, her chin lifted defiantly.

“I know you’re there.”

Once again he bit back the urge to answer her and she finally started moving again. The hint of fear remained and he had the oddest urge to ease her concerns. But no. Fear was what she should feel in his presence. It was what she deserved. What all humans deserved.

He watched her stumble as a bird took flight nearby, an unexpected smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. She was skittish, like a new pup, and the thought both pleased and troubled him.

“I’m being ridiculous,” he heard her mutter, and his smile grew.

Yes, you are , he silently agreed, although wasn’t he being just as foolish?

But her next words, a sharp demand for him to show himself, surprised him. He had to give her credit. She had bravery—or perhaps just foolishness. She didn’t truly expect him to come out of hiding, did she? Just because she demanded it?

Yes , his beast urged.

Another rustle in the bushes made her flinch again and he automatically took a half step forwards. Her head swung towards him and he heard her breath catch. He knew he’d revealed his location. It wasn’t too late—he could still slip away. He knew Seren would have ordered him to leave. Instead he found himself moving out of the shadows and stalking towards her.

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