Kael Donovan sprinted through the trees, bare feet barely touching the damp earth as cold air burned his lungs in the best way. The night wrapped around him like freedom.
His friends followed behind, their voices sharp with excitement.
"Slow down, Kael!" Cameron Blackwood shouted, laughing.
He did not slow down.
He never did.
Kael leapt over a fallen tree, landed lightly, and turned with a grin. His eyes glowed faintly gold, the wolf close to the surface.
"You're going to get us caught," Lyre Ravenshade said when she finally caught up. She pushed dark curls away from her face, breathing hard, but smiling.
Kael smirked. "You're just slow."
Lyre rolled her eyes. "You're just stupid."
They all laughed.
They were young. Careless. Convinced the world could not touch them inside their territory.
Kael had heard the warnings. Do not run this close to the border. Do not let your wolf rise near humans. Do not draw attention.
He ignored every one.
Because Kael had always believed himself untouchable.
"Bet you can't catch me!" Cameron called, bounding over another fallen log.
Lyre scoffed. "Please. I'm practically flying compared to you."
Kael brushed a branch from his hair. "Show off," he muttered. "It's about technique, not speed."
Cameron half-shifted mid-air, moonlight catching on silvered fur. He grinned at Lyre. "Watch and learn."
"Try not to trip this time," Lyre teased.
Cameron had tripped and fell on his first shift and his friends never pass up an opportunity to tease him mercilessly.
Cameron gave a flirty smile. "If I trip, you'll catch me."
Kael noticed Cameron's glances toward Lyre. He was in love with her, but she had no idea. He let Cameron show off. It amused him.
"You're hopeless," Kael said, darting past.
"Not hopeless," Cameron replied, teeth bared in a playful grin. "Just practicing."
"If you're practicing to impress me," Lyre said lightly, "you're failing."
Cameron's ears twitched. He didn't respond. Instead, he pushed himself faster, running in wide circles, making jumps and flips that made Kael laugh.
A sharp sound of a branch snapping made their heads turn. Then the forest went unnaturally still.
Something didn't feel right.
Lyre tilted her head. "Did you hear that?"
Kael slowed, sniffing the air, senses prickling. "I don't know. Maybe it's the wind…"
Before he could finish, a bullet tore through the air, and tore through branch above them. Cameron barely twisted out of its path, heart pounding.
Everything exploded into chaos.
Hunters poured from the shadows, heavy guns raised.
"Ambush!" Kael shouted. "Run!"
Cameron's eyes flicked to Lyre. "Stay behind me!" he barked, shifting fully.
"No, Cameron!" Lyre cried.
He was already moving.
A gunshot cracked. Cameron howled as silver tore through his side. He collapsed mid-run, body slamming into the earth.
"No!" Lyre screamed.
Kael skidded toward him, but another bullet screamed past, halting him. Lyre cried out as one grazed her shoulder. She stumbled, pain flashing across her face.
Kael roared and dragged her back.
Another shot struck his leg. Pain burned white-hot. A hunter rushed too close and Kael lunged, teeth tearing through flesh. The man collapsed.
It was not enough.
Lyre grabbed Kael's arm, eyes wide with terror.
"Run."
They ran.
Branches tore at their skin. Gunfire followed. Dogs barked. Shouting echoed behind them.
Kael glanced back once. He wanted to see Cameron. Just once more. His chest tightened painfully and his eyes watered.
Not now. There was no time.
They broke deeper into the forest when something slammed into Kael's shoulder. He hit the ground hard, vision spinning.
He looked up.
Lyre lay ahead of him. Still. Blood spreading beneath her. The bullet had gone clean through.
"No," Kael whispered.
Another gunshot cracked close. Too close.
He forced himself up and ran again, blind with panic.
That was when he saw Lucien.
His brother stood near the border on patrol, tall, still, watchful. Relief hit Kael for a split second.
Then Lucien's gaze locked onto him.
He saw the blood. The fear. The chaos behind.
Lucien moved instantly.
He shifted mid-stride, pack soldiers surging behind him.
"Kael," Lucien said sharply through the mindlink.
More hunters spilled from the trees.
Lucien placed himself directly in front of Kael, body a barrier.
"Go home," he ordered. "Leave this to me."
"I'm not leaving you!" Kael snapped. "You're my brother!"
Lucien's eyes blazed. "Kael, go!"
Kael shifted anyway.
Lucien and the pack soldiers attacked, claws tearing, teeth flashing. For a moment, it looked like victory. Hunters fell. Blood sprayed.
But they kept coming.
Bullets rained.
A hunter moved behind Lucien. A silver knife slammed into his side. Lucien snarled and turned, but a bullet followed. His body staggered.
"Lucien!" Kael screamed.
He charged.
Gideon Donovan stepped into view, rifle calm in his hands. His eyes were cold.
The bullet struck Kael's leg.
Kael howled but still lunged, claws raking across Gideon's face. Blood poured. The hunter stumbled back, furious.
Kael barely noticed.
Lucien lay motionless ahead. Blood soaked into the earth beneath him. Pack warriors still fought, but Kael saw nothing else.
Only his brother.
He tried to reach him. Tried to fight through the hunters. Tried to push forward.
Too many.
A pack soldier slammed into him. "Kael, we have to go!"
Another shot flew past. Then another.
Kael's wolf screamed. His body shook with rage, grief, and helplessness.
He turned and ran.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
He grabbed Lyre's unconscious body and forced himself through the trees. Every step burned. Every breath hurt.
Behind him, the sounds of battle faded.
Kael looked back once.
Lucien Donovan lay still.
Blood everywhere.
No movement.
His roar tore through the forest.
The hunter who had done this, would never leave his memory.
Kael ran with grief in his chest and vengeance in his bones.
He had survived, but at what cost?