Chapter 3: No Longer Alone
Damien's POV
The three wolves finally reached the designated area—a secluded part of the forest surrounded by towering trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.
The clearing was already filled with other male wolves, some of whom had already shifted into their wolf forms. The others paced restlessly, their eyes gleaming with the primal need to find their mates. They were waiting for the scent—the otherworldly aroma that would trigger their instincts and lead them to the one meant for them.
Damien, Xavier, and Magnus slowed their pace as they entered the clearing, their powerful bodies relaxing as they shifted back into human form. Their muscles ached slightly from the run, but they pushed the discomfort aside. This was only the beginning.
They joined the other men who had gathered around the Head of the Ceremony, a towering figure dressed in dark robes. The man’s eyes were sharp, his gaze sweeping over the participants. He waited until the last few stragglers arrived before raising his hand, commanding silence.
“Welcome, fellows… Tonight marks the beginning of the Annual Purge, a night where you will not only prove your strength but also seek what the Moon Goddess has destined for you. The human females will soon be released into the forest. They are your prey, but remember—this is no ordinary hunt.”
Damien’s heart pounded in his chest as he listened.
“Each of you will be guided by your wolf’s instincts. The otherworldly scent will tell you who is yours. You may mark only those who belong to you. It is a sacred bond, one that cannot be broken. But be warned—the humans have been given a chance to escape. If they reach the Musk River on the other side of the forest, they are free, and you will lose your chance.”
Xavier exchanged a glance with Damien, his expression serious.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” he muttered, though the Pack Link wasn’t needed for Damien to sense the weight of his words.
Magnus nodded, his eyes narrowed. “We can’t afford to lose them. Not this time.”
Damien clenched his fists. “Then we won’t,” he said firmly. “We’ll find our mates tonight, no matter what.”
The Head of the Ceremony stepped back, his gaze sweeping over the assembled wolves.
“You have until dawn,” he announced.
“Why free the human females at all?” one of the wolves, a broad-shouldered man with silver-streaked hair, growled. “If they’re meant to be ours, why let them run?”
Another wolf, a younger man with fiery eyes, nodded in agreement. “It feels like a cruel game. We could lose them if they reach the river. It doesn’t seem right.”
Damien, still in his human form, listened but did not speak. He understood their frustration and impatience well. Yet, deep down, he knew the truth.
The Head of the Ceremony, sensing the unrest, raised his hand to silence them.
“Newbies, I see.” There was a pause. “This is not just a hunt,” he reminded them. “This is a test of fate, of the Moon Goddess’ will. If a human female reaches the river, it is because she was not meant for you. The bond we seek cannot be forced. It must be destined.”
The words settled over them. They knew that not all would find their mates tonight. For some, the night would end in disappointment. But for others, for the chosen ones, it would be the beginning of something far greater.
Xavier turned to Damien, his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the bonfire now being lit in the center of the clearing.
“It’s fate, Damien. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing else but the Moon Goddess will decide who is meant to find their mate tonight.”
Damien nodded. “I know,” he replied. “But that doesn’t make it any easier.”
Magnus, standing beside them, cracked his knuckles. “We just have to trust that if it’s meant to be, it will be. And if not…” He trailed off, knowing that the words were little comfort.
The bonfire roared to life, its flames licking the sky. The scent of burning wood filled the clearing.
“It’s time,” the Head of the Ceremony announced. “Now shift, and let the hunt begin.”
Without hesitation, the countless men around the fire began to shift, their bodies contorting as their wolves took over. Fur replaced skin, bones cracked and reformed, and soon the clearing was filled with the sounds of growls and howls.
Damien, Xavier, and Magnus followed suit, all set to hunt.
As Damien’s wolf senses sharpened, he caught the faintest trace of something in the air—something that sent a shiver down his spine. It was not yet the scent of his mate, but it was close.
The forest around them came alive with movement as the wolves dispersed into the trees, their noses twitching as they sought out the elusive scent that would lead them to their fated ones.
Meredith’s POV
Meredith awoke, greeted by darkness. Blinking against the shadows, she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. Slowly, the fog in her mind began to clear. She was still alive.
Her heart pounded as she remembered what tonight meant: the Annual Purge—the time when werewolves hunted human females. She was one of them now, a prey in this deadly game.
The memory of her older sister flashed through her mind. She had been taken in a similar way, and Meredith had never seen her again.
She looked around and realized she was trapped inside a wooden box. The rough wood scraped against her skin as she shifted. It wasn’t just her—countless other women surrounded her, packed tightly in the same box, most of them still asleep.
“Please… someone help us,” one woman sobbed.
“I don’t want to die…” Another voice murmured, “We’re all going to die here, aren’t we?”
Meredith’s hands shook as she tried to find an opening. But the walls seemed to close in on her, making it hard to breathe. She couldn’t stay here. She had to get out.
Suddenly, there was a rustling noise outside the box, and the women fell silent. The sound grew louder, closer, until finally, a figure appeared at the edge of the box.
It was a boy, no older than sixteen, his face partially obscured by the hood of his cloak. He carried a small lantern. He looked like a guard, but there was something different about him.
Meredith’s eyes met his, and in a desperate whisper, she pleaded, “Please, help us. Let us go.”
The boy’s eyes softened, but he shook his head. “I can’t,” he whispered back. “No one can interfere with fate. You were chosen for a reason.”
Meredith’s heart sank. “There must be a way,” she insisted. “Please… I don’t want to die here.”
The boy hesitated, glancing around as if checking for any unseen observers. Then, he leaned closer to her.
“There is one way,” he whispered urgently. “If you reach the Musk River, you’ll be free. But you have to be quick. They’ll be hunting soon.”
Meredith cleared her throat. “The river… How do I get there?” she asked.
The boy pointed through a small gap in the box, where a single star shone brightly in the night sky. “Head in that direction,” he said. “It’s your only chance.”
Before Meredith could say another word, the boy slipped back into the shadows.
Around her, the other women began to stir, some waking, others crying out for help. The forest outside was still.
Alone, Meredith sobbed quietly. She sobbed for the lost moments of her life, the dreams that might never come true. She sobbed for the life she once knew, and the future that was slowly slipping away.
The young boy soon returned. He sighed before looking up at the sky, where smoke curled into the night air. The ceremony had begun, and the hunt was only moments away.
The boy’s eyes flickered as he noticed other boys approaching the other wooden boxes. He leaned in one last time.
“I wish you well...”
With that, he stepped back, and the sound of locks being unlatched filled the silence.
Suddenly, the box burst open. Women scrambled out, their screams piercing the night as they fled into the forest.
Meredith’s heart raced as she bolted from the box. The sound of growls echoed through the trees. She ran for her life, her gaze fixed on the small star that guided her through the darkness.
The branches scratched at her skin as she pushed herself harder. But then, her foot caught on a protruding root, and she stumbled, crashing to the ground.
Pain shot through her ankle, and for a moment, she lay there breathless.
“No, no, no,” she muttered, forcing herself to her feet.
She limped forward, the sound of water growing louder. She was so close. Just a little further, and she would reach the river.
But before she could take another step, something slammed into her back. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, and she was thrown to the ground.
She felt a presence looming over her, the hot breath of a predator brushing against her neck. She had come so close, only to be dragged back into the nightmare.
Meredith squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face as she braced herself for what was to come.
“Please,” she whispered into the darkness. “Please… don’t kill me…”
Meredith expected to feel the sharp bite of fangs and the tearing of claws. But instead, there was a low growl that echoed around her.
The weight pressing down on her back grew heavier, pinning her to the ground, but the expected pain never came.
She barely had time to process what was happening before she felt warm fingers gently cup her chin. Her breath caught in her throat as her face was tilted upward, forcing her to meet the gaze of the man crouching over her.
He was breathtakingly handsome, with steely eyes that seemed to pierce right through her. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her cheeks as he whispered a single word.
“Mine.”
Two more massive beasts emerged from the shadows behind him, their forms shifting until they stood as naked men, their muscles rippling under the moonlight. Their eyes burned with the same intensity as the first man's.
Slowly, they closed in around her.
Meredith’s lips parted as they all stared down at her, their gazes filled with hunger.
And then, as if on cue, they spoke in unison.
“Mine.”
It was no longer just a word, but a vow.
She was surrounded, claimed by these powerful beings. Meredith knew at that very moment—she was no longer alone. She was theirs.