Gareth woke with a groan, his head pounding and his muscles aching. The faint glow of dawn seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls of his hideout. He blinked rapidly, the haze of unconsciousness lifting as the reality of the situation slammed into him. The girls were gone.
He stumbled to his feet, rage building with every passing second. “Those little ingrates,” he muttered, his voice low and venomous. “I’ll find them, and when I do…”
The sound of footsteps outside made him pause. Peeking through the cracks, he saw a group of guards surrounding his hideout, their stances alert and weapons ready. Panic surged through him as he realized they had tracked him down.
Gareth moved quickly, retreating further into the hut. He shifted into his wolf form, his black fur blending with the shadows as he darted toward the back exit. With a powerful leap, he broke through the flimsy wooden wall, his paws hitting the ground in a blur of motion.
“After him!” one of the guards shouted.
The chase was on. Gareth raced through the dense forest, his senses heightened. The guards were fast, but he was faster. He weaved between trees and leapt over fallen logs, his powerful strides carrying him further from his pursuers.
As he ran, Gareth concentrated, channeling his energy into his unique gift—an ability to cloak his scent and create illusions. The guards faltered as his scent vanished from their noses, replaced by the confusing overlay of false trails.
“Where did he go?” one of them yelled.
Gareth smirked inwardly, his confidence surging. He pushed himself harder, the wind whipping through his fur as he raced toward his destination: his uncle’s pack. He knew the answers to his problems lay there. Mira and Liana’s father held the key to his next move, and Gareth intended to use him to regain control.
By the time he reached the borders of his uncle’s territory, Gareth was exhausted but determined. He shifted back into his human form, brushing the dirt from his clothes before striding confidently toward the pack house.
The guards at the entrance stiffened as he approached. “State your business,” one of them barked.
“I’m here to see the Alpha,” Gareth replied smoothly, his voice laced with authority. “Tell him his nephew has arrived.”
The guards exchanged wary glances before one of them turned and disappeared into the house. Gareth waited, his mind already working through the next phase of his plan. The girls might have escaped, but the game was far from over.
And Gareth never lost.