Chapter 1: Six Years Later...

E M B E R

"Let me help you out, Landry," I say, noticing a pack member lifting off boxes from his truck.

Noticing me, the brown-eyed man takes a bow, then begins to protest, "There is no such need to do, Alpha—" I know, but I still decide to unburden him, taking a box off his hands. "Oh, I don't mind it at all. You know, I like heavy lifting."

He gapes at me, briefly taken aback. But he knows he can't say no to me. No one can say no to the Alpha. The two of us load off and bring the containers filled to the brim with fruits and vegetables to the kitchen where more people are working and moving around.

"Thank you, Alpha!" he says with a soft tilt of his head. I wave a dismissive hand, looking around. "Everyone's working really hard for the Friday's banquet, I see."

"Yes, Alpha!" he agrees politely. "It's one of the ways to meet people from other packs, mingle with them... and some even find their mates. So, the morale's quite high." Yeah, a reason to dress up nice, sometimes a little sultry, and drink and party hard.

I nod and grin before turning back at him. "Have you seen Dex, anyway?"

Just for someone to clear their throat, with a hint of pride. I turn and find a man standing at 5'9" with long, shaggy brown hair styled slick back and hazel eyes. And he smiles at me.

"Lowe," I grit.

"Hemming!" he echoes, then bows slightly to greet me. Only Dexter Lowe can speak to me like that, calling me by my last name, and not Alpha. I've allowed that, though. I mean, the guy has known me since we were babies, our parents being each other's best friends.

Silence follows.

Do you have something to tell, Dex? I ask my Beta through the mind link.

He locks eyes with me and sighs. "It's a lovely morning, Alpha. How about we go for a round? We can talk then." I shoot him a brief look, annoyed at how chirpy he seems. "Fine, let's go," I mutter, walking out of the kitchen, sensing him following right behind.

Dexter and I usually take rounds, mingling with pack members, while discussing strategies, policies, and other important matters that affect the pack in length. I'm the authority figure here, as the Alpha, and he is my second-in-command, my Beta. We used to be Midnight Crew, but that night when rage made me let Rayne out, noticing how bloody red everything looked, how bloody red the moon felt, I changed the name to... Crimson Shadow.

Rayne howls, finally making her appearance at the mention. She's such a bitch, sometimes.

I'm a wolf, Em. A white wolf.

She is about 10 feet in height and has crimson red glowing eyes.

Don't call me that. I clench my teeth. My parents adored nicknames, and Ember offers several variations like Em, Emmy, Ber, and Berty. I simply can't tolerate anyone else using these nicknames for me.

I inhale deeply, looking at the blue sky. An ordinary summer morning. Chirpier. Calmer. I enjoy the breeze that cools me down in this heat when another pack member looks over, greeting me with a pleasant smile. "Good morning, Alpha! Beta!"

"Ah, yes! Good morning to you, too, Christie! Are the goods coming today?" I ask

The lady beams. "They already did!"

"I see. Tsk!" I nod. We make small talk before Dexter and I finally excuse ourselves, walking further away until I notice an elder outside her house.

"Elder Eisha!"

I rush to her as she looks over at me. "Oh, it's you, my dear little Alpha."

She doesn't bow. She doesn't have to.

"I am not little anymore." I playfully pout as the elder nudges and teases me. "You will always be that adorable little girl for me, Alpha."

I hold her hand. "Well, are you getting hot water now, Elder Eisha?"

She smacks her lips and pats my cheek. "Oh, of course, my persistently sweet Alpha, and thank you for even trying to fix it yourself."

I tilt my head and place my hand over hers on my face as I grin brightly. "Anything for you, ma'am."

Dexter and I once again excuse ourselves, finally reaching the secluded portion of the garden... isolated from everything and everyone else. It's right across the huge house belonging to the Alpha's family... or just me. It's just an empty, lonely building with 30 rooms, give or take. I only use a guest room and my dad's office, or now mine. I can't find it in myself to use my parents' bedroom or even mine, for that matter. One of the things I love to watch are the young pups being trained by the pack warriors, when his voice interjects my thoughts, "Time really flies."

I feel a faint smile across my face. "Yeah, it does." I then turn to look at him, pointing out, "Remember those tiring sessions and classes by our instructors hired by the council head?"

"I remember them," he groans amusedly. "I even remember how Flora, you, and I used to bunk those classes to hang in the main town."

"Yeah, but despite all of it, it has been so rewarding."

He takes a deep breath, giving me a mocking look. "Woah, you seriously have grown up, Em."

I roll my eyes at him and scoff, "What can I say? I don't think I am programmed to be reckless. I do what I have been taught. It's my duty to be the generous leader of the pack, isn't it?"

He hums, silently agreeing with me. Then, he clicks his tongue, musing aloud, "You know, now it would be nice to have someone to depend on—" I interrupt with a loud groan, dragging my feet further away from him. "Why do you always try to tell me to look for my mate? If I don't want to find them, let it be." I pause with a huff, "Why make such a big deal about having a mate? I like the control I have over myself, it keeps me calm and collected in tough situations. I do not want to relinquish that to someone else... someone who would make me... weak, powerless."

He catches up with me with his long strides and argues, "I'm not weak."

I give him a look. "So what? It's not about you. I don't want a mate, that's all. I have other important things to focus on than falling in love and making a family with them."

"It's still nice to have someone in your life who makes you smile even when they are not around," he murmurs, a small smile spreading across his lips. I grunt, very well aware that he's thinking about his mate with the kind of lovesick expression he has on.

"Speaking of, congratulations on the birth of your third child. How's Rachel?"

"She's tired. Postpartum. But she's a formidable one. Laurie and Joe are old enough to help her when I'm out."

"Good to hear," I muse, then jokingly exclaim, "I can't believe you are a father! I remember what a douche you were in high school."

Dexter blushes, scratching his head sheepishly. He does that, every single time I joke about his past and how the love of his life changed everything when she barged in on him, while making out with the slutty head cheerleader. It was annoyingly amusing to watch him act so... infatuated, and he still is. Obsessed, even.

I wonder if I... my smile fades at the brief thought before I shake my head as if that'll wipe off the things I don't want to think about, and call him out, "So, when are you showing me her photo?"

"You already have seen Millie, Hemming." I shoot a glare at him. He sighs, knowing he can't win. "Fine! Would you like to see her photo, Alpha?"

"I thought you'd never ask." I grin sarcastically as we make a brief halt, watching and cooing over all 200 photos of his daughter Dexter took from his phone.

"Aww, so cute! Amelia looks exactly like your wife, but she's got your nose."

"Yeah, she is damn beautiful."

I notice him look at the pictures with a loving gaze, the same one my mom had when... I clear my throat, blinking rapidly. Dexter's unbelievably lucky, and nothing will stop me from protecting him and his family, and hundreds of others depending on my leadership... from any invasion, any attack like that night.

"Now, I really wish for you to have..."

I smack his bicep, scowling. "Stop wishing, Lowe! It's not happening."

He scoffs, incredulous. "You are crazy, then!"

I shrug nonchalantly. That I'll gladly be. I clear my throat again, walking away with hands clutched behind my back... a symbol of my authority.

Will you do the honor now?

The mood between us isn't light anymore and we both know there are things I need to know from him.

Sure, Alpha. He catches on quick, following me.

I know we've been sending our hidden gems, the best ones, to find the asshole without the council's knowledge, but...

I roll my eyes and huff indignantly. Don't bother finishing that sentence if it's going to be the same damn thing as last time, Lowe.

For the past six years, I've been running a covert operation to find those pale-faced parasites and kill them in a much more brutal way... it's definitely a secret because revenge isn't what my mother wanted for me. But no one knows that the rage within me hasn't settled down... and I know it won't.

I won't let that happen.

The best ones, but are they really? How come the ones who attacked us all those years ago seem to be hiding so well from us? I mock angrily.

Actually, what I wanted to say... is that we got a tip.

I stop immediately, turning my head to face him. I glower. "You got a tip and you couldn't start with that?!"

Dexter shrugs. "I was building up suspense."

Asshole.

He smirks at me, unaffected from my glare. I take a deep breath, running a hand through my dark locks. I huff, "What is it? What do we know about those fuckers?"

He takes his fucking time, while I tap my foot impatiently on the ground.

Flora got in touch with me. They found a man at a local inn.

Flora is my third-in-command, my Gamma.

Here? In St Cloud?

He shakes his head.

No. It's 500 miles away from the town center.

Okay. That's good.

According to witnesses, this man was either directly involved... or had some connection with the attack on us that night.

I clench my fist and my wolf growls. And, where is the man now?

Unfortunately, he recognized one of our members and made a run. But the bartender is quite sure, he always comes back... his voice trails off when he notices me walk past him. "Hey, Hemming!" he calls me out, grabbing my wrist and making me face him. "Where are you going?"

I look at him as if he's lost his brain cells. "To search the bastard and torture the living hell out of him?"

"What about the council of elders? My dad?" he asks, letting go of me. He sighs, "Do you even know that you are on their radar after that last attack on innocent vampires crossing the borders?"

I snarl, "There are no innocent vampires on this planet, and I thought you handled it well."

Rubbing his temple, he sighs again. "I did...but still. We have to be careful. I have been ordered to bring our wolves back, Alpha. We all have to be careful, especially when everyone is keen to follow the former Luna's wish to look out for you and not let you stray—"

I scoff, "As if I care."

After one last glance, I make a run into the woods.

***

I lost my parents at sixteen. A lot of lives were sacrificed. And, his fucking body wasn't even found at the scene. So, at 22, I can't just give up on revenge... I'm close on discovering the leech who masterminded the attack.

With my members returning under council orders, here I am, sitting alone in that bar where the bastard was last seen. I bat my eyelashes but then roll my eyes, ignoring the lustful gazes surrounding me. My straight, long brown hair cascades flawlessly along my back and ends above my hip. I look mysteriously attractive, but my aura makes me unapproachable until someone slides on the stool beside mine.

"How you doing, pretty lady?" he slurs. "I just can't take my eyes off your face. You are really my type." As cocky as he gets, the drunk shitface brushes his hand against mine. I slightly cringe, glaring with every part of me wanting to rip him apart, but I try to ignore this annoying and ugly piece of shit who can't seem to take a hint. "Your hair is truly splendid. It goes so well with your pretty face. You look majestic. Did you get these tresses from your mother? She must have been a beauty like you."

Well, my mother did have amazing hair, and she was a beauty. I cringe at the word; it only reminds me of how that leech called her that. I can vividly recall her long brown hair shining brilliantly under the sunlight, and even that night, when she faced the flames engulfing our pack, it shone brightly as ever.

So, Gee, thanks! Annoyed, I huff, getting off my seat. The dick calls out, "Hey, you are leaving already? Should I come with you? I know a place where we can—"

Ignoring him, I walk towards the door.

Is that man even coming back?

It takes a while for anyone to answer when Flora finally connects me through the mind link.

I believe so. I talked to the female bartender, and then one of the bouncers. The bastard's a regular here. Comes with a new person every single time, extremely tall and grotesquely attractive ones with ghostly auras. Even has a private booth for their debauchery acts.

Tall and grotesquely attractive ones with ghostly auras? I raise my eyebrow.

That's what the girl said.

I shut off the mind link, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets and moving along the gravel track outside the inn. But the very next second, I halt as a sweet scent of firewood and pine with a hint of cologne suddenly fills my nose. Intoxicating, even.

Rayne purrs, briefly catching me off guard.

This can't be, can it? I question her incredulously.

She doesn't reply, keeps on purring like a cat.

Godamnnit, she's a fucking wolf!

Deeming her useless for the moment, I take it upon myself and look around for the source of the scent... until my gaze lands on the back of a head sliding in a black Aston Martin DBX.

What the hell! I can't have a mate.

Rayne howls in excitement at the very thought.

Bitch.

No, I can't have a mate. I need to know to be sure.

As I watch the car drive past the inn, Rayne urges me to follow it. I don't want to... because I have to find the other man who could have the answers I want. I look back and forth in both directions when I catch a glimpse of someone closer to the woods.

I feel the ghostly aura Flora mentioned earlier, and I somewhat know. Our eyes meet, and he immediately turns around, vanishing deep into the woods.

That bastard. I take my position and growl. Hell fucking no!

He's not escaping, not on my watch! I shift into my wolf and run close enough not to lose sight of that person. I don't know how long I run through the trees as the forest grows deeper and darker.

The sky's getting darker too, and after what feels like hours of chasing, I halt to take a breather, only to realize that I have snuck into a territory that many fear. The Midnight Hunters.

I have looked into many packs for years, but this one stands out the most. From what I know, this pack rules almost all of Northern America, and the Alpha is fearlessly ruthless. He is known to kill anyone on sight if seen anywhere near his territory. They all say that his eyes are dark and soulless, especially after killing so many innocent or guilty people. He shows no mercy and is the most emotionless, vicious, and ferocious Alpha of all.

So, am I afraid of what I would do if I got caught? If he finds me and kills me?

First of all, that won't happen. Like... ever.

Second of all, no one really knows who I really am. The Alpha of Crimson Shadow is a... shadow. They don't know the face behind the mask I wear, and I have been delegating my duties to attend the annual and monthly werewolf council meetings to my most prestigious members, giving them the brief taste of authority and power.

So, just in case, Crimson Shadow wouldn't be incriminated if things go awry.

Again, not that it would—the intoxicating scent comes and goes as I zip through the trees and try to ignore Rayne's purring.

Hell no!

The thought of our mate being from this pack is just not acceptable. I don't want anything to do with them, especially their Alpha.

Ugh! I run until I blink at a faint light seeping through the trees. Slowing down and then stopping, it's surprising to watch the orange ball of light rising on the horizon. Is it morning already? Seriously, how long have I been running? And where did that bastard go?

I roll my eyes, look around, and find a small cottage beneath a small cliff when drowsiness courses through my veins, and I stumble only to plunge and roll down the cliff. I feel an unconscious shift, and then my head hits a giant rock as my body slumps lifelessly on the ground.

My eyes close, and the darkness engulfs me.