Equals: Alpha And Rogue

_____________________________ . . . The night was shrouded in a thick blanket of darkness, pierced only by the pale glow of the moon. Elara moved skillfully through the dense forest, her senses heightened, and her ears attuned to the rustling leaves and distant howls. She was on the edge of Silverwood territory, where the scent of her friend Paula had led her. Paula was part of their rogue gang. Of course, unbeknownst to pack wolves, rogues had started to form pack-like organizations of their own. But these young wolves were not part of those. They had embraced their freedom and went where the wind led them. Elara's friend Marcus, his eyes gleaming like silver in the moonlight, kept pace beside her. He was a rugged and loyal companion, always ready to stand by her side in times of trouble. "Are you sure we're going the right way, Elle?" Marcus asked through their mind-link, his voice dripping with concern for the friend who was missing. "I am not questioning your extreme senses but I seriously can't even feel her." Elara let out a huff, her sharp amber eyes scanning the surroundings. "Positive. Paula's scent is fresh. She was here not long ago." Just as they were about to continue their search, a low growl reverberated through the woods, and they found themselves surrounded by a circle of glowing yellow eyes. Silverwood Pack wolves, led by their Beta, Cassandra, had set a cunning trap. Elara and Marcus were caught in a snare, their escape routes blocked by the formidable presence of the Silverwood wolves. Cassandra, a strikingly beautiful but menacing Beta with raven-black fur, stepped forward. Her obsession with Tobias Knight, the Alpha of the Silverwood Pack, was well-known among her packmates. And today, she was doing this daunting task to impress him. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Cassandra said after shifting back to her human form, unabashedly stepping forward in all her naked glory while her fellow wolves averted their eyes awkwardly. The Alpha had not found a mate yet and so hadn't she. There was a high chance that she could become the Luna of the pack and they had to be cautious of that. Elara snarled though she made no move to fight. "Shift." She told Marcus and they were in their human form within seconds, putting on the clothes tied around their ankle. Cassandra made no effort. Elara's lips curled into a defiant smirk. "We were looking for our friend Paula. She disappeared near here. We mean no harm to your pack." Cassandra's laughter echoed through the forest like a sinister melody. "Oh, how touching. Paula is safe, for now. But you two... You are trespassing on our land. And there are consequences for trespassers." The trap tightened around Elara and Marcus as Silverwood wolves closed in, their teeth bared and muscles tensed. Fear raced through Elara's veins, but she refused to let it show. She met Cassandra's cold gaze with unwavering determination. Meanwhile, at the heart of the Silverwood Pack's territory, Alpha Tobias Knight was alerted to the presence of intruders. His senses were unparalleled, and the scent of rogue werewolves was unmistakable, but mixed with that was something extremely alluring and delicious. He could not pinpoint what that was. With a swift grace, he transformed into his formidable wolf form and bounded toward the source of the disturbance. Back at the scene, Cassandra's cruel smile faded as a low rumble echoed through the forest. All eyes turned toward the approaching figure, a massive and imposing wolf with fur as black as midnight. Tobias Knight had arrived. His eyes locked onto Elara, and a strange sensation washed over him—an intense longing and recognition he couldn't explain. This was the rogue who had wandered into their territory, the one who now stood before him. Elara, too, felt an inexplicable connection, a pull toward the Alpha that defied reason. Her heart raced as their eyes met, and she couldn't tear her gaze away from his. "Alpha Tobias," Cassandra greeted with a feigned sweetness, though her eyes simmered with jealousy. Tobias paid her little heed, his focus solely on Elara. "Release them, Cassandra." Reluctantly, Cassandra ordered her packmates to step back, releasing Elara and Marcus from their trap. Tobias continued to study Elara, his voice gentle yet commanding. "What brings you to our territory, rogue?" Elara swallowed hard, her amber eyes never leaving his. "We were looking for our friend Paula. We meant no harm to your pack. We'll leave as soon as we find her." Tobias nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Very well. But remember, this is Silverwood territory. You are not welcome here." With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Elara and Marcus to follow their friend's scent deeper into the forest. As they ventured deeper into the heart of Silverwood territory, they couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter with the enigmatic Alpha had set something into motion—a destiny neither of them could have foreseen. Little did they know that the moon had woven their fates together in a way that would test the boundaries of love, loyalty, and destiny itself. . . . ____________________________