Promised to the Beta

CHAPTER ONE Muscles ripple beneath my sleek fur as I prowl the shadowy fringe where city meets wilderness. The moon, a silvery crescent, casts just enough light to set the world in monochrome. I sniff the air, my senses sharper, more alive in this form. A rustle in the underbrush. I freeze, ears pricked, every fiber of my being honing in on the sound. It's close—my heart pounds, not with fear but with anticipation. The scent hits me next, rich and earthy. Rabbit. My stomach tightens with hunger, but it’s not just about the food; it's the thrill of the hunt, the dance of predator and prey. Logan would understand. His brown eyes always held that same spark during our training sessions, a mirror to my own. I inch forward, paws silent on the leaf-littered ground. My breaths are shallow, controlled. There! A flicker of movement against the dark soil. Small, unaware of its looming fate. I crouch, the instinctual calculation of distance and force running through my mind—a skill perfected under Ezra's tutelage. The Alpha’s lessons always focused on control, using strength with precision. Now's my chance to prove his teachings right. With a burst of speed that leaves the world a blur, I launch myself. The rabbit springs away, a white tail flashing as it kicks into high gear. It's fast, a streak of life desperate to survive. But I'm faster. I close the distance, my body a weapon forged by years of Gamma warrior training. My jaws snap shut, and the chase ends with a muffled squeal. The rabbit goes limp in my grasp, and for a moment, I savor the victory. This is what I am—fierce, fearless, a hunter in the night. The taste of warm blood fills my mouth, a wild, metallic tang that feels like triumph. Hunger satisfied, I glance back toward the distant city lights, their glow a stark contrast to the darkness of my world. It's our secret, the Ironfur pack's existence within these urban borders. We move unseen, unnoticed. But even as I stand victorious, the edge of unease creeps into my thoughts. We may be strong, but we're not invincible. And the city is full of eyes. I lift my head, rabbit forgotten. A twig snaps—a sound out of place in the stillness of night. My ears twitch, swiveling to catch the faintest hint of an anomaly. Another c***k, closer this time, and human scents waft on the breeze. They're here, closer than they should be. Fear spikes through me, a sharp contrast to the earlier triumph. I drop the prey, instinct screaming at me to run. But it's too late. "Over there! A huge dog, or... Oh, God, is that a wolf?" "Call the cops!" Voices carry over the wind, high and panicked. They've seen me, a shadow against the moonlit grass. Not just any shadow—a werewolf's silhouette. I bolt. The city's edge blurs as I push my legs harder, the rush of air harsh in my lungs. The thrill of the hunt replaced by the desperation of the hunted. "Get it before it gets away!" Their shouts pierce the quiet, shattering the secret we've held close. Ezra's voice echoes in my head—control, he said. But what use is control when fear has its teeth sunk deep? I dodge between trees, a sliver of brown fur against the dark. The city lights beckon, safety in the anonymity of shadows. But the gap between us closes, each call from my pursuers a step closer to exposure. "Did you see those eyes? Glowing!" "Monster!" another yells. The words sting, a reminder of the divide between their world and mine. Logan's face flashes in my mind, a beacon of strength. Would he flee? Or would he stand and fight? Fight isn't an option, not now. Too risky. So I run, paws thudding against the earth, heart pounding like a drumbeat in my chest. "Almost got it!" A lie. They're not even close. But the truth doesn't matter out here, where fear rules and misunderstanding breeds monsters in men's minds. We are the Ironfur pack, guardians of a tenuous peace, living on the fringe of human society. Tonight, that peace is threatened. Branches whip past, leaving thin welts on my fur. Still, nothing hurts more than the knowledge that our existence is no longer a secret. What will Ezra say? What will this mean for all of us? Somewhere behind, sirens wail—a chorus of impending doom. Time is running out. I need to lose them, disappear into the labyrinth of alleyways and backstreets. I can't let them catch me. Can't let them unmask the beast within and unravel the lives we've so carefully woven into the fabric of this city. "Keep going!" I command myself, the spirit of the Gamma warrior refusing to break. "You are Mia. You are Ironfur. And you will not be caught." Tonight, I am the embodiment of our pack's motto: swift, silent, and forever free. No matter the cost.