Chapter 4：The Beta Girl

POV unknown

*** Cliffside ***

“No! Cynthia!” Elena cries out, tears streaming down her face. “We can’t lose her!”

Liam furrows his brow, staring down at the place where Cynthia fell. He orders his warriors swiftly, like a true Alpha: “Alert everyone in the Blood Moon pack. Get to the cliffs immediately. We need to find Cynthia as soon as possible. GO!”

*** Below the Cliff ***

Meanwhile, a group of Eclipse pack members–Beta Brooks and two scouts–have just finished their tasks for the day, and they’re on their way back to the Eclipse pack house to deliver their report. 

“We need to get back as soon as possible,” Beta Brooks informs the scouts. “The Blood Moon pack and the Darkfang pack have a powerful alliance in the works. Our enemies are getting stronger. Tensions between us and the others may start heating up again soon.”

The first scout frowns. “Maybe we could break up their alliance somehow?”

“I doubt it,” the Beta scowls. “Their alliance is very strong, especially right now. Alpha Hawthorn of the Blood Moon pack is going to marry the Darkfang Alpha’s daughter.”

“So a mate bond?” The second scout asks.

“I doubt it, no.”

“Is he not waiting for his mate?” The first scout asks. 

“You know powerful wolves would never seek out a mate bond,” Beta Brooks chastises. “And much as I hate our enemies, they’re far from stupid. The power of the True Mate bond is weakening. You know, true mates are incredibly rare–danger!” The Beta looks around suspiciously. “There is a strong sense of blood here. Werewolf blood–another pack, and rogues. Something’s happened. Spread out.”

“Who’s there?” The first scout calls out tentatively. 

Beta Brooks is the one to find her laid out on the grass among the flowers. She was a beautiful silver wolf when she fell, albeit bloodied from combat, but she’s shifted back into her human form since, fine dress torn and hair undone. Her clothes are soaked with blood. Her skin is torn. She’s unconscious. She’s a mess. 

It doesn’t take long for Beta Brooks to recognize her, though. Betas are, after all, incredibly important to pack infrastructure. And the green silk of her gown, plus the delicate gold embroidery that lines its hems, is clearly identifiable as Blood Moon ceremonial garb.

“That’s the Blood Moon Beta’s daughter!” The second scout calls sharply, crouching down next to her and slapping her gently in the face to see if she’ll wake up.

Her wounds are extensive. Deep lacerations wrap around all her limbs, and there’s a nasty bump on the back of her head. 

“She’s the Beta now,” Beta Brooks corrects. “Her father was killed in one of the recent rogue attacks, remember? She’s big news.”

He switches to a few other examinations–checking her pulse, her breathing, pulling at her eyelids to see if she’ll wake up. “She’s out cold,” he says. 

The first scout looks up at the steep cliffs surrounding us and sighs. “She must've fallen from the cliff. It's a miracle she's not dead.”

“The rest of her pack must be trying real hard to look for her now, huh?” The second scout lets out a low whistle. 

“Should we do anything?” The first scout ponders.

“We shouldn’t be the ones to do anything,” Beta Brooks says. He looks at the girl one last time, the soft splay of her body, the restfulness that’s taken over her expression in sleep. “Vikrov will want to know about her.”

The second scout winces. “Do you want to talk to him, or should I?”

“I’ll do it.” The Beta closes his eyes and reaches out to Vikrov through the mind link.

Vikrov’s mind link has a dark, heavy energy to it. Like storm clouds or blood in the air or clashing metal. The pack member’s brow twitches ever so slightly as he calls out.

‘Alpha Vikrov.’ 

Even though Vikrov hasn’t formally taken over the Eclipse Pack, his strength has already conquered all the members. Out of respect, everyone refers to him as Alpha.

Even over the mind link, the Beta keeps his tone curt and respectful. ‘Terribly sorry to disturb you. We’ve found the Blood Moon pack’s Beta,’ he says. ‘She's severely injured. Seems like she fell from the cliff. We can't tell exactly what happened, but she's got a lot of wounds.’

Vikrov’s answer is immediate, and as inevitable as a knife to the throat. 

‘Bring her back. I’ll interrogate her personally.’