Bound to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 56: The First Hunt

ARIA POV

I crouched low in the tall grass, my silver wolf form perfectly still. Thirty wolves waited behind me, their eyes locked on my tail for the cue. The massive elk group grazed peacefully ahead, unaware of our presence.

This wasn’t just any hunt. This was my first hunt as Alpha – a custom older than any wolf could remember. If I failed, the pack would see it as a sign the Moon Goddess had made a mistake picking me.

No pressure.

Ready? Kael’s thoughts touched mine through our link.

As I’ll ever be, I answered, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach.

I raised my tail slightly. The hunting party tensed, ready to spring. With one quick move, I dropped my tail and lunged forward.

The pack exploded into motion behind me. The elk scattered in fear as we raced toward them. I locked my eyes on the largest bull – custom demanded the Alpha take down the lead animal.

But as I closed in, something felt wrong. A smell carried on the wind – wolves that weren’t from our pack. My instincts screamed danger.

Ambush! I called through the pack link. Left side!

Just as the warning left my mind, five huge black wolves burst from the trees. They weren’t here for the elk. They were here for me.

Keep hunting! I ordered the pack as I turned away from the herd, drawing the attackers after me. Don’t break order!

The black wolves followed, just as I’d hoped. I recognized their smell now – Shadow Fang pack. My mother’s wolves.

I led them deeper into the forest, away from my hunting group. I might be new to being Alpha, but I wasn’t going to let my pack go hungry because of a sudden attack.

The biggest wolf, a scarred male with one torn ear, was gaining on me. I could hear his heavy breaths close behind. At the last second, I dropped and rolled, causing him to pass over me. Before he could recover, I was on him.

We crashed together in a blur of teeth and claws. He was strong, but I was quick. Using the training Jaxon had drilled into me, I dodged his powerful jaws and struck at his weak spots.

The other four dogs circled us, waiting for an opening. Through the pack bond, I felt Kael and Jaxon racing toward me. They’d felt my worry.

Stay with the hunt, I ordered. I can handle this.

The scarred wolf lunged again, but this time I was ready. I side-stepped and caught him by the scruff, using his speed to slam him into the ground. Before he could rise, I had my teeth at his throat – the death position.

He went still, submitting. In wolf language, I had won.

The other black wolves backed away, confusion in their eyes. They hadn’t expected me to win. Neither had I, if I’m being honest.

I could feel the pack watching through our bonds – they’d stopped the hunt to see what their Alpha would do. Tradition said I should kill the beaten challenger to show strength.

Instead, I backed away, letting the scarred wolf stand.

Tell my mother, I projected to him, knowing he could hear me even without a bond, that if she wants to test me, she should do it herself. Not send others to die for her.

The black wolf stared at me with surprised eyes, then dipped his head – not submission, but recognition. He gathered his pack with a bark and they disappeared into the trees.

I returned to the hunting party, who watched me with new respect in their eyes.

The hunt continues, I stated, turning back toward the elk herd that had settled some distance away.

By sunset, we returned to the pack grounds with four big elk – more than enough to feed everyone. I had taken down the lead bull with help from Mira, who had proven herself surprisingly skilled at hunting despite never being allowed on big hunts before.

As tradition required, I carried the heart of my kill to the central fire. The entire pack gathered to watch as I put it in the flames – an offering to the Moon Goddess for her blessing.

Elder Malin approached, her ancient eyes watching me. "You showed mercy today," she said, quiet enough that only I could hear. "Some will see it as weakness."

"And others will see it as strength," I responded. "I won’t kill just to prove I can."

She nodded slowly. "A different kind of Alpha indeed."

After the ceremonial offering, food was spread throughout the pack. I made sure the omegas and pups ate first – another break from tradition that raised eyebrows but won grateful looks from those usually forced to wait.

As night fell, I sat with my council around a smaller fire, away from the main party.

"That was a test," Kael said, his face serious. "Your mother wanted to see how you’d respond."

"And what message did you send by letting that wolf live?" Beta Marcus asked, still not fully accepting my leadership despite being kept on as a council assistant.

"That I’m not like her," I said simply. "I don’t sacrifice others to avoid my own battles."

Lucien nodded approvingly. "It was the right call. The Shadow Fang dogs respect you now. I could see it in their eyes."

Tomas, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "There was a human at the edge of our territory during the hunt."

Everyone turned to stare at him.

"A human?" Jaxon asked. "How do you know?"

"I was patrolling the eastern border," Tomas stated. "They had cameras and tools. They were watching the elk herd."

Elder Malin’s face paled. "Humans with cameras near shifting wolves is never good."

I felt a chill run down my spine. Humans weren’t supposed to know werewolves existed. If they’d seen anything during the hunt or the attack...

"We need to find out what they saw," I decided. "Jaxon, take a small team at first light. Track them, but don’t engage."

Mira cleared her throat. "There’s something else," she said warily. "The traitor you saw last night... I think I know who it is."

My heart raced. In the chaos of the hunt preparation and the attack, I hadn’t had time to face the council member I’d seen with the pendant.

"Who?" I asked, leaning forward.

Before Mira could answer, howls of fear cut through the night. We ran outside to see wolves pointing at the sky.

The full moon, normally a perfect silver disc, was slowly turning red.

"A blood moon," Elder Malin whispered in fear. "The sign of the ancient prophecy."

"What prophecy?" I asked.

"When the moon turns to blood, the twin shadows will rise, and only one true heir will survive the night," she recited, her voice trembling.

As if called by her words, a figure stepped into the clearing. My twin sister Luna, who should have been locked in the guest house under guard.

"Hello, sister," she called, her voice carrying across the suddenly silent pack grounds. "Mother sent me with a message."

She held up a familiar metal pendant. "The challenge has changed. Tonight, under the blood moon, we fight for the right to be the only true heir."

Behind her, more wolves emerged from the shadows – at least twenty Shadow Fang fighters. At their middle stood a woman with flowing dark hair and eyes that matched mine perfectly.

My mother smiled, cold and beautiful. "Hello, kid. It’s time to see which of my kids truly deserves to live."