The Alpha Bond 118

The morning air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fresh pine as we stood at the edge of the enchanted forest surrounding the castle. Mist clung to the towering trees, their ancient trunks wrapped in glowing runes that pulsed faintly with magic. The deeper the forest stretched, the darker and more mysterious it became, as if it held secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Eira stood before us, arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning each of us. "Today's lesson is about perception," she announced. "Power means nothing if you cannot track your enemy. Your task is to find and subdue a magical creature hidden deep within this forest- without harming it."

My wolf stirred at the challenge, a low hum of anticipation running through me. "What exactly are we tracking?" Elijah asked, adjusting the bracers on his wrists.

"A shadow wraith," Eira said simply.

A cold hush fell over the group.

Shadow wraiths were rare creatures-beings made of living darkness, nearly impossible to see with the naked eye. And as far as I knew they were fairytale creatures. They moved like wisps of smoke, slipping through the cracks of reality itself. If we weren't careful, we'd never find it before it found us.

"You'll need to rely on more than just sight,” Eira continued. "A wraith will test all your senses-your hearing, your scent, your instinct. Trust your wolf, Stormi."

I stiffened at the direct mention of my name.

Eira had never singled me out before training even began.

"Why just Stormi?" Alex asked, frowning.

“Because she struggles with distractions,” Eira said bluntly, and heat crept up my neck. "Th

forest is full of magic. Some of you will be able to push through it, but Stormi has the strongest bond with her wolf. If she learns to filter out what doesn't matter, she'll be the one to lead you to the wraith."

I swallowed hard. I knew she was right. My connection to my wolf was strong-but sometimes, it was too much. The world was always sharper for me, with scents too vivid, and sounds too overwhelming. It could be a strength, but only if I learned to control it.

Eira motioned toward the tree line. "You have until sundown."

Without another word, she vanished-one moment standing before us, the next melting into the forest like she had never been there.

Well, then the hunt had begun.

We moved cautiously beneath the dense canopy, the air growing heavier with magic the deeper we went. Shadows slithe the ground, shifting in ways they shouldn't, and distant whispers drifted through the trees-words that didn't quite for.. sent chills down my spine.

My wolf growled in warning.

"It's too quiet," Austin muttered, his breath visible in the cool air.

cross

ut still

Elijah nodded. "Wraiths don't leave footprints, but they disturb the energy around them. We need to watch for places where the magic feels... off."

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"I'll check the air, Alex offered. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, but after a moment, he frowned. "It's everywhere. The whole damn forest reeks of magic."

air was thick with enchantment, making it hard to separate scents. My senses were on high alert, too high, every little rustle and shift in the wind pulling my

was right-I was

breath, pressing

Filter out

eyes and reached

steady beneath my skin. Trust me, she

I did.

the forest felt different. The overwhelming noise faded into the background, and instead of a chaotic blur, the

that was when I felt

was wrong in the

slight ripple in the

need to go east,"

head.

"Yes."

They didn't question me.

weaving through the dense undergrowth. The deeper

Then-

flickered just

My heart pounded. "There."

off any escape. But as we

melted into

Damn.

shadows curled protectively around him, tendrils

it in circles," Austin said. "We need

myself to think. We needed to trap

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moves through shadows, right?" I said. "So what if we face it into

grinned. "I like the

fire flickering to life. He tossed the flame

The wraith hissed.

of it-a swirling, shapeless thing, its

faster. His shadows lashed out, 'not

off its

darting in the only direction

forward, instincts sharper than

Instead, I let go, allowing my wolf's instincts to fully take control. My hands moved on their own, and just as the creature reached me, I dropped low and

Not with claws.

Not with fire.

With energy.

pulse of pure lunar power burst from my palms, colliding with the

wildly. But I hadn't hurt it-I

the opportunity. Moving in a blur, he appeared behind the final snap, the shadow stilled,

energy wrapping around it

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