Chapter 4 The Hunt Begins.

With time elapsing and Douglas not returning, the Westville pack became restless. There was an edgy restlessness to the air in the pack now, where before there had been eagerness for the hunt. Gary, at the center of the clearing, could sense patience simmering from his wolves. "He should be back by now," growled Clarisse, Gary's beta. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding as ice, fastened on his. "We can't afford to wait much longer. The humans will start to get suspicious if Douglas hangs about too long." Gary ground his teeth, his mind racing. Douglas's mission was important, but the unity of the pack came above all else. If they started to lose faith in their leader, it would be disastrous. "Lucas," Gary barked, turning to one of his most loyal and formidable enforcers. "You and Clarisse will go into Ashwood. Find Douglas and bring him back. Whatever it takes, you don't come back without him." Lucas was a hulking figure with a permanent scowl etched on his face. He nodded shortly. "Understood, Alpha. We will find him." Clarisse and Lucas turned into wolves and padded off in the direction of Ashwood. Long legs gobbled up the ground, making long strides, while sharp eyes and ears watched and listened for any sign of their missing packmate. The journey was taut; their silence was rife with unspoken fears. Clarisse could not rid herself of the thoughts paddling around in her mind: Had Douglas been caught by humans? Had he betrayed them? That last thought had her growling silently. Douglas was cunning, loyal, but the human world had a way of corrupting even the strongest. As they walked on the outskirts of Ashwood, they shifted to human form and fell easily into step behind her. Their training allowed them to move in silence, their eyes scanning the town for any sign of Douglas. Hours slid by, and neither of them had caught a glimpse of him. The lack of progress gnawed at Clarisse. "We need to split up," she whispered to Lucas. "We'll cover more ground that way." Lucas grunted in understanding. "Be careful," he warned. "This place reeks of humans." Clarisse nodded and darted off in the opposite direction. The town was quiet, late afternoon sun stretching the shadows across the streets. As she turned a corner, heightened senses picked up a familiar scent—werewolf. She followed it, her heart pounding a mix of hope and trepidation. She now stood in a narrow alley, and there, standing at the farthest end, Liam, the enforcer of the Ashwood pack. It was without a doubt that those very chiseled physics and his striking eyes appeared familiar. He had been waiting for something, or rather, someone. "Looking for someone?" called out Liam's voice from the end, saturated with ridicule. Narrowing her eyes, Clarisse growled low, "Where is he?". Liam shrugged again, his lips playing with a smirk. "Douglas? Oh, he's been quite the busy little spy, hasn't he? But you won't find him here." Before she could react, Lucas appeared beside her, eyes flashing with anger. "You took him, didn't you?" Liam's smirk broadened. "We did not need to take him. He is lost in your stupid mission. Enough talk. Let's settle this." With a growl, Lucas flew forward, launching himself at Liam, and Clarisse followed close behind, fast and almost blurry for speed and fury. As the three wolves clashed together in the alleyway, roars and snarls erupted, resounding off the walls of brick. Liam was a formidable opponent. His strength and craft had been forged over the years of protecting his pack. He parried the heavy blows almost effortlessly, his own strikes being precise and devastating. Clarisse danced to the left and right, searching for an opening, but Liam countered her at every turn. The battle was fierce and quick. Liam's superior skill and experience gave him the upper hand despite their combined efforts. With a swipe, he sent Lucas crashing into the wall, dazed and bleeding. Clarisse managed to get in a few good blows before Liam responded with a forceful kick that knocked her to the ground. Heaving deep breaths, Liam stood over them, eyes ablaze. "This is only the beginning," he growled. "Tell Gary the Ashwood pack's ready for him. He wants a war; he'll get one." With that, he turned and was lost in the shadows, leaving Clarisse and Lucas to pick themselves up. Bruised and battered, they shifted into wolf form and began the long journey back to Westville, defeated in spirit. When at last they returned to the pack, Gary was waiting, dark and ominous. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice a dangerous growl. The first to speak was Lucas, still nursing his wounds. "We found Liam. He knows about Douglas. He said the Ashwood pack is ready for war." Gary's eyes flashed with fury. "And Douglas?" Clarisse shook her head. "We couldn't find him. Liam. he said Douglas is lost in his mission. We don't know what that means." Gary's anger was palpable, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. "Liam defeated both of you?" Clarisse nodded her head, and in her eyes, it was clear there was shame and frustration. "He was… too strong. We couldn't match him." Gary growled softly. "We can't afford to lose Douglas, and we can't let the Ashwood pack gain the upper hand. We have to strike first, show them we're not people to be trifled with." He turned to the rest of the pack, who had circled around him, their faces a mix of anger and determination. "Get ready for battle," Gary ordered them. "Tonight, we take the fight to the Ashwood pack. They shall regret ever challenging us." The pack erupted into a chorus of howls and growls, their bloodlust ignited by Gary's words. As they readied themselves, he pulled Clarisse and Lucas aside. "Find Douglas," he said, his voice low and deadly serious. "Whatever it takes, find him and bring him back. He is too valuable to lose." Clarisse and Lucas nodded, their determination renewed. As the pack began its preparations for war, the two enforcers set off once more with a very clear mission: to find Douglas, no matter the cost, and see to it that it was the Westville pack that came out victorious in the battle ahead. Already riled up, ready to unleash their fury on the Ashwood pack, the Westville pack just waited for the sun to set and the darkness of night to envelop the forest. It was at a ceiling point, an atmosphere of tension, as if violence had taken the form of an entity suspended over them all. The hunt had begun, and there would be no turning back now.