11

I had a pleasant day. I really did. TV and eat pizza. Until a squirrel knocked on my window and made little squeaky noises. Now I was chasing him through the woods, wondering why the hell I believed a squirrel.

Mainly because it kept bugging me. If I stopped for even a second or slowed my pace, it would squeak and tug at my pant leg. I followed him deeper and deeper into the forest until I heard several voices in the distance.

I stopped and motioned for the squirrel to quickly leave. It obeyed orders without hesitation. I crouched in the bushes and peered through the narrow branches, which were spiked with small spikes. Several people were scurrying around something on the floor and seemed to be arguing with each other. Correction: They were werewolves.

I recognized Damian among them, ruffling his hair and looking very angry. Next to him was a slightly smaller man I recognized from the schoolyard. He had blond hair, brown eyes and distinctive facial features. Placing my palm on the forest floor, I looked around briefly and then closed my eyes.

I felt the thick roots of the trees around me and small animals frolicking in the ground. But then I felt something darker. Something that must have seeped into the ground. I opened my eyes and looked back at the clearing where the werewolves were standing. A corpse.

They romped around a corpse. Hence the dark power. Whatever had happened here had frightened the animals. A deep voice next to me made me wheel around. "Well look! "The werewolf who had brought me to Damian looked at me with a smile. "What are you doing here, weird girl?" "What's your name?" He laughed softly. "Answering questions is probably not your thing, is it? Lerhome."

"Okay, Lerhome. I happened to be walking around here." I shrugged. Lerhome was still smiling down at me. "Sure. Come with me girl! I'll take you to Damian, the real reason you're here."

"Yes, of course. Thanks." Sure, I was only here for Damian. I rolled my eyes. They really thought I was a lovesick teenager. But as long as it gave me access to the body, I could play that role a little longer. I took Lerhome's hand and heaved me up by it. Then he led me past the pack warriors, who eyed me skeptically but let us pass. Lower-ranking werewolves gave way to us until we were about ten meters away from Damian and his beta. I frowned.

Damian didn't seem to notice me. He neither saw me nor smelled me. Maybe I was wrong in my assumption. But I couldn't think about it any further. Lerhome cleared his throat a little awkwardly and drew attention to us.

Damian's eyes darted to us. His eyes widened in shock when he saw me, then he took big strides towards me and only stopped when the tips of our noses touched. He didn't even look at Lerhome, but I felt him move slightly away from us. Just as other werewolves around us turned away and suddenly got busy.

I raised an eyebrow in amusement. However, my amusement faded when I looked into Damian's angry eyes. His lips were pursed and I didn't have to look to know his hands were balled into fists. "What are you doing here?" he ground out. I shrugged again.

"Stroll."

"Then go back home for a walk. I'll give you some of my warriors to take with you."

"Why? Afraid I'll be eaten by a wolf?"

"Go. Home. Alina."

"Why? Are you hiding something from me?" I peered out from behind his back, but Damian grabbed my shoulders so all I could see was him.

"Alina, go home now. I suspected it." "Why?" "I saw several werewolves walking around a spot, it smells of blood and the animals are in a riot." He looked at me confused. "Please what? The animals are in an uproar?"

"Yes, you can see that." He shook his head again briefly. "It doesn't matter. I want you to go home."

"Why? Maybe I could help you." "Alina, you are human and have no idea about such things. just go home I'll let you know when things have calmed down." "I won't let you tell me, Alpha. I can help, and if you won't let me help, I'll work alone."

"Alina..." He held up his hands soothingly, but I shook my head. He growled angrily. "God, why are you so stubborn?" "You don't care if I put myself in danger or not. I just want to help." "But I care!" I looked at him in shock. Damian took a few steps away from me and then ran his hands through his black hair.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. How I walked towards him in a trance and then put my hands on his muscular upper arms. I didn't know what made me do it, but it felt right. Damian stopped when he felt my touch and then looked at me with brown eyes.

" What do you mean?" He seemed about to say something, but then changed his mind. "If someone's going around here killing people, what's stopping them from killing you too. We don't know what the killer's motive is.

I tilted my head slightly and then said with a slight smile: "Hi, I'm A-"

"Alina, yes. Your name is pretty much on everyone's lips." He winked conspiratorially at Damian, who seemed to be trying to kill Jack with his eyes.

"So you want to help?" Jack put an arm around my shoulders. I looked at his face skeptically, but with his honest and contagious grin I had to smile quickly. Damian didn't seem to see the whole thing that easily. A slight growl came from him. I looked at him annoyed.

"What is it this time?" But I didn't let him come to an answer. Instead, I turned back to Jack and took a few steps away from him.

"I'll help. I already told your alpha." " And he probably agreed, beaming with joy, didn't he?" Jack's grin got even wider, if that was even possible. "Yes, he actually did. In fact, he even begged me to help. If he hadn't, I probably would have left already."

"Wow! Then he really has to have respect for you."

"Who wouldn't." I raised both eyebrows, playing arrogantly. Damian shook his head. "You're really having fun, aren't you?" "Sure," we said at the same time.

"So ", I rubbed my hands together, "let's solve a murder."

"I didn't cons-" "It's a good thing I don't need your approval, Danni." I pinched Damian's cheek. I walked away and let it go both men standing. Behind me I heard Jack laughing" Whoever had done this had acted ruthlessly.

And somehow I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. I had never seen anything like this. Some kind of murder. Such cruel violence. I was old, very old. I had seen a lot.

A few murders too, albeit undesirable. But something like this... A hand on my shoulder brought me back to reality. Damian looked at me with a hard expression on his face. But the worry in his eyes softened him.

What's the matter, Alina? I shook my head slightly and then let Damian help me up. He wanted to withdraw his hand, but I held it. I ignored his astonished look, as well as the restrained smile on his part.

"All right, Alina? Can you deal with that-"

" Did you manage to identify her?" I interrupted Jack.

"Taff. Yes, she lived here in the village, in a remote corner. Her name was Ella Mulm. 36 years. Childless. That's all we know." I glanced at her shoes. They were covered in mud.

My brow furrowed in confusion. It hadn't rained in the past few days, nor were there any puddles of mud around here. I scanned the ground and found footprints.

"Did you follow them?" I nodded to the tracks. Jack followed my gaze. "Yes, but they only lead further into the forest."

"Keep following them. Until you come to a river or lake." Silence followed. I looked at Damian and Jack. They didn't seem very convinced. "Um, explanation?" Jack asked. " The dirt on her shoes. There are no mud puddles or anything like that in this environment. It hasn't rained for days. The dirt on their feet does not come from the forest floor, but from shallow water.

It also tells us that the murder happened very recently. The dirt hasn't dried yet." Wordlessly, the two werewolves looked at me. "So I guess," I murmured. Jack grinned. Damian looked at me. He seemed to be checking if I really meant it. And whatever he found in my eyes it was enough for him. "Follow the footprints and report to me.

Go!" Five of the surrounding wolves transformed with a howl and then ran into the forest. "How do you know so much about this?"

"I like to watch TV," I answered Jack. "Very well. Then I'll go home. But I want to know everything. Keep me posted!" "Ay ay, Captain!" Grinning, Jack left us. I turned, away from Damian. From a light touch on my hand, I realized that Damian and I were still holding hands." I'll walk with you." "You make sure nothing happens to me." "Isn't that the same?" I smiled slightly and looked at our clasped hands. Then I said softly, "Okay."

"You and Jack, you seem very close."

"Yes, we are like brothers. He's the only one who's allowed to treat me like that." "And the others get scolded?" Damian raised an eyebrow while I chuckled softly. "Do you have any siblings or other family?"

"I had. They died in a fight a few hundred years ago. It was... it was very frightening to me. My father wasn't an alpha or anything. I didn't inherit leadership.

This pack, I did Earned my loyalty from everyone, along with Jack. They all know who I am and accept my choices, knowing that I will always protect my pack. You are one of the few who are not afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you either."

"Yes, I know," he breathed. "You make me look like a 13-year-old boy." "Somebody has to do it." We arrived in my residential area and then stopped at the edge of the forest. I turned to him. My hand still in his.

" that I went away. But oddly enough, I didn't. Damian blew a kiss on my cheek - a brief brush of his lips against my cheek.

"Bye, Alina." I swallowed hard and slowly turned around. Our hands parted and I walked to the front door. I could feel Damian's gaze constantly burning my back.