Chapter 6

• VENTRESS
• I tossed around in my huge canopy bed, the silk sheets all twisted around my legs from hours of restless movement.
• I tried my best to shake off the grip of those awful nightmares that kept messing with my sleep. There was one nightmare that was worse than all the rest. The terror from it had burned itself right into my soul.
• The dream always started the same way. I'd find myself standing in the middle of our pack's central square, surrounded by familiar faces that looked at me with judgment.
• "Dad! Please, I'm begging you! Don't abandon me, don't leave me alone!" The plea ripped from my throat with such raw emotion that it left me breathless. In the dream, I was still that scared kid who had watched his world fall apart around him.
• Tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill over as the familiar scene played out once more. A flood of emotions threatened to drown me as I fought desperately against Beta Alex's iron grip.
• His fingers were cold and unyielding as they clamped onto my arm with the strength of metal shackles. However, the weight of anxiety settled heavily on my shoulders, threatening to crush me under its suffocating presence.
• Even though I struggled frantically to break free from his strong hold, he kept forcibly pulling me away from my beloved father. Each step backward felt like a betrayal, a surrender I couldn't accept.
• "I promise I'll fight harder! Please Dad, don't leave me, please!" The words erupted from somewhere deep in my chest, carrying all the desperation of a child who couldn't understand why his world was falling apart.
• My father's gaze shifted slowly toward me then. Even in the dream, I could see the conflict in his eyes. There was love there, genuine fatherly affection that had always been my anchor. Yet there was also disappointment, disapproval that cut deeper than any physical wound.
• My wolf howled in shared pain, echoing through the dream landscape with haunting intensity. The sound must have struck something deep in my father's heart because, at that very moment, he came running toward me.
• When he reached me, he pulled me into his arms. His hug offered a moment of comfort in the chaos swirling around us.
• "I'm so sorry, kiddo." His whispered words reached my ears, wrapping around me just before everything dissolved into darkness.
• Then, in the blink of an eye, I found myself waking up in my room. Cold sweat covered my skin, making the sheets stick uncomfortably to my body.
• Uncontrollable sobs shook my frame as the leftover emotions from the dream refused to let go. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it hammering against my ribs.
• I quickly scanned my surroundings, taking in the familiar luxury that surrounded me.
• My gaze shifted to the digital clock on my bedside table. Its glowing numbers read 1:07 AM, a silent reminder of how much of the night had already slipped away while I was lost in tormented sleep.
• Trying to drift back to sleep proved useless as restless energy coursed through my veins with the intensity. If I had any hope of finding peace, of getting a good night's rest, I needed to release this pent-up energy that plagued me.
• Over the years, I had discovered an uncomfortable truth about my sleep patterns. Nightmares hit me when I tried to sleep normally, leaving me exhausted but unable to rest. Still, I had learned that physical exhaustion was my friend, allowing me to slip into sleep too deep for my subconscious to mess with me. It had become an unusual method to find peace in my dreams.
• "Ven? You okay over there?" Stark, my wolf’s concerned voice reached me.
• "Don't worry, I'm fine." I reassured him, running a hand through my sweat-dampened hair. The strands stuck to my fingers, still damp from the nightmare's intensity. "Just need to burn off some energy."
• With determined steps, I made my way toward my bathroom. The marble floors felt cool against my bare feet as I sought comfort in a cold shower to wash away the lingering pieces of the nightmare.
• "Same dream again?" Stark's question persisted as I stepped into the bathroom.
• "Yeah." I confirmed quietly, turning on the faucet and icy water cascaded over my tired body, momentarily soothing the storm in my mind.
• After changing my damp clothes for comfortable athletic shorts, an impulse drew me out of my house.
• The night air hit my skin with refreshing coolness as I stepped on the wraparound porch.
• I couldn't say for certain where I was headed, only that I needed to move, to escape the suffocating weight of memory.
• Trusting control to Stark, I felt him merge our consciousness in a quiet corner of my mind. He made sure that my transformation into wolf form stayed controlled for now.
• We had learned over the years that sometimes the human form was better suited for the kind of physical activity I craved.
• Together, we ventured into the woods surrounding my territory.
• A sense of calm began to wrap around us as we reached our favorite sanctuary.
• "Okay, we're here." Stark remarked softly.
• Control returned fully to me as I stood at the base of a magnificent mountain that loomed over the meadow.
• Without hesitation, I began climbing its rocky slopes.
• The thrill of this nighttime free-climbing always managed to lift my spirits, offering a temporary escape from the complexities of pack life that haunted me relentlessly.
• The physical challenge demanded complete focus. There was no room for nightmares or painful memories when every muscle in my body was engaged in the climb. Only the rock face existed, only the next handhold, only the burning in my lungs as I pushed higher.
• Moreover, over a decade had passed since I took over leadership of the Moon Wolves. Fourteen long years since I had taken charge of two merged packs following the blood-soaked night that had changed everything.
• It was a night that stained our existence, snuffing out countless lives in a massacre that left not even Beta Alex as a surviving witness to our tragedy.
• Now perched on top of this majestic peak, I allowed myself to sink down on its gentle slope. I simply breathed, letting the mountain air fill my lungs with each steady breath.
• The green vista of our territory spread before me. Rolling hills stretched to the horizon, dotted with the warm lights of pack homes.
• "Hey, you think training's started yet back at the village?" Stark's voice broke through my thoughts. "I bet they're wondering where we are."
• I had completely lost track of time during my climb. The amazing peace of this mountaintop had been worth every minute if it helped settle my mind, but duty called.
• Jumping to my feet, I quickly began my descent. My movements were guided by Stark's shared strength. Together, we leaped from ledge to ledge, momentarily defying gravity effortlessly.
• The journey back to the heart of our village took only minutes at our fast pace. When I arrived, I saw fellow wolves already gathered at the central training arena.
• They moved in pairs, sparring with the intensity I demanded from all pack members. The sound of bodies colliding, of grunts of effort, filled the morning air.
• My beta stood off to one side, his sharp gaze immediately finding me as I approached.
• His expression was neutral, yet I could read the subtle signs of disapproval in his posture.
• "You're late." He said with an undercurrent of criticism despite its measured delivery. "Where have you been?"
• "Needed to clear my head." I replied curtly, shaking off his disapproving look. There was no point in explaining the nightmares, the climb, the constant battle for peace that raged in my mind. "Where are the rest? Why aren't they training?"
• His expression shifted to something almost sheepish. That was totally unlike him. Mike had always been direct, unflinching in his duty. However, seeing him hesitate sent warning bells through my consciousness.
• "They're taking care of an injured omega over in the healers' den." He admitted, unable to quite meet my eyes. "Apparently it was a bad fall during the night."
• What the hell? A single injury didn't excuse an entire training session. We had rules for this exact situation.
• "A single injury doesn't excuse everyone from their duties!" I stated sharply. "Call them here immediately. I won't allow laziness or a lack of discipline to make this pack look weak. Not on my watch."
• Mike swallowed hard, recognizing the resolve in my tone. Years of working together had taught him when to push back on my decisions. This wasn't one of those times.
• "At once, Alpha." He spun on his heel, jogging off toward the healers' den with purpose.
• Over the years since the merger, our pack's membership had grown from just five twelve hundred to over ten times strong. The integration had been challenging, requiring careful balance between two different pack cultures. Yet compared to some of the older, more established packs in our region, our numbers remained modest.
• To strengthen our warriors, I had increased the intensity of our training sessions. Our fighting styles had been adapted to be more aggressive, more efficient. Every technique was honed for maximum effectiveness in real combat situations.
• Still, laziness wouldn't define us as weak in the eyes of our rivals. It was an outcome I wouldn't tolerate, not after everything we had endured to reach this point. Too many had died for our survival to allow laziness to take root.
• I watched as pack members began filtering back to the training grounds. Some looked reluctant, others concerned about the injured omega they were leaving behind. I understood their compassion, but discipline had to come first.
• Moreover, I had sworn to lead my pack toward a future where strength, resilience, and unwavering discipline would shape our destiny in the supernatural realm. No nightmare or painful memory would divert me from that path. The dead deserved nothing less than our absolute commitment to excellence!