Logan

"The challenge will commence at sunset," the Wolfsbane Luna states. She then whispers something in the background, presumably to someone else in the room. "I'll have Jayne set up a video call."

"Yes, grandmother," the young girl replies in the background, her voice faint but clear.

"As you wish." Father gestures toward the house. "Silver, follow me."

"You think I'm stupid? I'm not setting foot on your land." Daniel spits, rolling his eyes. "We will fight right here."

"You will not." A vein on Father's forehead starts to pulse. It reminds me of the way Saf blushed when she called him the Pissed Off Wolf, and I feel a wave of anger and pain.

I want to punch Daniel in his ugly smirking face, but now that I've calmed down enough to think clearly, I know it's not an option. Openly defying the Wolfsbane Luna isn't the equivalent of having a death wish... it's way, way worse. It would doom our entire pack and everyone I love: my parents, my friends, and Saf. I can't do that, so instead, I start to edge backwards, into the cover of trees.

"We will fight on pack land," Father's shout masks my steps, "not here where any human could just pass by."

"With all due respect, Luna," Daniel shouts back, "this sounds like a trap, "the challenge should take place on neutral ground."

"Neutral ground?" the Luna snaps. "What do you think this is? The Great Werewolf War? Patton, give him safe passage."

"I give you my word," Father spits. "As Alpha, I vow that no harm will come to you, Daniel Silver, on pack land. At least, not until the challenge. Then, I will cause so much harm you'll wish you never started this."

"I'll destroy you, Patton," Daniel snaps back. "I will—"

W-what about me? Mr. Thompson suddenly squeaks. He's trembling with fear, trying to hide behind Daniel's lanky frame, and doing a poor job of it.

"What about you, Tompson?" Father snaps. "You can stay out here for all I care."

S-she's my daughter.

"Then come watch. I'll grant you passage, too."

T-thank you. He bows his head.

"Let's go." Father turns to me. I've managed to get a good distance away from everyone, but I instantly freeze. Father doesn't seem to notice. "Logan, go to my office at once. Grab my my tablet and set up that video call with Jayne."

"What about Saffron?" I cry. "I can't just—"

"Do what I tell you." He gestures for me to get moving.

"But—"

"I said now," Father snaps. "We'll have plenty of time to look for her after I win this challenge."

Father scowls at Daniel, who scowls right back. I look between them. Father's half a head taller than Daniel, and has twice the muscle, which doesn't matter much since the challenge will take place in Wolf form. Since Father's the biggest, strongest wolf in the pack—much larger than Daniel—the outcome should be obvious, but something about Daniel's smirk, and his lack of concern, still worries me.

Kaitlyn, go with Logan, in case he needs help. Mother adds gently. She tilts her head to the left, gesturing subtly at the clearing, and my eyes widen.

"What are you waiting for?" Father snaps and I shift and break into a run.

I race for the house, giving it my all. Kaitlyn follows, but she's slow, and soon falling behind. When I can no longer hear Father and the others, I skid to a stop, and let Kaitlyn catch up.

Get the tablet to Father and cover for me. I'm pretty sure that's not why Mother sent her with me, but I can't take Kaitlyn to look for Saf if she'll only slow me down.

Where are you going? Kaitlyn cries as I veer to the left. Her paws hit the ground as she races in pursuit.

To find Saffron. I leap over a log blocking my path.

Logan, wait, Kaitlyn calls, scrambling to catch up.

There's no time. Just go back and cover for me.

I take off, circling around the others before I finally return to the spot where Daniel and Saf's dad had been waiting. The clearing is empty and quiet. If it weren't for the scents still lingering in the air, I would think the whole thing never happened.

I start sniffing around, searching for traces of Saf's scent. It doesn't take long, and I race in pursuit, only to suddenly gag. Right where Saf's scent should be, the path is broken up by a puddle wolf urine—Daniel's urine—a blatant attempt to mask her trail.

I growl and circle around the mostly dry puddle. Saf's scent should be on the other side, but when I get there, I only smell Daniel. It's like she disappeared into thin air, which proves what I've been suspecting all along. He did something to he to make sure she wouldn't stop this challenge; that he's planned this all along, and actually expects to win.

I howl into the sun and race across the clearing. I catch Daniel's trail, leading me back to the spot where he intercepted us. From there, I follow the path left by him and Saf's Dad, heading west.

It isn't long before I find their clothes. Dark wash jeans, a black, sleeveless tank, and converse shoes that reek of Daniel next to khaki shorts, a stained white t-shirt, and flip flops that clearly belong to the old man.

I shift, checking the pant pockets for clues, but there's nothing there: no wallets, no phones, not even keys. All I see is a trail of footprints and broken branches, leading up the hill toward the main road. I can hear cars rushing past, and with a grunt of disgust, reach for Daniel's jeans. They're tight to the point of discomfort, and his tank reeks of him, but it's not like I can waltz into town in wolf form... or naked.

I need shoes, too. Daniel's are tiny, so I grab the flip flops that belong to Saf's dad and carry them in my hand. Then, I break into a run.

It's an uphill climb to the highway, but at least the trail of their slipping, sliding feet and broken branches is easy to follow. It gets more difficult once I've reached the highway, where the shoulder is littered with stones and the path they took is impossible to make out.

I squat and sniff around, before slipping on the flip flops and breaking into a jog. I follow the direction they took, squatting down every minute to make sure I'm on the right track. Daniel's jeans dig painfully into my abs each time I bend down, but I ignore the discomfort and keep going.

The sun beats down on me, and I pray to the Moon Goddess that it'll stay high in the sky even as I wipe away the sweat. I'm not sure what time in the afternoon it is, but I know that with every passing second, sunset is getting near.

Several more minutes pass before I reach a dirt road just off the main highway. An SUV is parked diagonally across the path, its the passenger door thrown wide open. A woman is circling it, her long red hair flowing down her shoulders and past her waist. Her long, yellow dress flutters in the wind, but her gaze remained glued to the ground as she searches for something I can't see. 

*Next update will be called LBAWP | Chapter 16. Hope the new numbering system isn't confusing anyone! 

❀Questions?❀

❀Comments?❀

✿What did you think of this chapter? 👍/👎?✿

❁ Why is there a woman with long, red hair searching the dirt road? Who is she? (I left hints!!)

❁ Should we be worried about POW?  

❁ Do you think Kaitlyn will cover for Logan?

❁ Is anyone else kind of grossed out about Logan wearing Daniel's stinky clothes and Saf's dad's shoes? 

❁ Oh, in case you guys didn't know, I started a new story on the side. Her Four Shifter Mates. I probably shouldn't write so many stories at once, but I kind of like the variety. When I can't get inspiration for one story, I love having something else I can work on. Guess it's kind of like reading a lot of books at the same time--I do that, too 😊

Sentences are safer than words.🤞

❀Wolf Pack Game (Sentence Story):❀ Comment one sentence. Reply to keep it going and make a story!