Something wasn’t right. He thought back to how Ash had acted so strangely a couple of months ago. How he’d sniffed the air and gouged the earth with his enormous clawed paws. It was a prickling sensation. Like he was being watched. It was a shift in the air. Not something he could get the scent of or a handle on. Just a feeling of things not being quite right.

“What is it?” his alpha asked, once the male completed his shift. Obviously Ward did not feel whatever it was that Winston was feeling. He didn’t have that same sense of apprehension. That same feeling of foreboding, or the male would never have shifted. It was the same as last time where Ash had picked up on something but he hadn’t.

Winston put his snout in the air and sniffed hard. He couldn’t bring himself to don his human skin. To do so would mean showing weakness. Instead, his lip peeled back and a low growl erupted from somewhere deep inside him. His alpha would understand its meaning.

Beware.

Danger.

His skin prickled beneath his fur, which bristled. A need to scout their immediate surroundings took hold of him. Winston rushed forward, senses on high alert. He headed a hundred feet to the north-west and then another fifty to the east. He continued on, until he’d moved in a complete circle, back where he’d started.

Ward chuckled from somewhere behind him. He could hear the male walking towards him. Could hear each footfall on the soft earth. Could hear the odd snap of a pine needle.

“What’s got you so rattled?” his alpha asked, about fifty feet away now.

They had been out there for two days. Far out. About a day’s walk from home. Tracking game. If they went too much further, they wouldn’t get their catch back home before it spoiled. His heart slowed its race and his breathing calmed.

Fuck!

Ash and his damned paranoia had spread over to him. He needed to give the male a piece of his mind when they got back to the village. Ash might be stronger but Winston was way faster, a ton more flexible.

A roar sounded behind him followed by a thud. What the fuck? Ward! His hackles went up. Winston did a one-eighty in mid-air. Jumping fallen trees and crashing through undergrowth, Winston closed the distance between himself and his alpha within a second or two.

Ward lay face down, his back a torn up, bleeding mess. Winston scanned the area. Everything in him bristled. Adrenaline coursed through him. Whatever had done this was nowhere in sight. No animal was capable of moving quickly enough to inflict this type of damage and leave before Winston could catch sight of them. Even more concerning was the lack of scent in the air.

He could hear himself sniffing and snorting, trying to catch a scent. Ice ran through his veins. Whatever had done this was strong, moved like a ghost and left no scent. He growled and snarled. Facing one way and then the other. Standing guard against a nameless, faceless foe. One thing was for fucking sure. Whoever had inflicted this damage to Ward had meant to do harm.

* * *

The big alpha stalked to the other side of the large room and then back again. “I fucking told you,” Ash snarled. “What did I say?”

“I guess I owe you my right nut,” Winston threw back. “I never said that I would sever it for you though, just that you could have it. I guess I’ll have to tattoo your name across it. It’s going to hurt like a bitch, but,” he shrugged, “a bet is a bet.”

Ash pulled a face like he was sick to his stomach. “Don’t you fucking dare.” He barked out an awful sounding laugh.

“This is no time for joking. You’re sure there was no scent? No tracks? No sign of anything or anyone?” Ward’s eyes were wide. “Are you sure you didn’t miss something? A shadow? Any-fucking-thing?”

“I was there in two seconds flat. I saw nothing. Scented nothing.” Winston shook his head. “Like I said, I stood over you for a good couple of minutes. I figured we were sitting ducks anyway if I stayed, and so I shifted and carried you to the nearest scouting party, three and a half hours’ walk away.”

“You regained consciousness soon after,” Brock chimed in. One of his panther shifters gave a deep nod. Jarred had been one of the scouts in that particular party. The one they had met up with.

“I didn’t do this to myself. Fuck!” Ward looked back over his shoulder. His back was covered in newly-formed, pink scars. “I think it’s safe to say that whatever did this has also spooked our game.”

“And you’re sure you didn’t see anything? Didn’t scent anything?” Ash asked, his eyes on Ward.

The wolf alpha shook his head, his eyes stormy. “I sensed something. I had just started to turn when bam!” He clapped his hands together.

“Did you roar or was it whatever did this to you?” Ash asked.

“I don’t know.” Ward had his eyes narrowed in thought. “It happened so quickly. It knocked me straight out.”

“It was no fucking wonder,” Winston growled. “Seven ribs snapped and your spinal cord severed. Your right lung was punctured. Lord knows what else was pulverized inside you.”

“They did a number on you,” Ash said simply.

“We have to redouble our efforts,” Ward said. “Pull the scouting teams back. We need bigger numbers on each team. Two or three males will be sitting ducks. Most importantly we need to keep more males in the villages.”

“Protect our females and our children.” Ash grit his teeth.

Brock nodded. “Agreed. Protect our own.” He looked pointedly at Winston. His dark eyes menacing. “You sure you didn’t catch a flash of fur? A hint of … something? We have no idea what the fuck we’re dealing with.”

Winston shook his head. “Nothing. Whatever did this was long gone by the time I arrived.”

“In less than two seconds flat.” Ward shook his head. They all sat in silence for a few moments. “How is that even possible?”

“We can’t afford to lose so many males on the weekends.” Ash looked at Brock and then at Ward.

“If we cancel Shifter Night, we might have all hell break loose,” Brock said, running a hand through his hair.

“Cancelling it outright is a bit extreme. Perhaps we halve the number of males who usually go.” Ward winced as he sat on the edge of the table. His back was still tender. Winston could still recall how worried he’d been when he’d first seen Ward. Whoever had done this could have taken his head. Both of their heads for that matter.

Brock nodded. “I think it’s wise to bump up security at the villages. I’ll call a general meeting so that we can address the packs.”

Ward nodded. “Yes, it’s important that everyone is informed, particularly the weak.”

Ash growled, flashing a canine. His eyes were darker, his whole stance tense. Winston felt it too, adrenaline rushed through his veins.

“About Shifter Night,” Jarred piped up. “How do we decide who goes and who stays? There might be fighting amongst the males.”

“Draw straws,” Ward snapped.

“We can ask for volunteers to stay and, if need be, we’ll resort to having to draw straws,” Ash said.

“Who in their right mind is going to volunteer?” Jarred chuckled. He quickly stopped when no one joined in.

“I volunteer.” It hurt to say the words. All he could think about was Ana. How much he missed her. It was her turn to pick a date for them. He hoped she hadn’t gone to too much trouble. Fuck!

“Me too.” Ash didn’t look too happy about it.

“Jarred volunteers as well.” Brock looked at the male, daring him to deny it. “As do I.”

“Great!” Ward stood up, the lingering pain he felt evident in his pinched face and tense jaw. “I am sure that many more will be just as generous.”

“Let’s get the word out and call that meeting, the sooner the better. Now,” he smiled, “I had better get back to my mate. Stephany is not too happy with me at the moment. Nearly took my head off when I got home. Good thing I was already partially healed by then.”

“She’s just afraid,” Ash said. “She could have lost you.”

Ward nodded. “Yup, she won’t let me out of her sight. Crapped on me from a dizzy height when I got home in that sorry state. You’d swear my getting injured was my fault.”

“I take responsibility.” Winston swallowed hard. “I should never have walked away like that.”

“Bullshit!” Ward slapped him on the back. “You knew something was out there, I should have listened. Should have paid more attention. Don’t beat yourself up.”

Winston nodded.

One by one the males trickled out of the room, leaving just him and Ash. Winston couldn’t believe he wasn’t going into town this weekend. He had been so looking forward to it. Ever since he met Ana he’d had a real reason to go into town. Something so much more than sex. Again he hoped she hadn’t gone to too much trouble planning something special. He needed to give her a call to explain things.

“Hey,” Ash said, still in the room. Winston hadn’t even noticed, he’d been so deep in his own thoughts. “You look like you just heard the worst news in the …” Ash faltered. “Oh, I get it! You’re upset you won’t be seeing your female this weekend.”

“Ana’s not mine.” Winston shook his head. “But yes, I guess I’m bummed I won’t be going into town. I was looking forward to seeing her.” He tried to play it down but Ash wasn’t buying it. He cocked his head and raised his brows. He got this weird look on his face, like he was sizing Winston up.

“What? Just because I’m a little disappointed doesn’t mean anything. Ana and I are friends.”

“Savannah and I started out as friends. Did you know that?” Ash got that pained look he always got when he spoke of his mate. It had been three and a half years since she had died and you would swear it was yesterday.

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Well, we did, but before we knew it, things started getting a little heated. One thing led to another and before either of us realized it, we were in love. So fucking far gone it was insane. Seemed to happen overnight too.” He got a faraway look.

“That’s not what’s happening with Ana.” Winston pushed his hands into his pockets. “She sees me as just a friend. We even spoke a bit about it when I saw her last. She asked me to set her up with one of the males. She’s not looking for a relationship.” It was true and yet the words tasted bad on his tongue. He couldn’t say why.

“I bet you love the idea of that right? Ana and another male?” Ash gave him a cocky as fuck grin. The male knew how much he hated the idea. It was easy to see. Winston only hoped Ana hadn’t noticed.

It was just that Winston was worried about her. “Most of the males are nowhere near good enough for a female like Ana. She’s sweet and kind and she’s been through so damned much. She needs someone who’s going to look after her. A male who’s going to take it really slow. Someone who’s very understanding. Most of our males are only interested in one thing and with so many willing humans …” He sighed and shook his head.

“So you need someone infinitely patient. Someone who will spend months with her if need be?” Ash folded his arms. “Someone more like … say … you?”

“Months might be pushing it a bit.” He didn’t like the idea of some male spending a ton of time with Ana. The two of them doing things together. Fun things. No.

Ash narrowed his eyes, seeming to look right through Winston. “You don’t like the thought of her cozying up to another male?”

“That’s not it,” Winston quickly answered.

“I think I hit the nail right on the head.” Ash winked at him.

“Hey, don’t do that. That’s not what I mean. It’s not like that between us.”

“So you keep saying. I think thou doth protest too fucking much! I suggest you watch it with that female. We’re not permitted to date. Your name has not come up yet. It isn’t likely to come up within the next few months. Hell, with the current crisis, it could take a whole hell of a lot longer. A year … years even. Things aren’t safe around here for our females and children.”

“I told you that it’s not like that between us.” Winston suddenly felt agitated. “I’m not even fucking her. What the hell are you talking about?” Winston pointed at Ash.

“Not fucking her.” Ash squeezed his eyes closed for a few seconds like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What you’re doing is ten times more dangerous. You’re playing with fire and at this rate, you’re liable to get burned. I suggest you fuck her or leave her. Actually, at this rate, I suggest you do both.”

“I told you, I’m done with fucking around. Ana is special, there’s no way I’m taking advantage of her in that way.”

“But you’ll hand her over to some other male.”

“I hate the idea, okay? I’ll admit it. I fucking hate the thought of some asshole with his hands all over her, but what else can I do?” Winston blurted. What the hell? What? Fuck!

“My point exactly.” Ash huffed out a breath. “You’re not going to be able to walk away if you allow this role-playing bullshit to go on. You definitely won’t be able to just hand her over to some other male. I guarantee it.”

“Of course I will.” He meant it. He might hate it, but he would do it.

“How can you be so sure?” Ash shook his head. “I sure as hell wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“I will do it because it’s what she needs. Ana is nowhere near ready to start a relationship with anyone right now, and even if she was, I’m not on that list. She does need to take things to the next level though, if she wants to get better. If it’s what she really wants, and she told me that it is, then I’ll help her. It’s what friends do for one another.”

Ash clasped him by the shoulder. “All I’m saying is be careful. You’re going to get yourself hurt if you carry on like this. You’re developing feelings for this female, I can tell,” he spoke softly.

“I’ll give it some thought.”

“You do that.” Ash’s eyes had softened. He squeezed Winston’s shoulder. “I’m here if you need to talk.”

Winston nodded.

“I’ll see you later.” Ash released him and turned towards the door.

“Yeah,” Winston said. “Later.”

He told himself that there were a few things to prepare for the meeting and so he didn’t call Ana right away. Then the meeting was held. It was only when the sun was long down and the packs were gearing up to have dinner that he finally got around to calling her.

It took a while for her to answer. “Winston.” She sounded worried. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?” Very worried. He could hear different noises in the background.

“I’m fine. Where are you?”

She huffed out a breath. “Okay, flip, for a second there I was sure that something was really wrong. It’s just that you’ve never called me before ‒ you normally text. I just finished my shift at the hospital. I was on my way home, I had to pull over to answer the call. Are you still coming this weekend?” Her voice held an excited edge. “I have something cool planned. You’ll love it. It involves food and a fun, and I know how much you love those things, especially the food.”

Winston chuckled. “You know me well. Um …” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Something happened today and well …” Winston told her what had happened. The whole shebang. He told her about Ward going down.

“What?” Her voice was shrill. “Something attacked the person you were with? What do you mean something?”

“That’s just it, we don’t know. Remember I told you our game has been disappearing? Well, we think whatever did this is also responsible for spooking the herds.”

“I don’t like how you keep saying ‘whatever’ instead of ‘whoever’.”

“Whatever did this isn’t human, they can’t be. They moved too quickly and quietly to be anything other than non-human. I don’t know of any species like this. The weirdest thing was their lack of scent. It was creepy.”

“You’re freaking me out,” Ana spoke quickly. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He heard her swallow thickly. “Are you guys in danger right now? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Calm down.” He smiled. “I’m back at the village. Ward is almost healed. We’re all fine.”

“It’s just that I don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re my friend and I guess that means that I worry. I’m going to worry until you get here, at least it’s only a couple of days.”

Shit! Shit! Shit! “I can’t come into town this weekend.”

“What? Why not?” He could hear the disappointment in her voice.

“Whatever attacked Ward could be a threat to our village. We can’t afford to lose so many males every Saturday night so we’re cutting the numbers by half and bumping up security.”

“That’s means it’ll be a whole month before you can come back into town.” She sighed. “I understand though. You’d better text me, so that I know you’re okay.”

He chuckled. “I will. I’m bummed that I can’t come through … I …” He sighed. “I miss you.” There, it was out.

She laughed softly. “You just miss coming into town and all the fun things we do. You miss those steak rolls from the diner and the carnivore pizzas from Giovanni’s.”

“Nope.” He paused. “I’m pretty sure I miss you.” Fuck! Should he be saying this? Thing was, if he didn’t see Ash for an extended period he would miss him as well. Not that he would ever tell the male. That would be weird. Ana was different though.

“Oh, okay …” she sounded skeptical. “Just stay safe. Promise me that you won’t do anything stupid.” Now she sounded mad. Was she mad at the prospect of him getting hurt or because he had said that he missed her?

“I’ll be careful,” he finally said when she didn’t elaborate. “I’ll text you every day.”

“Every day,” she laughed. “That’s not necessary. Just let me know from time to time that you’re still alive.”

“Okay.” Winston could hear the disappointment in his own voice.

“Stay safe and … we’ll chat soon.”

“Yeah.” They said their goodbyes and he pushed the end button. It wasn’t lost on him that she didn’t tell him that she missed him back. Was Ash right? Was he developing feelings for her?

Fuck, maybe. The thought of not seeing her for another month didn’t sit right with him. One thing was obvious to him though, Ana didn’t feel anything beyond friendship. So, it didn’t really matter. In fact, maybe it was a good thing that he couldn’t go this weekend. It would give him some time to think things through.