The King s Chosen

01

Josephine

"Did you hear that?" Kaiden whispers harshly, his voice tight with urgency. I tilt my head to the side, listening intently. For a moment, there's only silence, the kind of stillness that comes with the dead of night. But then-there it is. A woman's scream slices through the air, raw and full of terror.

I'm on my feet in a heartbeat, panic setting in as my thoughts race. That scream-no. Not again.

"Alpha Michael!" I call out, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. I move quickly, my heart pounding in my chest as I hurry to his quarters. He has to know. We can't let this happen again.

I push open the door to his room, my breath coming faster now. Alpha Michael's head lifts from where he rests beside Luna Hilary, her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow, oblivious to the danger that lurks outside.

"What, Josephine?" Michael snaps, his voice thick with irritation, but I see the tension in his eyes. He's never been kind to me, always cold and commanding, but now, there's a shift-a subtle awareness that tells me he knows something's wrong.

I swallow hard, trying to steady my nerves. "There's a situation."

Michael's eyes narrow, and he pushes the covers off of him, sitting up, his muscles rippling as he moves. His voice is low and commanding as he listens. "What is it?"

"There's screaming. A woman's scream. It's coming from the direction of the border, and it's getting louder. It sounds like a pack raid, Alpha Michael. Alpha Lupine's pack."

His jaw tightens, and I can see the anger rising in his eyes. "That bastard," he mutters under his breath. "He's been testing us for too long. This ends tonight."

His words are like a flame, igniting something deep inside me. I've been waiting for this. The terror that Alpha Lupine's pack has caused has gone on long enough. They've attacked before, and each time they come closer. Each time, we've been able to push them back-but how long before they break through?

"I'm up." Michael stands quickly, his movements graceful and lethal, as he pulls on his clothes. "Get Kaiden. And wake the soldiers. I want every last one of them ready. We'll shift and take them head-on." His gaze meets mine, his expression hard. "Let's end this."

I nod, my stomach twisting as I turn to leave the room, my feet carrying me quickly down the hallway. It's strange how quickly everything changes. Just a few minutes ago, it was still night, calm and quiet, with the pack asleep. Now, there's a sense of urgency in the air, a heavy weight that presses down on my shoulders.

I find Kaiden standing near the front of the building, his back stiff, his eyes alert. He's already in position, watching for any signs of movement.

"What's the status, Kaiden?" Michael's voice comes from behind me, surprisingly gentle as he speaks to Kaiden. There's no harshness in his tone, no bite. Just command.