Feral beasts

Lyra

It had been a long week, to say the least.

Between training the juveniles and rogues appearing out of nowhere, I hadn’t had a single moment to sit down and breathe. For some reason, the Moon Goddess seemed to have it out for me, throwing problems at me like confetti at a birthday party.

And, as always, I was the one cleaning it up.

As Beta of the Moon Creek Pack, my dear brother—the Alpha and certified pain in my ass—made sure I stayed “out of trouble” by drowning me in work. AKA tasks that would make any lesser wolf crack, or worse, go rogue themselves.

I’ve had my fair share of mischief growing up; I’ll admit that. But you’d think—considering he appointed me as his second-in-command—he’d have a little more faith in me.

Instead, he has me doing all his dirty work while he sits in his office sipping herbal tea like some elderly grandmother, calmly overseeing “the real deal” while I deal with... well, bullshit.

Just for once in my life, I want to do something more. Something that actually matters. Instead, I’m forced to watch over unruly juvenile wolves and make sure they don’t turn on each other for looking in the wrong direction.

Shifters are... unpredictable at best.

Their beasts are even more so. But with the right training and a connection with said beast, it’s unlikely for one to go feral and become a rogue.

Speaking of unruly juveniles...

Deacon just landed an impressive jab right into Owen’s stomach.

Looks like someone was paying attention in yesterday’s training.

Owen doubled over, hugging his middle. I should probably step in and put an end to this. But, as I said, I’ve done my fair share of mischief growing up, and knowing Owen, he probably deserved it.

Really, Owen is an asshole.

Instead, I cross my arms and watch in disbelief as Deacon picks Owen up and throws him across the garden, right into Cole’s herb garden.

You got it right. The big, bad Alpha has a soft spot for gardening, and he’s going to be pissed when he finds out his precious herbs have been destroyed.

I can’t stop the evil smirk that crosses my lips.

No more tea parties, brother.

Deciding that Owen had had enough, I walked up to the duo as he rose to his feet, jumping away as if he’d landed in a fire pit and not a herb garden.

Both boys stared at the herbs wide-eyed.

I grabbed them by their collars like a teacher might grab her students and threw them to the floor. They landed in a heap in front of me.

A very necessary move, considering they’re at least half a foot taller than me.

I don’t need them looking down at me while I give them a mouthful.

The fight was long forgotten.

Instead, they looked worried.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.

“I’ll give you thirty seconds to explain yourselves,” I said quietly.

I gave them my famous You’re in deep shit look. My gaze lingered just a fraction longer on Deacon.

His eyes were blazing with fury, his beast coming to the surface.

Well, that’s interesting.

“Because I’m starting to wonder if I missed the part where this stopped being training and turned into a death match.” I crossed my arms for emphasis.

Deacon looked at the ground, his jaw clenching as he buried his hands in the grass, as if trying to compose himself.

Owen, on the other hand, was calm as ever. He crossed his legs and looked up at me with the most innocent smile he could muster.

I narrowed my eyes.

I don’t trust this boy as far as I can throw him.

Whatever this fight was about, I wasn’t going to find out the truth from him.

“We got over our heads. Sorry, Lyra. It won’t happen again,” Owen said, not breaking eye contact.

For just a moment, I wished I could punch him and rub that stupid smirk off his face.

How could someone lie while looking you straight in the eyes?

“Right. Here’s the thing. You’ve ruined Alpha’s herbs, and you know he’s going to be furious when he finds out.” I did a show of sighing dramatically.

Owen was no longer smiling. Instead, he looked as if he wanted to crawl into a hole and stay there.

Not a bad idea, if you ask me.

“As for your punishment, you’ll be on cleaning duty for a month. Oh, and forget your trips to town—or any trips altogether, Owen. You’ll be helping Julia in the kitchen.” I smiled sweetly.

Deacon didn’t look up. He was still pulling out grass.

Owen, on the other hand, stood up.

“For a whole month?! You can’t be serious. It’s not like I purposely landed in the herb garden!”

Owen was too close. Too loud.

My wolf didn’t like it.

Hell, I didn’t like it.

A low, threatening growl was all it took for Owen to cower and lower himself back into his previous position.

This time, he looked scared.

Good.

“Next time you decide to go flying across the garden, make sure you land somewhere else. If you disagree with your punishment, you’re more than welcome to go to Alpha himself.”

I smiled.

“Why don’t you break the news to him?”

Silence.

For once, Owen accepted his fate and didn’t argue.

No one in their right mind would go against the Beta, let alone the Alpha.

“Good. Now that we have an understanding, you are dismissed.”

Owen rose to his feet and stomped off like an angry toddler.

I ran a hand across my face.

Finally, Deacon spoke.

“What about me? What’s my punishment?”

He didn’t look at me. Instead, he watched the clouds.

The wind scattered the grass across Deacon’s lap, but he didn’t bother brushing it away.

It’s been a month since Deacon’s parents passed away.

They were out of the pack’s territory, visiting their in-laws in a neighbouring pack not too far from ours, when vampires attacked them.

It’s one of the most tragic events our pack has suffered.

Leah and Caleb were pillars of our little community, always welcoming and ready to help whenever they were needed.

It’s an understatement to say they’ll be missed.

I can’t imagine what Deacon is going through.

Lowering myself to the ground, I sat next to Deacon.

His shoulders stiffened when mine brushed against his.

“Let’s start with you telling me the truth. You’re not exactly known for random aggression.”

I nudged Deacon with my shoulder.

He scoffed.

It’s true. Deacon is one of the sweetest kids I know.

Only recently, his smile had turned into nothingness. He walked around with a blank face, as if he were scared to show his true emotions.

Deacon opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it again.

“I won’t push you for answers, D. I know Owen is a—”

I was looking for a more appropriate word to use, but Deacon beat me to it.

“Asshole.”

Despite myself, I let out a laugh.

Deacon’s face cracked a little too, the corner of his lips curling upward.

“Yeah, but I also know for a fact you wouldn’t have done what you did if he didn’t deserve it.”

Taking in a deep breath, Deacon closed his eyes.

For a moment, I thought he was going to shut me down.

But then he spoke.

“Okay. I’m not telling you this just so... I don’t know, to make you feel bad.”

He paused.

“He was just taunting me at first, but then he... He said I was weak like my father, and that’s why he was killed.”

I felt sick.

If it weren’t for the look on Deacon’s face, I would’ve dragged Owen back out of there and made him apologise to Deacon in front of the whole pack.

And then...

I don’t know what I would’ve done.

But he wouldn’t have liked it.

How evil can someone be to say something like that?

I’ll tell you.

Fucking despicable.

The kind of despicable that leaves no room for redemption.

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down before I did something stupid.

I was the Beta.

I needed to be calm and be the perfect saint my brother wanted me to be.

I repeated the mantra and counted to ten, just like I told my pups to do when they were struggling to keep their wolves calm.

The last thing I needed was to shift and go on a rampage.

“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Deacon’s voice was quiet.

“I’m sorry, Lyra. I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

That did it for me.

The sadness in his eyes.

Like this was all his fault.

No.

There are two things I hate in this world.

One of them is liars.

The second is bullies.

And Owen happens to be both.

He will pay for what he said.

He will pay for everything.

In due time, of course.

For now, I’ll make him watch.

With glee.

I stood up and held my hand out to Deacon.

He took it with a confused look on his face.

I helped him to his feet, still holding his hand as I dragged him along with me towards the woods, where the night watch was gathering.

“Wait—where are we going?”

Deacon stopped and looked down at me as if I were crazy.

I smiled at him.

“Your punishment.”

His eyebrows furrowed.

“You’ll join me and the others for night watch. As of today, you’ll be training with the Sentinels.”

Deacon’s eyes widened as if I’d just told him he’d sprout wings and start flying.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. You’ve shown your strength and dedication to our pack. It’s time you trained with the big guys.”

I tapped Deacon on the shoulder.

And finally, he smiled.

“Are you sure this is a good idea? He’s just eighteen.”

Luca, the Lead Sentinel—and unfortunately, my best friend—watched Deacon as the others circled him, clapping him on the back and welcoming him in. Deacon had a big smile plastered on his face, so big it must have hurt. “You were sixteen when your father let you join,” I replied dryly, glancing up at Luca.

He didn’t look amused. If anything, he looked like he was debating whether strangling me would be worth the consequences. Sentinels weren’t just night watch. They patrolled the borders, tracked threats, and handled whatever slipped too close to the pack. When they saw danger, they reported to the Alpha. And to me. They are not meant to be gentle, which is exactly why Deacon needed this.

If I know anything about grief, it’s this: there’s no comfort in sympathy.

Don’t get me wrong. It helps to know you’re not alone, to know people are willing to sit beside you while you drown in your sorrow. But sometimes, even that can feel overwhelming.

It’s the looks people give you. The careful words. The special treatment. The way they suddenly see you as something fragile, something broken.

And all you want is to turn your grief into something more.

To take everything you lost and make it mean something.

To prove that you are more than the loss you suffered.

“Do you not trust my judgment?” I asked, crossing my arms.

Luca snorted. “Do you really want to hear the answer to that? You might be my Beta, but you’re also a thorn in my backside.”

He reached over and ruffled my hair. I shoved him away immediately. Luca always found a way to pull on my strings the wrong way. “Do that again,” I said quietly, eyes narrowing, “and I’ll rip your throat out.” Luca lifted his hands in surrender, laughing under his breath. “There she is.”

Then, more serious—more honest: “I trust you, Lyra. If you say the kid has potential, I’ll take him. No questions asked.” His gaze shifted toward the treeline. “I just don’t like the timing. Rogues are getting bolder. This isn’t the moment to babysit someone who barely has control over his wolf.”

“He won’t be alone,” I said. “We’ll stay near the walls while you sweep the forest.” Luca studied me for a second... then nodded. “Alright,” he muttered. “That I can work with.”

He turned, his voice rising. “Sentinels—form up!” They moved immediately, falling into formation around him. Sloan—one of the juveniles I’ve trained—had an arm slung around Deacon’s shoulders, saying something that made the boy grin again.

Pride flickered in my chest.

These two... I had them stuck to me since they were pre-teens: loud, annoying, and always following me around. Now they’re standing in front of me as Sentinels.

When the hell did that happen? I let out a quiet breath. I feel like a proud mother hen. Watching her little hatchlings sprout their wings and —

...wait.

Chickens don’t fly. Right. Never mind.

The point is, I’m proud of them. And honestly? That’s not a feeling I get very often. Maybe... just maybe, this whole Beta thing isn’t as bad as I make it out to be. Luca gave final instructions, quick and precise. Then the Sentinels shifted into their Beast forms and broke off into teams, disappearing into the forest in different directions.

He gave me a brief nod before heading out last. Deacon lingered. He stepped up beside me, watching the others vanish into the trees, something like awe written all over his face. I turned away first.

“Are you coming?” I called over my shoulder, already pulling off my jacket. “Or are you planning to stand there all night?”

He hurried after me, stopping in front of me. “What now?” he asked. Eager.

Too Eager.

“We shift,” I said simply. “You didn’t think we’d patrol on two feet, did you? You’d collapse before we made it halfway to the next checkpoint.”

The excitement faltered slightly. Good. This is no joke. Being a Sentinel is dangerous. And if one is not careful, people will die.

“It’s only been three weeks since my first shift,” he admitted. “I—”

“I know,” I cut in, not unkindly. “That’s why we’re taking it slow; until you join the others, you must learn to shift on command.” I stepped closer.

“Your beast isn’t separate from you, Deacon. Stop treating it like something you have to chase.” My voice lowered. “It’s already there. Waiting.”

He swallowed, then nodded.

“Close your eyes.”

He did.

“Breathe. Slow. Let it come to you instead of forcing it.” I watched him carefully, every shift in his posture, every flicker beneath his skin. “Can you feel it?”

A pause.

Then he nodded.

“Good,” I murmured. “Now don’t fight it. Let your beast rise to the surface. Remember. You are the one in control.”

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

It started. Bones shifted beneath his skin with a sharp, audible crack. His frame twisted and lengthened. Fabric strained, then tore as muscle and fur forced their way through. His jaw elongated, eyes flashing as something older and wilder pushed forward. Most new shifters panic here. Deacon didn’t. He let it happen. Within moments, where a boy had stood, a wolf now held his place—brown fur catching the fading light, forest-green eyes locking onto mine.

He stilled.

Watching.

Waiting.

Not for permission.

For direction. A slow, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

“Good,” I said quietly.

Then I shifted.

I welcomed my wolf with an embrace as we became one.

My body shifted effortlessly, bones and muscle falling into place as fur covered my skin. Within seconds, my black she-wolf stood where I had been.

The world sharpened around me.

Every sound became clearer. Every scent stronger. The cool air filled my lungs, and I breathed it in deeply.

I lifted my head, letting the wind move through my fur.

Stepping toward the tree line, I darted off into the clearing. I didn’t check if he followed. I didn’t need to.

Behind me, I heard the soft, steady sound of paws hitting the earth. And not once did I slow down to make it easier for him. We’ve run along the wall separating the outside from our little sanctuary. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

Just the cries of nocturnal animals and the rustle of leaves in the wind.

I stopped in front of an oak tree and waited for Deacon. His tail wagged from side to side, and he breathed heavily. I huffed at him and continued walking.

My ears perked up.

A low hum of electricity filled the air.

I looked up at the fence, where a security camera once was. Now, it was nothing but protruding wires and sparks.

I shifted back into my human form and jumped up the wall to inspect the damage.

Deacon looked the other way, pretending he wasn’t bothered by the fact that I was naked around him.

There are downsides to being a shifter. One of them is the amount of clothes you go through.

Because, for some reason, the moon goddess didn’t grant us the luxury of keeping our clothes after shifting back into human form. Instead, all my favorite tops ended up in shreds.

Long story short, Deacon needs to get used to the fact that he’s going to see a lot of naked bodies in his lifetime. Traumatic, I know.

I looked down over the wall toward the forest, focusing my senses.

There.

At first, the scents were faint, barely noticeable beneath the damp earth and trees. Then they grew stronger. I counted at least six wolves, and none of them belonged to our pack.

A low growl escaped Deacon. He must have sensed them too.

I jumped back down from the wall and walked over to him. He did an impressive job of looking at everything except me.

“Go tell the Alpha. I’ll go warn Luca and the others.”

Deacon’s eyes widened with fear. I saw the protest forming on his face, but one warning growl from me was enough.

He turned and ran.

I shifted back into my beast form and leapt over the wall.

The trees blurred around me as I tore through the forest, following the scent.

Whoever was here was far too close to our territory. There was no time to warn Luca and the others. By the time I reached them, we could already have lost them, or worse, they could attack the pack with the sentinels gone.

And I wouldn’t allow that.

All I could hope for was that I had enough time to track them down and that reinforcements would arrive before it was too late.

The scent grew stronger.

I slowed my pace, lowering my body as I moved between the trees.

They were close.

Too close.

I stopped.

The forest had gone completely silent.

No birds.

No insects.

Not even the rustling of leaves.

My ears twitched.

Something was watching me. I slowly turned my head.

Nothing.

Just trees and darkness. I took another step.A branch snapped behind me.I spun around, teeth bared.

Still nothing.

Then I caught it.

Their scent wasn’t coming from ahead.

It was coming from all around me.

My hackles rose.

They weren’t passing through our territory.

They were surrounding it.

A howl suddenly tore through the forest.

Another answered from the opposite direction.

Then another.

My stomach dropped.

Three wolves stepped out from between the trees.

Their eyes glinted in the darkness.

I backed up slowly, scanning the shadows.

One.

Two.

Three.

My lips pulled back into a snarl. The largest wolf stepped forward.

He was enormous, easily twice the size of a normal wolf, with dark fur and a scar running from his left eye down toward his jaw.

He stared directly at me. Then his lips curled into something that looked almost like a smile.

A growl rumbled through his chest. I lowered myself into a fighting stance. Behind me, something moved. I didn’t turn. They had me surrounded. The large wolf took one more step forward. My blood ran cold.

These weren’t ordinary rogue wolves. They were organized, and by the looks of it, the enormous black wolf in front of me was their leader.