CHAPTER FOUR

THE BAIT

“Why are you trailing me?” Ducan said.

“I’m sorry I mean no harm” the lady replied as Ducan offered her his coat to cover her body. As Ducan and the lady continued to talk, they felt a connection forming between them. It was something more than friendship, yet it was not quite love. It was a bond born of mutual understanding and respect. They spent long hours together, talking about their lives and their experiences. In time, they came to realize that they shared a bond that was deeper than anything either of them had ever known. They were drawn to each other in a way that was both physical and spiritual, and they knew that their connection was something special.

With each passing day, Ducan found himself spending less and less time with his pack. He knew that he was neglecting his duties, but he couldn't help himself. His time with the lady was like nothing he had ever experienced before. They would walk through the forest, hand in hand, and talk about everything under the sun. They would watch the stars and the moon, and they would share their deepest thoughts and feelings. The lady became his confidante, his friend, and his soulmate. He couldn't imagine a life without her.

The pack leader became concerned. He had noticed that Ducan was spending more and more time with the mysterious lady, and he was neglecting his duties as a member of the pack. He called a meeting of the pack, and he spoke to them sternly. "Ducan must stop seeing this lady," he said. "She is a distraction, and she is interfering with his duties. If he does not stop, we will have to take action." The pack members nodded in agreement, but Ducan knew that he could not stay away from the lady. He had fallen too deeply in love.

Ducan was shaken to his core when he learned the truth about the lady. He had been so caught up in his feelings for her that he had not seen the danger she posed. The pack leader was furious, and he told Ducan that he had been a fool to be taken in by her.

"She is not who she says she is," he said. "She is a spy for our enemies, and she has been using you to gather information." Ducan was devastated. He had been played for a fool, and he had put the pack in danger. He vowed to make things right, no matter what it took.

As Ducan walked through the forest to meet the lady, he sensed that something was wrong. The air was thick with tension, and the night seemed darker than usual. He quickened his pace, eager to end the relationship as quickly as possible. But as he approached the clearing where they always met, he saw something that made his blood run cold. A group of shadowy figures were waiting for him, and they did not look friendly. As he realized what was happening, he heard the lady's voice in his head. "I told you that you could not leave me," she said.

As Ducan limped back to his pack, he told them what had happened. He described the lady's transformation, and the appearance of the shadowy figures. The pack leader was livid. "We will not allow this to stand," he said. "We will show them that they cannot come into our territory and harm one of our own." The pack members howled in agreement, their anger and hatred burning hot. "We will go to war," the pack leader said. "And we will show them the true meaning of fear."

The pack leader sent a messenger to the enemy's camp, carrying a challenge. "You have trespassed in our territory, and you have harmed one of our own," the message read. "We demand that you meet us in battle, to settle this once and for all." The response came quickly, and it was not what the pack had expected. "We accept your challenge," it read. "We will meet you in battle, and we will show you the true meaning of fear." The pack members were shocked and angered by the response, and they began to prepare for the coming battle.

The night of the battle was dark and cold, the moon shrouded by clouds. The pack members gathered in the clearing, their eyes glowing with the light of the moon. They could hear the sounds of the enemy approaching, and their hearts began to race. The first wave of the enemy came, and the pack members charged forward, fangs bared and claws extended. The battle was brutal, and it seemed as though it would never end. But then, something happened that neither side could have expected.

The clouds parted, and the full moon shone down on the battlefield. The pack members felt a surge of power, their strength and speed increasing tenfold. They fought with renewed vigor, and the enemy began to fall back. But then, to the pack's horror, the same thing began to happen to the enemy. They too were invigorated by the moon's light, and they fought back with renewed strength. The battle raged on, neither side able to gain the upper hand. It seemed as though it would go on forever, until finally, something changed.

As the battle raged on, Ducan caught sight of a familiar figure running through the chaos. It was the lady, her eyes filled with fear. But she was not running from the enemy - she was running towards the pack. As she reached the pack's leader, she collapsed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I have a message for you," she said, and she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small scroll. "It's from my master." The pack leader took the scroll and unfurled it, his eyes widening as he read the message.

"The enemy you have been fighting is not who you think they are," the message read. "They are really your enemy, but your ally. They are destined to help you to find your true enemy." The pack leader looked at the lady in shock. "Who is our true enemy?" he asked. "You will find that out soon enough," she replied. And with that, she vanished, leaving the pack to wonder what was to come. As they turned their attention back to the battle, they realized that something was different.

The enemy was no longer fighting with the same ferocity. Their movements were sluggish, their eyes unfocused. And then, without warning, they began to disintegrate, turning to dust and blowing away in the wind. The pack stood in stunned silence, not understanding what had happened. And then, in the distance, they heard a low, menacing growl. It was a sound that sent chills down their spines, and they turned to see a massive wolf emerging from the shadows. It was the largest wolf they had ever seen, its fur black as night, its eyes glowing red.

The battle was over, and the pack members slowly began to disperse. But Ducan's injuries were severe, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to move. He could feel the blood flowing from his wounds, and he knew that he was in trouble the pack leader approached Ducan, his eyes glowing with power. "I will help you," he said, placing his hand on Ducan's shoulder. "But it will not be easy." With that, he began to glow with a strange light, and Ducan felt a surge of energy flowing through his body. He gritted his teeth as the energy filled him, and he could feel his wounds beginning to close. The pain was intense, but he could feel his strength returning, and he knew that he would be able to fight again. When the light faded, he looked at the pack leader in wonder and black out.