ATTRACTED: WOODY, MUSKY AND SPICY SCENT

BAY SHIFTER PACK

ALPHA TOR'S POV 

 "Bunch of Bullshit and crazy old people," I cursed under my breath, my voice cutting through the biting wind.

 I had stormed out of the Bay Shifter Pack, ignoring my brother Beta Spark's, begging voice and Spark's futile attempts to stop me from leaving the offices after a round of council meetings that led to nothing but arguments and baseless demands. They called after me, their voices laced with frustration, but I did not care as I fucking needed to be as far away from the pack and of course for a breather.

 Within minutes, I vanished into the wilderness, leaving no trace behind knowing well that they had no chance to catch me and for fucks sake, the pack could manage without me for a while. I wanted solitude, a reprieve from the weight of my damn title and if there was only one place, I could think of it was Hanka Island.

 I slipped through the secret path, moving swiftly through the caves near the sea. The narrow passage twisted and turned, but I knew it well. In less than an hour, I emerged onto the icy expanse of Hanka Island and a smile was plastered on my face as I looked around.

 The snow swirled around me, thickening with every step. The wind howled, a haunting melody that echoed my thoughts. My feet crunched against the frost as I trudged into the forest, the sharp, clean scent of chilly air filling my lungs. The Hanka Mountain snow picked up, and a flurry of white cascaded around me. The sound of water hitting the rocks reached my ears, rhythmic and constant as the wind swept through the towering pines, making them sway, their branches whispering secrets to the night.

 I needed this kind of serenity. I paused, closing my eyes for a moment, and listened. The forest came alive around me with the faint rustle of wildlife, the distant howl of a lone wolf, and the creak of trees bending under the force of the wind. It was a symphony of the wild, chaotic yet soothing. Night had already fallen, but the sky above was still clear. The stars scattered across the heavens, their light faintly illuminating the snowy expanse. My Lycan beast stirred within me, rising in quiet contentment and knew he appreciated the peace here, far from the noise and expectations of the pack.

 "This is what I needed," I smirked, my voice soft against the winter's chill and walked deeper into the forest, appreciating the stark beauty of the snow-covered trees as the cold bit at my skin, but it was a welcome contrast to the warmth of my beast. He did not crave dominance or blood tonight; he simply existed, reveling in the simplicity of the wilderness.

 Hanka Island had always been my escape, a place where I could be free from the weight of being Alpha of the Bay shifter pack. After hours of walking, letting the forest soothe my restless soul, Gale—my Lycan beast—suddenly froze. The shift was immediate, instinctual. My steps halted, my senses sharpening like a blade being drawn.

We were not alone. I stood my ground, my expression calm as I drew in a deep breath of the icy night air. To anyone watching, I was merely enjoying the crisp cold. But in truth, I was pushing my power outward, casting an invisible net to detect whoever or whatever was out there.Seconds passed. The silence stretched, thick and tense.

"Do you feel them?" I asked Gale silently, though I already knew the answer.

"Yes and No," he growled, his voice low and cautious within me. "They're masking themselves. Completely."

That struck me. It was not often that Gale sounded... impressed. Whatever this presence was, it had evaded us with precision, an ability even the most powerful wolves could not achieve. The thought sent a thrill of both intrigue and unease down my spine. I was in awe. What kind of creature could hide so effectively, even from a Lycan?

I turned slowly, scanning the surrounding woods with a careful gaze. The trees swayed gently in the wind, their branches creaking under the weight of snow. Shadows danced in the moonlight, deceptive and fleeting. I extended my power again, stretching it as far as it would go. But still, we produced nothing. It was as though the forest itself was mocking me, holding its secrets just out of reach.

"This one is powerful and skilled" Gale admitted grudgingly. His usual confidence was tinged with something else curiosity. I remained still, listening, waiting. My pulse quickened slightly, though not with fear. No, it was something different, something more primal.

"Who are you?" I wondered silently, letting the question drift into the cold night.

But the figure, whoever it was, remained hidden, cloaked in an impenetrable veil of power. I waited longer, poised but not threatening. The forest offered no answers, only the soft rustle of branches and the faint howl of wind. Whatever game they were playing, they were good at it. For the first time in a long while, I felt challenged. Gale rumbled softly, a mix of frustration and anticipation.

"Let them watch," I murmured, barely audible even to myself. 

And with that, I stayed rooted, the predator in me waiting, intrigued, and undeniably hooked. But the person was stubborn and did not make a move. The reaction that came from my body surprised me as my cock hardened, my nipples ached, and lust rose around me like a glove. I could not explain the attraction I felt for this person who evoked such emotions even from beyond where they were.

I turned around and opted to leave. I had run from the Bay pack because the elders were already pushing me to take Aqua as my Luna and here, we were, lusting after a stranger. I turned back, heading home, the chill biting at my back as I moved to the caves. I did not look back, though a part of me was tempted to. Whoever they were, their presence lingered, etched into the air and my thoughts.

A small smile tugged at my lips, unbidden but impossible to suppress. It was not just curiosity that filled me, it was something deeper. They had made me feel alive, a sensation I had not experienced in what felt like an eternity. The weight of my responsibilities, the constant demands of being Alpha, it all seemed to fade, replaced by a strange, exhilarating sense of being... wanted.

The journey back to the Bay Shifter Pack passed in a blur, the snowy expanse of Hanka Island slowly giving way to familiar trails and scents. By the time I reached home, it was the early hours of the night, the moon high and bright above me. The faint glow of the hearth light spilled out from my home as I approached. The moment I opened the door, I saw Spark pacing inside, his frustration palpable. His head snapped toward me the instant I stepped in, his tense shoulders sagging in visible relief.

"Tor," he exhaled, his tone half-scolding, half-grateful. I gave him a crooked smile, my lips curving despite myself. I could feel the weight of his worry, but I was too caught up in the remnants of my strange euphoria to care. "Where the hell have you been?" he demanded, striding toward me. "Do you know how worried I was? Everyone has been looking for you!"

I shrugged, brushing past him toward the fireplace. "I am not a child that needs to be looked for just because I was gone for a few hours."

Spark's eyes narrowed as he studied me, his gaze sharp, trying to read me like he always did. But then, his expression shifted, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"You're... smiling," he said, his voice incredulous.

I laughed softly under my breath, the sound surprising even me. "Am I?"

Spark crossed his arms, tilting his head as he continued to stare. "You are. And it is creeping me out. What the fuck happened out there?"

I did not answer immediately, letting the warmth of the fire soak into my skin as I shed my coat. My mind was elsewhere, replaying how the forest had felt alive, charged with something unknown. "Nothing," I finally replied, though the small smile remained. "Just... found something worth thinking about."

Spark groaned in exasperation, running a hand through his hair. "You are impossible Brother but now I am afraid that you will do something that we shall all end up cleaning after for years. But even his irritation I could not wipe the smirk from my face. Whoever it was out there, they had awakened something in me. Something I was not ready to share, not yet.