Talia stood tall, entering the meeting without her mask.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Poor Talia, scarred and weak."
"Unfit to lead."
"Lord Ravenswood's mistake."
Talia's ears burned.
Shame and anger wrestled within.
She focused on the agenda.
Pack business.
Alliances.
Trade.
But the whispers lingered.
As the meeting concluded, Talia swiftly exited.
The sunlight seemed dimmer.
Shadows stretched.
Everywhere looked dark.
Oppressive.
She quickened her pace.
Feeling eyes upon her.
A presence lurking.
Talia's instincts heightened.
She scanned the surroundings.
No one suspicious in sight.
Yet, the sensation persisted.
A chill crept down her spine.
Suddenly, leaves crunched behind.
Talia spun around.
A figure disappeared into the trees.
Her heart racing, Talia hastened.
Reaching her estate, she burst through the doors.
"Lila!" she called.
Lila rushed to her side.
"My lady, what's wrong?"
Talia's breath came in ragged gasps.
"Someone followed me."
Lila's expression turned grave.
"I'll inform the guards."
Talia's eyes locked onto Lila's.
"No, Lila. Not a word."
Lila nodded.
"My lady, your secret is safe."
Talia savored her dinner, despite the lingering unease.
Fatigue eventually won, and she retired to her bedchamber.
Sleep claimed her.
But morning brought disorientation.
Talia's eyes snapped open.
Unfamiliar surroundings.
Cold stone walls.
Iron bars.
A heavy wooden door.
Fear clawed at her chest.
She sprang from the narrow bed.
"Where am I?" she shouted.
"Who dared kidnap the alpha?"
The door creaked open.
Two burly men entered.
Their faces were chiseled, expressionless.
One stepped forward.
"Welcome, Talia."
His deep voice sent shivers.
"You're our guest."
Talia's anger flared.
"Guest?" she spat.
"I'm the alpha. Release me."
The man smirked.
"Alpha no more."
Talia's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The man bowed.
"I serve Lord Victor."
A name Talia knew.
A rival pack's leader.
"Victor wants me?" Talia asked.
The man nodded.
"You're leverage."
Talia's mind race
Talia's demand to see Victor fell flat.
The men closed in.
Shackles clinked.
Talia's wrists and ankles were bound.
"No!" she struggled.
"But Lord Victor promised—"
One man silenced her with a glare.
"Enough."
Talia seethed.
As they led her out of the cell.
Through dark corridors.
Into the night.
The cool air hit her.
But it wasn't just the chill that made her shiver.
Her attire.
A seductive nightdress.
Sheer.
Revealing.
Talia's cheeks burned.
Why was she dressed like this?
For whose benefit?
The men halted.
Before a grand estate.
Torches illuminated.
The entrance.
Talia's unease deepened.
Where was Victor?
What did he plan?
The men pushed her forward.
Into the estate.
Through lavish halls.
To a private chamber.
Candles flickered.
Soft music played.
A setting for seduction.
Talia's heart raced.
This wasn't a meeting.
It was a trap.
Talia's wrists and ankles remained bound by shackles.
The men surrounded her, their eyes gleaming.
She realized, with a jolt of terror.
This wasn't a meeting with Victor.
It was a trap.
The men's intentions.
Sinister.
Cruel.
Talia's heart pounded.
"No," she spat.
"You won't get away with this."
The men chuckled.
One stepped closer.
His breath reeked.
"You're a prize, Talia."
"Victor's gift to us."
Talia's revulsion grew.
The men closed in.
Their hands reached.
Talia struggled.
But shackles held.
"Fight," she screamed.
But her voice echoed.
In the empty darkness.
No rescue came.
The men's laughter.
Grew louder.
Talia's panic.
Intensified.
Talia's eyes blazed with fury.
Humiliation fueled her rage.
As the men closed in.
Their laughter echoed.
Their leering gaze scorched.
But Talia refused to yield.
Her body began to shift.
Muscles lengthened.
Bones reformed.
Fur burst forth.
A majestic white wolf.
Enormous.
Powerful.
Talia's transformation.
Complete.
The men stumbled back.
Terrified.
The first guy's lust turned to horror.
The second guy's hands fled Talia's body.
The third guy's grip loosened.
Talia's wolf form towered.
Snarling.
Growling.
Protecting.
Her human self.
From harm.
Her eyes locked onto her captors.
A fierce warning.
Leave.
Or suffer.
The men fled.
Talia's wolf pursued.
Through darkness.
Through shadows.
Hunting.
Avenging.
Her pack's honor.
Her own dignity.