The cold night air clung to me, sharp and biting. My breath came in ragged gasps, each exhale misting in the darkness. But no matter how fast I ran, the weight of what had happened seemed to follow me, wrapping around me like a chain I couldn't break. My feet stumbled on the uneven ground, branches whipping past me, scratching at my skin.
They think I killed him.
The thought kept coming back, over and over, like a broken record. Alpha Caelen was dead. And I—Raven Silversong, the Omega—was blamed. But I didn't do it. I didn't strike the blow. Yet here I was, running through the forest, exiled from the pack I had called home. The same pack that once claimed me as one of their own, only to turn on me when the blood was spilled.
I could still hear their voices, the harsh words ringing in my ears as I was dragged out into the night. Murderer. Traitor.Each word was like a fist to my chest. I had tried to explain, to tell them the truth, but their eyes were already made up. My packmates, the wolves I had lived with my whole life, no longer saw me as one of them. I was a criminal in their eyes. A killer.
I wasn't a killer.
But no one cared about that. All they saw was a lone Omega standing over an Alpha's bloodied body. It didn't matter that I didn't kill him. They were too eager to blame me, too ready to cast me aside. Without even a second glance, they tore me away from everything I had known. You're nothing without the pack, they had said. But now, I was nothing with it.
The ground beneath my feet felt uneven as I ran, the path barely visible through the darkness. The trees stood tall around me, casting long shadows that seemed to swallow me whole. It was quiet, too quiet. No sound of the pack's wolves. No comforting growls or howls that would usually fill the air. Just silence. And the blood in my veins thudding in my ears.
I didn't stop. Not once. I couldn't stop. If I did, I knew the pack would be right behind me, hunting me down like prey.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, sharp and fresh, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. Every step felt heavy, like I was carrying the weight of the world. I didn't know where I was going. Didn't know where I could go. All I knew was that I couldn't go back.
I had no pack now. No home.
And I was alone.
I pushed myself harder, my feet moving faster, the sharp pangs of exhaustion creeping into my legs. But it didn't matter. I had to keep moving. I had to get away from the memories, from the stares, from the pack's accusations.
I blinked, unsure if I had heard him right. "What?"
I had no idea how much time had passed. My head felt too scrambled to keep track. My legs were sore, and my body ached everywhere. But I kept walking, deeper into the forest, away from everything I had known.
Eventually, I couldn't go any farther. I was too tired. I collapsed against a tree, my breath heavy, my body shaking. I slid down to the ground, leaning against the rough bark, and covered my face with my hands.
What now?
I didn't know. I had no plan. The pack was gone. The Alpha was dead, and I was blamed. I didn't know what to do next.
The wind howled around me, tugging at my hair. I closed my eyes and breathed in the cold air. Maybe I'd just sleep here, let the night take me. It felt like the only thing to do.
But then, I smelled something. Wolves.
I snapped my eyes open. Panic hit me like a wave. I jumped to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I heard rustling in the trees, the sound of wolves moving through the forest. I wanted to run, but where could I go?
I froze, listening for where they were coming from. But before I could figure it out, someone stepped into the clearing.
A man. Tall, strong, with eyes that glowed in the dark. The air around him felt thick with power. My heart raced.
He was a wolf. I could tell from his scent—sharp, like the wolves I knew. But there was something different about him. Something dangerous.
He looked at me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. He didn't say anything at first, just watched me with those golden eyes. This wasn't just any wolf. This was an Alpha.
I tried to speak but couldn't. My mouth was dry. Finally, I stammered, "I—I'm Raven Silversong. I—I'm just..."
"You're trespassing," he said, his voice deep, flat, but full of warning.
"I didn't mean to," I said, my voice shaking. "I don't have anywhere else to go. Please." I took a step back, but my legs felt weak, like they might give out.
He watched me closely, his eyes narrowing. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, as if deciding something, he spoke again.
"Come with me."
"Come with me," he repeated, this time with a little more force. "You're not safe out here alone."
I stood there for a moment, trying to take everything in. My heart was beating fast. This was my chance to survive, my chance to get away from all the bad things that had happened. But could I trust him? Could I trust a stranger, especially an Alpha?
But I had no choice. I had nothing else.
"Okay," I whispered quietly. "I'll come with you."
Without saying anything else, he turned and started walking, his strong body moving easily through the trees. I followed, not knowing where he was taking me, but knowing it was my only choice.
As we walked through the forest, I kept wondering what kind of place I was heading to. What kind of pack was I about to meet?
One thing was certain—I had just entered the Bloodfang Pack's territory. And I had no idea what to expect.