The forest was quiet, with only the soft crunch of leaves and twigs under my feet. I kept my head down, not wanting to attract attention. I'd already made enough mistakes today.
My legs were sore from running, but I kept going, trying to ignore the ache in my muscles. The trees around me seemed to close in as I walked deeper into the forest, the shadows making it feel like a trap. I didn't know where I was going or what I would find, but going back didn't seem like an option.
Then, I heard it.
A rustling sound behind me, too soft to be an animal. I turned quickly, my heart racing, but there was nothing there. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I walked faster, breathing harder. Every little noise made me jump.
Then, a figure stepped out of the trees. A man. Not just any man—he was tall, with a strong presence that made the air feel colder. His eyes met mine, glowing gold, and his face didn't show anything.
I froze.
"Do you always walk through other wolves' lands without permission?" he asked, his voice calm and deep, like the quiet before a storm.
I didn't answer right away. There was no point. I had no pack. I wasn't supposed to be here.
"I didn't mean to trespass," I said, my voice sounding smaller than I wanted it to. "I was just... running."
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. I tried to stand taller, to appear less scared, but the weight of his gaze made it difficult.
"You're in the Bloodfang Pack's territory," he said, his tone flat. "That's a mistake you might not get to fix."
His words hit me like a slap. Bloodfang. The name alone made my stomach drop. Everyone knew of them. The Bloodfang Pack was notorious. They weren't just powerful—they were feared.
"I didn't know," I said quickly, feeling the panic rise in my chest. "I'm just trying to..."
Before I could finish, he moved faster than I expected, grabbing my arm with an iron grip. His fingers dug into my skin, holding me in place. He didn't look angry. He looked like he was thinking—calculating.
"Tell me your name," he ordered.
Raven. My name. I swallowed hard before saying it.
"Raven Silversong."
He studied me for a long moment, his eyes tracing every inch of my face like he could see all my secrets, every piece of my past. It was as if he knew something I didn't.
"You don't belong here, Raven," he said slowly. "But you're here now. That means you're my responsibility."
I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him I was no threat, but he cut me off with a sharp motion of his hand. He was done listening. Instead, he pulled me forward, dragging me toward the center of the clearing. I stumbled to keep up with his pace, my feet tripping over roots and rocks in the dark.
I didn't know where we were headed, but it didn't matter. I was in no position to argue.
We came to a clearing, the trees parting to reveal a large compound in the distance. Tall stone walls, like something out of a nightmare, loomed over the area. The air here was thick with the scent of earth and wet leaves, but it was more than that. There was something heavy in the air, something charged with power. The walls of the compound seemed to pulse with it.
I stopped short when we reached the gate. It was massive—imposing—and it looked like no one had ever dared challenge it. He didn't stop, though. He just continued forward, dragging me along until we passed the gates and into the compound.
The interior was just as intimidating. Large stone buildings surrounded us, dark and cold. I could feel the weight of eyes on me as wolves watched from the shadows, their gazes sharp, hungry. It made me feel small, like a mouse in the den of a lion.
The man didn't say anything as we walked through the compound. His steps were quick and steady, always ahead of mine. We didn't stop until we reached a large building in the center.
"This is the Bloodfang Pack's headquarters," he said, his voice colder than I expected. "You're on my land now. You follow my rules here."
He stepped inside without another word, and I had no choice but to follow.
Inside, the walls were covered with shields, swords, and trophies—each one telling a story of battles and survival. I felt out of place in this world, a world full of power and blood, where I didn't belong.
The man led me deeper into the building, passing rooms with wolves watching us as we walked. The air felt heavy, thick with tension. I could feel the danger in every breath I took.
He stopped in the middle of the hall, standing straight like he was waiting for something. The other wolves in the room went quiet, all eyes on us. I could hardly breathe under their gaze.
"Stay here," he said, his voice cold, like an order I couldn't ignore. "I'll be back soon."
Before I could say anything, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows. I was left standing there, alone, unsure of what would happen next.
I didn't know how long I stood there, my legs aching from the day's tension, but eventually, someone else came up to me. A woman, tall and strong-looking, with a look in her eyes that made me pause.
"I'm Ilyana," she said, her voice firm. "I'm here to make sure you don't do anything foolish."
I swallowed and nodded. I didn't know what she meant by "foolish," but I wasn't about to find out.
"Follow me," she said, turning without waiting for a reply.
I followed her down a narrow hallway, the walls closing in as we went deeper into the compound. There were no windows, no way to see the outside. It felt like being trapped in a maze. She led me to a small room at the end of the hall and stopped in front of the door.
"You'll stay here for now," she said, her gaze sharp. "Don't try anything."
I nodded again, too tired to argue. The room was small and smelled like stone and dust. It wasn't much, but it was better than being out in the woods.
She left without saying anything else, and I was alone. For the first time in what felt like forever, the silence pressed in on me. My mind raced with questions, but one stood out more than the others.
Why was I
still alive?
Why had the Alpha spared me?