The howls echoed through the fortress, each one sending a jolt of fear coursing through Alison. She sat frozen, her hands gripping the edge of the wooden chair so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heart raced, a mix of panic and adrenaline keeping her on edge.
They're coming for me.
The thought repeated over and over in her mind as she stared at the door Kane had just walked through. She didn't trust him, not entirely. But the way his jaw had tightened, the tension in his voice as he'd warned her to stay—there was no mistaking his seriousness. Whatever danger was out there, it was real.
Another howl rang out, closer this time, followed by a loud crash that made the walls tremble. Alison shot to her feet, her pulse pounding in her ears.
"Stay here," Kane had said.
But how could she? She didn't know what was happening, but every fiber of her being screamed at her to run.
Her eyes darted around the room, landing on the tray Lyra had left earlier. The small knife she'd used to cut the bread was still there. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. She grabbed it, clutching it tightly as she moved to the door.
She hesitated for a moment, Kane's warning echoing in her mind. Then she shook her head. I can't just sit here.
Alison eased the door open, peering out into the dimly lit corridor. The sound of footsteps and muffled voices came from somewhere down the hall, accompanied by another crash. She stepped out, her bare feet silent on the cold stone floor, and moved toward the noise.
As she approached the end of the corridor, the voices grew clearer.
"She's a liability!" a sharp voice hissed. Alison recognized it immediately—Darius.
"You overstep," Kane replied, his tone dangerously low. "I decide what happens here. Not you."
"You're blinded by sentiment," Darius shot back. "She's not one of us. She never will be. You're risking the entire pack for her."
"She's the key," Kane said, his voice cold. "Without her, there is no pack."
Alison's chest tightened. She leaned closer, her breath shallow as she tried to make sense of their words.
"Hunters are at our gates because of her," Darius said, his voice rising. "You think they'll stop at her? They'll burn this place to the ground and take all of us with it."
"And if they do," Kane said sharply, "it'll be because of your insolence."
A tense silence followed. Alison's heart pounded as she pressed herself against the wall. She didn't understand everything they were saying, but one thing was clear—she was at the center of it.
Before she could move, the sound of claws scraping against stone echoed through the hall. Alison froze, her grip tightening on the knife. A shadow moved in the corner of her eye, and then it was there—a massive wolf, its golden eyes gleaming in the faint torchlight.
Her breath caught. The creature snarled, its lips curling back to reveal sharp, glistening fangs. It crouched low, ready to pounce.
Alison reacted without thinking. She turned and ran, the knife clutched tightly in her hand. The wolf let out a deafening roar and gave chase, its heavy footsteps pounding against the stone floor.
Her bare feet slapped against the ground as she sprinted down the corridor, her mind racing. She had no plan, no idea where she was going—only the desperate need to get away.
The corridor opened into a large chamber, its high ceilings and intricate carvings lit by the pale moonlight streaming through narrow windows. Alison skidded to a stop, her eyes darting around for an escape. The room was empty, save for the massive iron gate at the far end.
Freedom.
She bolted for the gate, but before she could reach it, the wolf lunged. It slammed into her, knocking her to the ground. The impact sent the knife skittering across the floor. Alison gasped as the air was knocked from her lungs, her hands scrabbling against the cold stone as the wolf loomed over her.
"No!" she screamed, kicking out with her legs. Her foot connected with its side, but the creature barely flinched. It growled, its fangs inches from her throat.
"Enough!" Kane's voice boomed through the chamber.
The wolf froze, its ears flattening as it turned its head. Alison's gaze followed, and she saw Kane standing in the doorway, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. In a blur of motion, he shifted. His body contorted, bones cracking and reshaping until the man was gone, replaced by a massive black wolf.
Alison's eyes widened, her heart hammering in her chest. She watched, stunned, as Kane lunged at the other wolf. They clashed with a ferocity that sent shivers down her spine, their snarls and growls echoing through the chamber.
The fight was over in seconds. Kane's powerful jaws closed around the other wolf's neck, and it whimpered, its body going limp. Kane released it, standing over the defeated creature with an air of dominance.
The other wolf slunk away, its head low as it disappeared into the shadows. Kane shifted back into his human form, his breathing heavy as he turned to Alison.
"Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "What part of 'stay here' did you not understand?"
Alison scrambled to her feet, her legs trembling. "I— I thought—"
"You thought you'd disobey me and put yourself in even more danger?" Kane interrupted, his voice cold with anger. "Do you have any idea what could have happened if I hadn't been here?"
She glared at him, her fear giving way to defiance. "What was I supposed to do? Sit there and wait for whatever the hell that was to find me?"
"Yes!" Kane shouted, his eyes blazing. "Because I told you to!"
Alison opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. For the first time, she saw something beneath his anger—fear. It was faint, barely there, but it was enough to give her pause.
"What are you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kane's expression hardened. "The better question," he said, his tone quiet but firm, "is what are you?"
Alison's breath hitched. She shook her head, backing away. "No. You're not doing this again. Just tell me the truth."
Kane sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're a white tiger, Alison. The last of your kind."
Her mind reeled. She staggered back, shaking her head. "You're lying. That doesn't even make sense."
"It's the truth," Kane said, his voice steady. "And whether you believe it or not, it's the reason you're still alive."