Chapter 1: A Mate's Betrayal
I crouched in the shadows of the grand Alpha's estate, heart pounding, as I clutched a silver key and a letter that would change my life. My breath came in shallow bursts as I strained to hear through the crack in the door. Tonight was supposed to be a surprise. I had prepared a heartfelt letter to announce my pregnancy to my mate, Alpha Lucien Blackthorne, during his birthday celebration.
Instead, I stumbled upon the truth that shattered my world.
"You didn't invite Sienna?" A familiar voice spoke.
Lucien's deep, commanding tone sent a chill down my spine. "She'd ruin the mood. My mate? She's a naïve omega. Weak and useless."
I gripped the frame of the door so hard my knuckles turned white. The mate bond that had once burned with passion now felt like a noose tightening around my neck.
"She's good for appearances," another voice sneered. "But how long do you plan to keep her?"
Lucien chuckled darkly. "Sienna was a temporary arrangement, a pretty little pawn to keep my pack loyal. She'd die for me if I asked."
My breath hitched, and the fragile hope I had carried inside me crumbled. The mate bond—the one thing I thought was sacred—was a lie.
"What about Rosalie?" The voice turned playful. "The true heir's daughter, the one with royal blood. Will you finally take her as your Luna?"
The very mention of her name sent a blade of icy fury through my chest. Rosalie. My adopted sister. My rival since the day I was brought into the Blackthorne pack as an orphaned wolf.
"She's always been my choice," Lucien said, his words filled with certainty. "I'll claim her at the next full moon. Sienna will serve her final purpose."
The letter slipped from my trembling hands. My knees buckled, and I bit my lip to stifle the sobs threatening to escape. How could he do this? After everything, after—
I felt the smallest flutter in my belly.
My pup.
I had been prepared to tell him tonight. Now, I only had one thought—I had to run.
The sharp clang of something hitting the floor echoed behind me. My breath froze as I realized the key I had carried had slipped and landed in plain sight.
"What was that?" Lucien's voice turned cold. The door creaked open.
---
I bolted into the dark.
The wind lashed against my face as I sprinted through the forest. Branches clawed at my skin, but I didn't slow. My only chance was to get away before Lucien's wolves tracked my scent. I had one advantage—the moon was waning, and my mate's strength was weakened.
"Run all you like, Sienna," his voice growled behind me. "You're mine!"
The mate bond burned as if a chain were pulling me back. My legs moved faster.
"Alpha!" A voice called. "She's heading for the river!"
Good. The river would mask my scent. I leaped over fallen logs, my bare feet pounding the earth. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, giving me strength I didn't know I had.
When I reached the water's edge, I didn't hesitate. The icy current swallowed me whole.
---
I resurfaced gasping, my teeth chattering as the cold seeped into my bones. The full force of despair hit me as I floated down the stream.
My mate had betrayed me.
But I wasn't just fighting for my own life anymore.
I placed a hand on my belly, where the faint heartbeat of my pup echoed with a fragile promise.
"Mommy will protect you," I whispered. "No matter what."
---
I reached the riverbank and hauled myself onto solid ground, shivering and soaked to the skin. The forest was silent, but I knew better than to trust the stillness. Lucien's wolves were relentless trackers.
Suddenly, a low growl broke the night.
I froze. Yellow eyes glinted in the shadows. A massive wolf with sleek black fur stepped forward, his fangs bared. It wasn't Lucien.
"Who are you?" I whispered, backing away.
The wolf didn't answer. His gaze held mine, fierce and… curious? He sniffed the air, his posture shifting from aggression to something more guarded.
The wolf shifted, and before me stood a man. His silver eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
"I smelled fear," he said. His voice was deep, steady. Dangerous.
I stumbled backward. "Stay away!"
He raised his hands, palms open. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. I'm not here to hurt you." His gaze flicked to my belly, and something softened. "You're carrying a life."
A snarl ripped from my throat. "Don't touch me!"
"I'm not your enemy." His voice lowered. "But your mate is."
My heart stopped.
"How do you know—"
A howl echoed through the forest, piercing the night with deadly intent. Lucien's wolves were close.
The stranger's eyes darkened. "They'll kill you if they find you."
"I'll handle it!" I spun, ready to run again.
"Not alone."
His hand shot out, gripping my arm with surprising gentleness. "You need a pack. A real one."
I tore free, but his words lingered like a promise. "Who are you?"
The stranger gave me a small, grim smile. "Someone who hates traitors."
Before I could reply, the sound of snapping branches filled the air. I turned toward the noise—and my heart seized.
Lucien stepped from the shadows, his eyes glowing with savage fury.
"You can't run from me, Sienna," he growled. "Not when I own you."
Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins
The wind carried the scent of pine and blood as I backed away from the monster who had once sworn to protect me. Lucien stood tall and proud, a hunter relishing the moment before his kill. His eyes, golden and savage, locked onto mine, and the mate bond sizzled like a chain of molten iron between us.
"You thought you could run?" His voice was smooth, deceptively calm. "From me?"
My heartbeat thundered in my chest, and instinct took over. "I don't belong to you."
His lips curved into a cruel smile. "You'll always belong to me, Sienna."
A growl rumbled from behind. The stranger—the silver-eyed wolf who had found me first—stepped forward. His body tensed, ready to strike, his eyes locked on Lucien.
"She's under my protection now," the stranger said.
Lucien barked a laugh. "Do you even know who you're challenging?" He flexed his hands, his claws extending. "I'm Alpha of the Blackthorne pack. This omega is mine."
"An alpha doesn't claim a mate to destroy her." The stranger's eyes narrowed, his muscles coiled like a spring. "I've hunted wolves like you before."
"Then you'll die like the rest."
In a blur of motion, Lucien lunged.
I barely had time to gasp before claws clashed against claws. The two wolves collided, a brutal tangle of strength and fury. Growls and snarls filled the air as they fought for dominance.
"Run!" The stranger's voice cut through the chaos.
I didn't need to be told twice. I turned and fled into the darkness, the forest blurring around me as I pushed my body to its limit. Every instinct screamed for survival, every breath burned with desperation.
Branches whipped my face, and my bare feet pounded the earth. Behind me, the sound of battle raged on. My heart ached with every step, but I couldn't stop.
For my pup.
For freedom.
I broke through the trees and stumbled onto a narrow path. The moon hung low, casting a silvery glow on the ground.
"Where do you think you're going, Sienna?"
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere.
My heart froze as shadows shifted around me. Wolves—Lucien's pack—emerged from the darkness, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
A tall, lean figure stepped forward. Beta Kellan, Lucien's second-in-command. His sneer was sharp enough to cut stone.
"Alpha said to bring you back alive." Kellan's smile widened. "He didn't say in one piece."
Fear surged through my veins, but I lifted my chin. "You'll have to kill me first."
He chuckled. "Oh, we won't kill you, omega. But we'll break you so badly you'll wish we had."
The wolves closed in, their growls vibrating through the ground. My pulse raced. Fight or flight—both seemed like losing battles.
I clenched my fists. I had no claws, no strength to overpower them. But I had something stronger.
Determination.
I stepped back, eyes darting for an opening.
"Make it easy on yourself, Sienna." Kellan's claws gleamed as he advanced. "There's nowhere to hide."
"You're wrong."
Before he could react, I spun and bolted into the darkness once more.
The forest became a maze of shadows and sharp edges. Every breath was a struggle, but I couldn't let the exhaustion claim me.
A howl pierced the night, chilling my blood.
Closer.
They were faster. Stronger.
But I had something they didn't.
I felt it before I saw it—the river. The roar of rushing water filled my ears as I skidded to a stop. The current was fierce, a twisting serpent of icy danger.
The wolves were almost upon me.
I took a step toward the water, heart hammering. I had no choice.
I jumped.
The water engulfed me, its cold grip squeezing the breath from my lungs. The current pulled me under, spinning me like a leaf in a storm. I clawed for the surface, my chest burning with the need for air.
Don't stop. Don't give up.
For my pup.
I broke through the surface with a gasp, my lungs heaving. The river carried me downstream, away from the snarls and snapping jaws of Lucien's wolves.
For now.
The cold seeped into my bones, but I clung to the promise of escape.
When the current finally slowed, I crawled onto the muddy bank, my body trembling. My muscles ached, my skin was scraped raw, but I was alive.
I pushed myself to my feet. Every step was agony, but I forced myself forward. The forest was silent now, but the danger was far from over.
A rustling sound made my heart lurch.
I spun, fists raised.
The stranger was there, his silver eyes glowing in the dark.
"You're persistent," he said.
I staggered back, my vision blurring. "Stay away."
He held up his hands, his voice calm but firm. "I saved you once. Let me help you now."
"I don't need help."
"You need a pack." His eyes never wavered. "A real one."
"I don't trust wolves," I whispered.
"You should trust me."
"Why?"
He stepped closer, his presence a steadying force. "Because I know what it's like to be hunted."
I swayed, my strength failing. "Who are you?"
The stranger's gaze hardened, a flicker of something ancient and powerful crossing his face
"Damien." He said softly.
The name hit me like a lightning bolt
"Damien Blackthrone."
Lucien's brother
The one who vanished
The one whispered about fear and reverence
He was supposed to be dead.
"Why—"
Chapter 3: A Brother's Wrath
Voices pulled at the edge of my consciousness—whispers of betrayal, the roar of rushing water, and the anguished growl of a stranger who should not exist.
Damien Blackthorne.
The name echoed like a curse.
"Stay with me, Sienna." His voice was a command, not a plea. Strong hands gripped my shoulders, anchoring me to reality.
I opened my eyes, blinking against the blur of darkness and flickering moonlight. The scent of cedar and storm clouds filled my senses, sharp and wild.
Damien's face hovered above mine, his silver eyes sharp and unyielding. "You fainted."
I tried to push away, but my limbs felt like lead. "I'm fine," I whispered, though the tremor in my voice betrayed me.
"No, you're not." His tone softened, but his grip remained firm. "You've been running too long."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Lucien—"
"I dealt with him."
"What?" My eyes widened. "You fought him?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "He won't stop. Not until you're his again."
"I was never his," I spat, anger bubbling to the surface. "The bond was a lie."
Silence hung between us, heavy with unspoken truths.
"Then why didn't you break it?" Damien's voice was low, a challenge hidden in the question.
The truth clawed at my chest. "Because I'm not strong enough."
"Not yet."
The forest stretched endlessly around us, shadows twisting like predators. Every step was a reminder of how far I had fallen—from the proud wolf who believed in mates and loyalty to the shattered soul carrying the weight of betrayal.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere safe," Damien said without looking back.
"Safe?" A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "There's no such thing."
"There is," he said firmly. "But you need to trust me."
I hesitated. Trust was a luxury I couldn't afford.
"You saved me," I admitted quietly. "Why?"
His steps faltered, just for a moment.
"Because I know what it's like to lose everything," he said. "And I'm not letting Lucien take more lives."
The weight of his words settled over me like a heavy cloak.
We reached a clearing where the forest thinned, revealing a small cabin tucked into the shadows. The structure was worn but sturdy, the kind of place where secrets could hide and wounds could heal—or fester.
Damien opened the door without a word, gesturing for me to enter.
I stepped inside, my senses sharp despite the exhaustion. The air smelled of pine and ash, and a fire crackled in a stone hearth.
"Sit." He pointed to a worn leather chair.
"I don't—"
"Sit."
Reluctantly, I sank into the chair. The warmth of the fire seeped into my bones, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.
Damien crouched in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Lucien's wolves will come," he said. "They'll hunt you until there's nowhere left to run."
"I know." My voice was steady, though fear curled in my chest like a sleeping serpent.
"You need to break the bond."
"I told you—"
"You're stronger than you think, Sienna."
The way he said my name—like it was something precious—made my breath catch.
"What do you want from me?"
His gaze darkened. "Justice."
"For what?"
He stood, his eyes burning like molten silver. "For the mate I lost. For the pack Lucien destroyed."
The truth slammed into me with the force of a tidal wave.
"You… you were his brother."
"Was," Damien said coldly. "But not anymore."
I trembled, the weight of the revelation sinking in. "You hate him."
"With every piece of my soul."
The firelight danced across his face, highlighting the scars that marked him—a man forged by betrayal and vengeance.
"Why didn't you kill him?" I asked.
Damien's smile was sharp and bitter. "Because death is too kind."
The night grew colder, and silence settled between us like a fragile truce.
"What will you do now?" I whispered.
"I'll fight." His answer was simple, final.
"Alone?"
His eyes met mine. "Not anymore."
The door rattled suddenly, a sharp knock breaking the stillness.
Damien's body tensed like a coiled spring, his eyes flashing with danger.
"Stay here." His command was a growl.
He moved to the door, every step measured, a predator ready to strike. He flung it open—and came face to face with a wolf I had hoped never to see again.
Kellan.
"Damien," Kellan sneered, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "I wondered where you'd been hiding."
"I'm not hiding." Damien's voice was a blade, cold and sharp. "You're trespassing."
Kellan's eyes flicked past him, landing on me. "The omega doesn't belong to you."
"She doesn't belong to anyone," Damien said.
"She belongs to Lucien," Kellan growled. "And he's coming for her."
"Then he'll die."
The words hung in the air, a death sentence wrapped in ice.
Kellan laughed, low and menacing. "You've forgotten your place, traitor."
"No," Damien said, stepping forward. "I've found it."
Their eyes locked, two storms colliding.
I clenched my fists, my heart racing as the tension crackled like fire.
"Tell Lucien," Damien said quietly, his voice a dark promise. "If he comes for her, I'll finish what I started."
Kellan's grin widened. "I'll be sure to give him your regards."
As the door slammed shut, I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.
Damien turned, his eyes unreadable.
"They know where you are."
The truth settled like a stone in my chest.
"They'll keep coming," I whispered.
"Let them."
His words were fire and fury.
"We'll end this."
Chapter 4: Blood and Promises
I woke with a start, my heart racing as shadows twisted against the cabin walls. The crackle of the fire had died down to embers, casting a dull glow over the small room. For a moment, I didn't know where I was—until the scent of cedar and storm filled my senses.
Damien.
The events of the night crashed into my mind. Lucien's betrayal. The hunt. Damien's fierce protection.
And the truth: He was Lucien's brother.
"Bad dreams?"
His voice, low and steady, pulled my gaze to the corner where he leaned against the wall. His silver eyes flickered like lightning in the dark, watching me with an intensity that made my breath catch.
"I've stopped believing in dreams," I murmured, pushing the blanket away. My muscles ached, but the fire in my chest burned hotter.
Damien said nothing, his gaze never wavering.
"How long have I been out?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"A few hours."
The weight of his stare made me shift uncomfortably. "You didn't have to stay."
His lips twitched, a hint of a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I don't leave people to die."
The unspoken words hung heavy between us—like Lucien does.
I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the way my legs trembled. "I need to keep moving."
"You won't get far."
"I've made it this far."
Damien's expression darkened. "Barely. You're strong, Sienna, but strength isn't enough. Not against him."
I clenched my fists, fury bubbling beneath the surface. "He doesn't own me."
"No," Damien said softly. "But he'll die trying to make you believe he does."
---
The night air outside was sharp, filled with the hum of danger. Every snap of a branch, every rustle of leaves sent my senses on high alert.
"We need to talk," Damien said as he stepped into the clearing, his movements silent as a predator's.
"We have nothing to talk about." I kept walking, my eyes scanning the dark. "I have to protect my pup. That's all that matters."
He was in front of me before I could take another step, his speed a blur of deadly grace.
"That pup is why you need more than anger and desperation." His voice was calm, but there was a storm beneath it. "You want to survive? Then listen."
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing.
"There are wolves loyal to Lucien in every pack," Damien said. "Spies. Traitors. You'll never be safe if you keep running alone."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I know how he thinks." His eyes burned with cold fire. "And because I've fought his kind before."
"You mean your brother?"
His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking beneath the surface. "Lucien stopped being my brother the day he betrayed our family."
The weight of his words slammed into me. "What happened?"
He hesitated, pain flashing across his face before it vanished behind a mask of control. "That's a story for another time. Right now, we need to get you somewhere he can't reach."
"Where?"
"Somewhere he fears."
---
We moved under the cover of night, slipping through the forest like ghosts. Every step was a battle between trust and survival, but the weight of my choices pressed harder with every breath.
Damien was a mystery—fierce, guarded, and driven by a vengeance that cut deeper than any wound. I didn't know if I could trust him, but I knew one thing: He wanted Lucien dead.
And that was a bond stronger than blood.
The trees parted as we reached a ridge overlooking a valley. Beneath us, a fortress rose from the shadows, its walls thick with ancient stone and iron.
"The Redmoon Stronghold," Damien said.
I stared at the ominous structure, my heart tightening. "What is this place?"
"A sanctuary for those Lucien can't control."
"Or those he's already broken?"
Damien's gaze darkened. "Both."
A howl split the air, sharp and close.
I spun, my heart slamming against my ribs. "He found us."
Damien's expression turned to stone. "Stay behind me."
---
The wolves came like shadows, their eyes glowing with bloodlust. I counted six—no, seven—moving with deadly precision as they closed in around us.
Kellan stepped into the light, his smile sharp as a blade.
"Damien," he drawled, his tone mocking. "Still playing the hero?"
Damien's claws extended, sharp as silver knives. "You always were Lucien's lapdog, Kellan."
Kellan's grin widened. "And you were always too weak to finish what you started."
"Try me."
The fight exploded in an instant.
Damien moved like a force of nature, claws flashing as he tore into the wolves. Growls and snarls filled the night, the air thick with the scent of blood and fury.
I fought to keep my breathing steady, my hand protectively cradling my stomach.
For my pup.
For freedom.
Kellan lunged, his claws aiming for Damien's throat.
"Damien!"
He twisted, catching Kellan's wrist and snapping it with a sickening crack. The Beta howled in pain, but Damien didn't stop. He drove his claws into Kellan's chest, his eyes blazing with cold fury.
"This is for every life you've helped destroy," he growled.
Kellan's breath hitched, his eyes wide with shock—and something else.
Fear.
But before Damien could finish him, a voice rang out from the shadows.
"Enough."
I turned, my heart lurching.
Lucien stepped into the clearing, his golden eyes burning with rage—and triumph.
"Did you really think you could run from me, Sienna?"
Chapter 5: Bound by Blood
Lucien's golden eyes burned like twin flames as he stalked into the clearing, his every step deliberate, dangerous. The wolves around him bristled with tension, their eyes glinting with bloodlust as they formed a protective circle.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you, Sienna?" His voice was smooth, dripping with dark amusement. "Did you forget what binds us?"
The mate bond flared inside me like a curse, a searing pain that tightened my chest and threatened to pull me toward him. My breath hitched, and I clenched my fists, fighting the primal force that whispered lies of belonging and surrender.
"You're not my Alpha," I said through gritted teeth.
His eyes darkened, a cruel smile curving his lips. "You don't get to choose. You never did."
Damien stepped between us, his claws still dripping with Kellan's blood. "She's under my protection now."
Lucien's gaze flicked to his brother, contempt twisting his features. "You always did have a weakness for lost causes."
"This isn't a cause," Damien growled. "It's justice."
Lucien chuckled, the sound cold and sharp as glass. "Justice? You mean vengeance. You've been hiding in the shadows for too long, Damien. You should've stayed there."
"Maybe I should've finished you when I had the chance."
The tension between them crackled like a storm ready to break.
I stepped back, my eyes darting between the two brothers—one a monster forged from ambition and cruelty, the other a mystery wrapped in vengeance and pain.
"You can't have her," Damien said, his voice low and deadly.
"She's mine."
"She's free."
Lucien's eyes blazed with fury. "No one is free from me."
---
The ground trembled as Lucien lunged. His claws flashed, striking like lightning, but Damien met him head-on. Their impact shook the air, a clash of power and rage that made the earth beneath my feet feel unsteady.
The battle between them was brutal, raw. They fought as only brothers could—with the weight of blood and betrayal behind every blow.
I stood frozen, torn between terror and fury.
Run.
The word pulsed through my mind like a heartbeat, but my legs wouldn't obey.
I watched Damien fight for me, for justice, for reasons I didn't fully understand but felt deep in my bones.
For my pup.
For freedom.
Lucien's claws raked across Damien's chest, drawing blood that splattered onto the ground like dark rain.
Damien grunted but didn't fall. He drove his shoulder into Lucien's ribs, sending him crashing into a tree.
Lucien snarled, baring his teeth. "You've grown weaker."
Damien wiped the blood from his mouth with a grim smile. "And you've grown predictable."
---
The wolves surrounding them shifted, their eyes never leaving me.
"Bring her to me," Lucien commanded, his voice like a blade.
They sprang into motion.
I spun, my heart hammering as I darted toward the trees. The forest became a blur of shadows and desperation. My feet pounded the earth, the scent of danger thick in the air.
A wolf lunged at my side, its claws grazing my arm. Pain seared through me, but I didn't stop.
Another closed in from the left.
I veered right, slipping through a narrow gap between two trees.
The river lay ahead—a rushing torrent of icy salvation.
---
Behind me, Damien roared.
Lucien's wolves howled.
I reached the river's edge and didn't hesitate.
Cold water engulfed me as I plunged into the current. The force of it pulled me under, spinning me in a whirlpool of chaos. My lungs burned as I fought to break the surface, my mind screaming with panic.
For my pup.
For freedom.
I clawed my way upward, gasping for air as my head broke through. The current dragged me downstream, but I kicked with all my strength, aiming for the far bank.
The wolves followed, their shadows slicing through the water like knives.
I pushed harder, my limbs aching, my pulse pounding.
A hand shot out, strong and steady, gripping mine with unyielding strength.
Damien.
He pulled me onto the shore, his breath ragged, his body bleeding and bruised but unbroken.
"You're not dying today," he growled.
The wolves closed in, snarling and snapping.
Damien stepped in front of me, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Come for her, and I'll tear you apart."
The wolves hesitated, their instincts warring with their orders.
Lucien's voice carried over the roar of the river. "She belongs to me, Damien."
Damien's claws extended. "Not anymore."
A howl split the night, a sound of defiance and power that echoed through the forest.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"Remember this moment," Damien said, his voice a dark promise. "It's the moment you lost."
Lucien's growl was low, deadly. "This isn't over."
"No," Damien agreed, his eyes never leaving his brother's. "It's just the beginning."
---
The wolves retreated, their eyes flashing with fury and hunger.
I watched as Lucien disappeared into the shadows, his presence lingering like a curse.
Damien turned to me, his breath shallow, his gaze burning.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, my body trembling with adrenaline. "I'm fine."
His eyes softened, just for a moment. "You're stronger than you think."
"I'm not strong enough."
"You will be."
---
The moon rose higher, casting silver light over the river and forest.
"We can't stay here," Damien said. "They'll be back."
"Where can we go?"
He hesitated, his gaze turning distant.
"There's a place," he said quietly. "A place even Lucien fears."
"What place?"
His eyes met mine, a flicker of something dark and dangerous in their depths.
"The Shadow Vale."
Chapter 6: The Shadow Vale
The name Shadow Vale hung between us like a curse, heavy and foreboding. A chill swept over my skin, and I fought the instinct to recoil.
"No one goes there," I whispered.
Damien's silver eyes flickered with something unreadable. "No one who doesn't want to be hunted."
My pulse quickened. "You think we'll be safe?"
A muscle in his jaw tightened. "No. But Lucien won't be safe, either."
The trees around us whispered in the dark, as if the forest itself recoiled from the mention of that place. Shadow Vale was more legend than truth—a hidden realm of darkness and ancient power where even alphas feared to tread.
"You've been there before." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
I clenched my fists to stop the trembling in my hands. "And you think it's a good idea to go back?"
"I think it's the only choice we have," Damien said, his voice calm but resolute. "Unless you want to keep running until there's nowhere left to hide."
We moved quickly, the wind howling like a mournful specter as we slipped deeper into the wilderness. Every step took us farther from the world I once knew—deeper into a place where shadows ruled and legends came to life.
"Tell me about the Shadow Vale," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Damien's expression didn't change, but a darkness settled over him, like a storm cloud rolling in.
"It's where the cursed go," he said. "Where the bonds of power are broken, and wolves are free of the chains that bind them."
"Free?" My heart thudded painfully. "You mean—"
"The mate bond doesn't rule there," he finished. "The vale has its own laws. Its own dangers."
Hope surged in my chest. A place where the mate bond could be severed. A place where I could finally be free of Lucien's hold.
"But it comes with a price," Damien warned.
"What kind of price?"
He glanced at me, his eyes cold and fierce. "It's a place of nightmares, Sienna. A place where power consumes the weak. If you're not strong enough to control it, it will destroy you."
---
As we neared the edge of the vale, the air grew thick, heavy with a weight I couldn't name. The ground beneath my feet felt wrong—too soft, too cold, as if life itself had been drained from the earth.
The trees loomed larger, their branches twisted like claws. Mist coiled around us, whispering secrets in a language I couldn't understand.
"This is it," Damien said quietly.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "How do you know?"
"You feel it," he answered. "Like a shadow pressing against your soul."
He wasn't wrong. Every step forward felt like walking into the jaws of a beast.
---
We crossed an invisible threshold, and the world shifted.
The air grew colder, sharper. The trees twisted into grotesque shapes, their bark scarred with claw marks that pulsed with a faint, sickly glow. The ground beneath my feet felt like stone and ash.
"What… is this place?"
"Shadow Vale," Damien whispered. "A world between worlds."
A shiver raced down my spine as I took it all in. This was no ordinary forest. This was a place where nightmares lived.
"Stay close," Damien warned. "And whatever happens, don't listen to the voices."
"Voices?"
He didn't answer.
---
We moved deeper into the vale, the mist thickening around us. My heart pounded in my chest, every nerve on edge. I felt them before I saw them—eyes watching from the darkness, their gaze burning with hunger and malice.
"Are those—"
"Wraith wolves," Damien said grimly. "They were once like us. Now they belong to the vale."
The wraith wolves circled us, their bodies barely solid, more shadow than flesh. Their eyes glowed like embers, filled with rage and sorrow.
"What do they want?"
"Everything."
One of them lunged, its jaws snapping inches from my face.
Damien moved faster than I could see, his claws flashing as he struck the creature. It dissipated into mist, reforming a moment later with a guttural snarl.
"They can't be killed," he said. "Not here."
My heart raced. "Then how do we fight them?"
"We don't." He grabbed my arm, pulling me forward. "We run."
---
We raced through the vale, the wraith wolves on our heels. The mist thickened, swallowing the world in shadows. My breath came in ragged gasps, my muscles burning with exertion.
"Damien!" I gasped. "I can't—"
"You have to."
The wolves howled, a sound that pierced my soul. Their voices carried the weight of every broken bond, every shattered promise.
"Don't listen," Damien said sharply.
But it was too late.
Their whispers slithered into my mind, cold and insidious.
He will never love you.
You will always be his.
You are weak.
I stumbled, my vision blurring.
"Stay with me!" Damien's voice cut through the fog, a lifeline pulling me back. "They can't take what you don't give them."
"I'm trying!" I cried, my voice breaking.
"Try harder."
We burst into a clearing, the mist thinning just enough to reveal a stone archway carved with ancient runes.
"What is this?" I gasped.
"The gate."
"To what?"
"Sanctuary."
The wraith wolves howled behind us, their shadows stretching like claws.
"Go," Damien urged, pushing me forward.
I stumbled through the archway, my heart hammering as the air shifted.
The whispers fell silent.
The shadows receded.
I collapsed to my knees, gasping for breath.
"We made it."
Damien's voice was hoarse, filled with relief and exhaustion.
I looked up, my vision clearing.
But what I saw made my blood turn to ice.
Beyond the gate lay a city of shadows—twisted spires and crumbling towers that seemed to defy reality. A dark throne sat at its center, wreathed in flames that burned without light.
"Welcome to Shadow Vale," Damien said grimly.
---
And sitting on the throne, watching us with eyes of fire…
Was Lucien.