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?"