Chapter 2: The Hidden Ally

I stumbled through the forest, my breath ragged as I tried to push back the tears burning in my eyes. The weight of the last few days, the suffocating pressure of Lucien’s hold, was too much. I needed space, even if just for a moment. Every step I took felt like I was wading through mud, but at least in the woods, I could pretend to be free.

The trees whispered as the wind rustled through their branches, and I walked deeper, farther away from the mansion.

“Cassia, wait.”

I froze. The voice was soft but urgent, and it came from the shadows. My body tensed. Was it him? Lucien?

“Who’s there?” I demanded, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

A figure stepped out from behind a tree. Tall, cloaked, with his face shadowed by the hood, his presence felt different from Lucien’s. There was no dominance, no crushing weight of power. Just a quiet, watchful aura. My pulse quickened.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice was rough, but there was something comforting about it. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”

I took a step back, unsure. “Keeping an eye on me?”

“I know what you’re going through,” he said, his eyes glinting under the dim light. “Lucien… he’s not what he seems. But the real danger isn’t him. It’s her.”

“Her?” My heart skipped. Was this stranger talking about my stepmother? The woman who had ruled our home with terror? “What do you mean?”

“The curse,” the man said, lowering his hood just enough to reveal a weathered face with sharp eyes. “It’s tied to your family. To your bloodline. The magic she’s used to bind you is ancient.”

I could barely breathe. “My bloodline? What are you talking about?”

“I can help you,” he said, stepping closer, his tone gentle. “You have power, Cassia. More than you know. Your mother… she tried to protect you. But your stepmother is stronger than anyone realizes. She’s kept you weak for a reason.”

My mind raced. “How do you know all of this?”

He didn’t answer right away, his gaze flickering to the trees around us. “I’ve seen the magic before. You have to unlock it. You’re stronger than you think.”

I shook my head, my thoughts spiraling. “I’m not strong. I’ve been… controlled my entire life.”

“You’re not controlled. Not anymore,” he said firmly. “But you need to trust me. We can break the curse together.”

There was a part of me that wanted to believe him, wanted to feel the strength that had been buried so deep inside me. I wanted to believe that I wasn’t just a helpless pawn.

“What do you want from me?” My voice trembled despite my efforts to sound strong.

He took a slow breath. “I want to help you set yourself free. But there’s more to it. You can’t just escape the curse; you need to understand your true potential. That’s the only way to break free.”

“I don’t—” I started, but I was interrupted by the sound of a branch snapping in the distance. My head whipped around, eyes widening. The familiar chill of fear crept up my spine.

“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice strained.

The rogue’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm gently but firmly. “We need to leave. Now.”

Before I could respond, a shadow moved at the edge of the clearing. I barely had time to react before a cold voice sliced through the air.

“Cassia.”

I froze, my blood running cold.

Lucien.

His figure emerged from the shadows, his tall frame towering over us. His dark eyes locked onto mine with an expression that sent a shiver down my spine.

“I knew you’d be running.” His voice was smooth, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

“Lucien…” My voice faltered. I tried to step back, but the rogue’s hand tightened on my arm, pulling me close to him.

“Did you really think you could escape?” Lucien’s smirk was chilling. His gaze shifted from me to the rogue. “And who is this?”

“I’m no one you need to concern yourself with, Alpha,” the rogue said, his voice calm but tinged with defiance.

Lucien’s smirk widened. “You’ve been watching her, haven’t you? You think you can hide in the shadows and plot against me?”

I wanted to scream, to lash out at him, but I couldn’t move. My heart was pounding, and my breath coming in shallow gasps. My mind raced. What was happening? Why was he here? How had he found me?

“I won’t let you take her,” the rogue said, stepping between us, his posture protective.

Lucien’s eyes flashed with cold fury. “She’s mine. Always has been.”

A chill settled over me, a feeling of dread settling in my bones. “Lucien, please…” I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Let me go.”

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “You think you can run from me, from what you are? From what I’ve made you?”

“I’m not yours,” I spat, trying to find the strength in my voice.

Lucien’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might strike me. His hand twitched at his side, but then, his gaze softened—just slightly—and the tension in the air shifted. “You think you’re free? Do you think you have a choice? You’re nothing without me.”

The rogue stepped forward again. “She’s not yours to claim anymore, Lucien. You can’t control her.”

Lucien’s eyes flickered toward the rogue. “Get out of my way.”

“I won’t,” the rogue said, his voice resolute. “She deserves more than this. More than being a pawn in your twisted game.”

The silence hung heavy, broken only by the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears. My heart was torn. I wanted to run, to escape. But I also knew that Lucien was dangerous—he’d hunt me down, he’d never let me go. Yet, here I was, caught between two opposing forces, neither of which I could trust fully.

“Cassia.” Lucien’s voice was softer now, almost coaxing. “You don’t understand what you’re up against. You think you can defy me? You’re not even strong enough to stand on your own.”

“Then help me,” I whispered before I could stop myself. “If you really care about me, help me.”

His eyes darkened, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “I’ve already given you everything you need, Cassia. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “I’m not yours. I will never be yours.”

For a long moment, Lucien didn’t speak. His eyes seemed to bore into me as if searching for something—something he thought he could still control. But in that instant, I felt it. The spark of power inside me, the magic my mother had tried to protect me from, began to stir. The rogue had spoken the truth. I was stronger than I thought.

I could feel the air shift around me, a crackling energy that seemed to respond to my defiance. Lucien’s eyes widened just slightly. “What are you doing?”

I took a deep breath, focusing on the power that had been buried inside me for so long.

“Let her go.” The rogue’s voice was low, but there was no hesitation in it.

Lucien didn’t move.

And then, without warning, the air around me exploded in a burst of energy, sharp and bright, as I unleashed what I had been holding back. Lucien staggered back, his expression one of shock. The rogue’s arm wrapped around me, pulling me away from the blast radius as the world seemed to tilt on its axis.

But just as I thought we were safe, Lucien’s voice echoed in the woods, low and menacing.

“You think you’ve won?” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “This is just the beginning.”

I glanced up at the rogue, my chest heaving with fear and uncertainty. “What have I just done?”

And then, in the distance, I heard something—soft, but unmistakable. A howl. A call.

Lucien’s call.

The chase had begun.

“Run,” the rogue whispered urgently. “Now.”