CHAPTER ONE-THE WOLF WHO DIDN'T BELONG

The forest was never truly silent.

Even in the dead of night, the trees whispered secrets, the wind carried warnings, and somewhere in the darkness, wolves watched their prey.

Lena Voss had learned to recognize every sound.

The snap of a twig.

The rustling of leaves.

The distant howl of a wolf announcing its territory.

Tonight, however, something felt different.

She tightened her grip on the small hunting knife attached to her belt and continued moving through the trees.

The moon hung low above the forest, casting silver light over the narrow path.

Lena wasn't supposed to be here.

According to the laws of the packs, humans had no business crossing into protected werewolf territory. But Lena had never been particularly interested in following rules written by people who believed they owned the world.

She lived beyond pack boundaries, survived by her own instincts, and trusted nobody.

That was how she preferred things.

Until tonight.

A sudden movement caught her attention.

She stopped.

Someone was following her.

Lena slowly turned, her eyes scanning the darkness.

"Come out," she called.

Nothing.

She took another step.

A low growl vibrated through the trees.

Her fingers tightened around her knife.

"Last warning."

A massive black wolf emerged from behind the trees.

Lena froze.

The animal was unlike anything she had encountered before. Its dark fur seemed almost invisible against the night, and its golden eyes remained fixed on her.

She knew immediately that it wasn't an ordinary wolf.

It was an Alpha.

And judging by its size, it was a powerful one.

Lena took a cautious step backward.

The wolf moved forward.

"Stay where you are," she warned.

The creature tilted its head.

Then, without warning, it shifted.

Bones cracked, fur disappeared, and within seconds, a tall man stood before her.

He was dressed in black trousers, his broad shoulders covered by a dark shirt.

His expression was cold.

His eyes were the same golden colour as the wolf's.

"You're trespassing," he said.

Lena raised an eyebrow.

"Then perhaps you should build a better fence."

His expression didn't change.

"Do you have any idea whose territory you're standing on?"

"Some arrogant man's, apparently."

For the first time, something flickered in his eyes.

Most people would have lowered their heads by now.

Lena wasn't most people.

"Name," he demanded.

"Lena."

"Full name."

She hesitated.

"Why?"

"Because I asked."

"Then you should learn to ask politely."

His jaw tightened.

He stepped closer, and Lena instinctively moved her hand toward her knife.

His gaze dropped to the movement.

"Do you intend to use that?"

"Only if necessary."

A dangerous silence settled between them.

Then he smiled.

It wasn't a friendly smile.

"Interesting."

Lena frowned.

"What's interesting?"

"You're either very brave or very foolish."

"People usually say that before they regret underestimating me."

His eyes narrowed.

"What's your last name?"

Lena considered lying.

But something about the way he watched her made her uncomfortable.

"Voss."

The change in his expression was immediate.

His amusement disappeared.

"Voss?"

She nodded slowly.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

He studied her face as though searching for something.

Then he asked a question that made her blood run cold.

"Are you related to Daniel Voss?"

Lena's heart skipped.

"Why do you know my brother?"

The man didn't answer.

Instead, he turned toward the trees.

"Adrian!"

A second man emerged from the darkness.

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Take her to the pack house."

Lena immediately stepped backward.

"Excuse me?"

The Alpha looked at her.

"You heard me."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

His golden eyes darkened.

"That wasn't a request."

Lena laughed without humour.

"And I don't take orders from strangers."

The second man looked between them, clearly uncomfortable.

"Alpha Xavier, perhaps we should—"

"Enough, Adrian."

Xavier.

So that was his name.

Lena memorised it.

She also memorised the way the surrounding wolves seemed to respond whenever he spoke.

This man wasn't simply an Alpha.

He was the kind of man whose orders could start wars.

And somehow, her brother's name had caught his attention.

"What happened to Daniel?" she demanded.

Xavier's expression hardened.

"That's what I intend to find out."

He turned and began walking.

Lena remained where she was.

After several seconds, he stopped.

Without looking back, he spoke.

"Your brother disappeared three years ago, Lena. Now someone has started asking questions about him again."

Her stomach tightened.

"What questions?"

Xavier finally turned.

His golden eyes held hers.

"Questions that could get you killed."

Lena swallowed.

She had spent three years searching for answers about her brother.

She had followed rumours, crossed dangerous territory, and survived encounters that should have ended her life.

She wasn't going to stop now.

"Then tell me what you know."

Xavier studied her for a long moment.

Then he asked the question that would change everything.

"What exactly did your brother leave behind?"