Chapter 3

We had just arrived in Alaska, the state in which our territory was located, and I felt colder than a popsicle. Yes, I know wolves lived in the snow, but that didn’t mean our human form didn’t feel cold. Only our fur protected us from the cold.

“You should have brought a jacket,” Alec said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I turned to him as we walked through the airport parking lot. “I didn’t have much time to pack,” I told him, shivering as I hugged myself in a futile attempt to stay warm. All I was wearing were jeans, a T-shirt, and flip-flops.

“The consequences of running away, I suppose,” he said, shaking his head.

I shrugged my shoulders. If I ever cared about consequences, I’d probably shoot myself. The last thing I wanted was to be one of Felix’s oppressed puppets.

My teeth began to chatter from the cold. I heard Alec sigh and take off his jacket. He placed it over my shoulders.

“T–Thanks,” I told him, feeling the warmth of his jacket instantly.

“Michelle...” His voice was soft as he spoke. “I was worried about you. Don’t run away again, you hear me?”

I sighed. I felt guilty for abandoning Alec and my friends, but I was also angry at the pack for driving me to the point where I had no choice but to flee.

“Where is the car?” I held the jacket closer to me, choosing not to answer.

“Not too far,” he said, letting go of the topic.

Once we found his car, we made our way to our town, hidden deep in the woods. I couldn’t deny it. I missed being surrounded by nature. It was far more peaceful here than in the city.

Our pack, Crescent Moon, was a secluded territory, with homes nestled among towering trees. It had everything we needed: schools, an infirmary, and plenty of forest to run in. At the heart of the territory was the largest building, the pack house, where Felix’s most trusted wolves resided.

It seemed like a normal pack to the outside; however, under Felix’s rule, the pack was constantly in chaos.

Felix’s mistreatment of the pack often caused division within the ranks, with the Omegas bearing the brunt of it all. To make matters worse, his addiction to drinking and gambling drained the pack’s resources, leaving the rest of us with scraps. And, of course, if that wasn’t enough, he refused to let anyone enter or leave without his permission. Seeking help from the outside was almost impossible, as Felix was a powerful Alpha, which ensured no one dared challenge him.

Escaping Crescent Moon had been nothing short of a miracle, something I was sure I couldn’t pull off twice.

Now that I was here, there would be no leaving this place.

We parked outside Alec’s house, a cozy little blue cabin with a porch and some rocking chairs outside. It was the house we grew up in. After I turned eighteen two years ago, I moved in with my best friend, Gabriel, so the house was now Alec’s.

Once inside the house, I let out a deep breath, finally allowing myself to relax.

The living room was spacious, with a huge desk occupying the center of the back of the room. It was next to a large window that let in natural light. There were two chairs in front of the desk and a swivel chair behind it. Usually, Alec sat there, but today there was someone else in the seat.

“Michelle, it’s good to see you back,” Dan said as soon as he saw me.

“Hey, Dan, it’s also nice to see you,” I greeted him with a smile.

Dan Montez was a muscular Epsilon with jet-black hair, warm chocolate-brown eyes, and a solid, athletic build that many girls in the pack drooled over. He was close in age to my brother, and the two of them were best friends.

“So, the sarcastic little imp is back,” he said, amused, looking up from a file he was reading.

“Let’s just say I discovered my true calling while living out there... cleaning bathrooms and sweeping floors. So, I thought it was time to return,” I said, my smile growing wider.

Dan chuckled. “Well, you’ve come to the right place then.” He leaned back against the chair, a more solemn look on his face now. “But in all seriousness, I’m glad you’re back. Your brother was worried,” he said, his gaze moving to Alec.

Alec walked to stand beside me. “That I was.”

“The truth of the matter is, I wouldn’t have to leave if we had a competent Alpha,” I said, taking off Alec’s jacket and handing it over to him.

Alec took it. “Yes, it’s unfortunate, but I believe things will be changing soon.”

That caught my attention.

“Why do you say that?”

Alec met eyes with Dan, a weird silence between them. “It’s just a hunch,” he finally said.

“I hope you’re right. I hate being pushed around like a servant in this pack,” I muttered.

“I’m with you there. Someone really needs to work on how the low-rank wolves are treated,” Dan agreed.

I nodded, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. The harsh truth was that no one had the courage to stand up to Felix. That’s why he still held power, and I wasn’t about to fool myself into expecting change anytime soon.

Dan went back to his paperwork, and Alec made sure I was okay before saying his goodbyes. Once he was gone, I decided to explore the area.

If I was going to be here, I might as well get used to this place again.