Chapter 1- The girl with no wolf

The forest was alive with the scent of pine and morning dew. Sunlight spilled through the canopy in thin, golden streaks, dancing across the training field where two figures clashed with wooden swords.

“Come on, Sam! You’re dragging your feet again!”

Cade Kessler’s voice rang out, half laughter, half challenge. Sweat gleamed on his tanned skin, and his golden hair fell into his blue eyes as he swung with practiced ease. Samantha barely managed to block, the impact jarring through her arms.

“I’m not dragging!” she shot back, teeth gritted. Her hair, black as ink and wild from the wind, stuck to her forehead as she circled him. “You’re just showing off again!”

He smirked, taking a playful step closer. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re just distracted.”

“Distracted?” She lunged, her strike fast but sloppy. Cade dodged, laughing, before tripping her with a quick sweep of his leg.

She fell with a startled yelp, hitting the ground on her back.

Cade crouched beside her, grinning. “See? Distracted.”

“By your arrogance, maybe.” Samantha glared up at him, brushing dirt from her cheek.

He chuckled and offered his hand but she swatted it away and stood, brushing off her tunic. “You know, for someone who wants to fight like a warrior, you’re terrible at accepting help.”

“I don’t need help.”

But the look on her face, stubborn yet bright made Cade’s grin soften.

“Yeah, you do,” he said gently. “Everyone does sometimes.”

Samantha turned away, pretending to fix her grip on her sword. “You’re sounding like Elder Corvin again.”

“That’s because he’s usually right.” Cade lifted his own sword, twirling it with practiced grace. “Now, again.”

She groaned. “We’ve been training for hours!”

“Warriors don’t complain.”

“I’m not a warrior.”

Cade paused, frowning at her tone. “You will be. Once your wolf comes, you’ll see.”

Her throat tightened with doubt. “If she comes.”

He lowered his sword slowly. “She will, Sam. Everyone’s does eventually.”

“Some don’t.”

“Not you.”

There was no hesitation in his voice. And that, more than anything, made her heart ache.

When they finished training, the morning sun had risen high, warming the field. Cade stretched, groaning dramatically. “You hit harder today. Maybe I should start wearing armor.”

Samantha smirked. “Maybe you should stop underestimating me.”

“I’ll consider it… when you can land a hit.”

She laughed, but before she could retort, a deep voice cut through the air.

“Cade! Samantha!”

They both stiffened. Alpha Rowan stood near the edge of the field, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“Uh oh,” Cade murmured.

“Don’t say anything stupid,” Samantha hissed.

He grinned. “When do I ever?”

“Always.”

They straightened as Rowan approached, his presence commanding even in silence. His dark hair was streaked with silver now, and his sharp amber eyes missed nothing.

“Training is not a game,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “I told you that before.”

“It was my fault,” Cade began, stepping forward, “I was—”

Rowan lifted a hand, silencing him. “It's good that you come to her defence every time but she has a voice, let her speak.”

“Yes, sir” Cade replied.

“Leave. I wish to speak to Samantha,” the Alpha commanded.

Cade hesitated, glancing at her. She forced a small smile. “I’ll catch up,” she said softly.

When he was gone, Rowan’s attention turned to her fully. “You’ve grown,” he said finally.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Your form is improving. But your focus as usual drifts.”

Samantha stared at the dirt. “I’m trying.” The alpha always prefers to speak to her when Cade is not around for some reason. She understands that she wasn't born from the pack and because of that, everyone watches her, expecting much from her, but could they not be so obvious about the fact that she was adopted.

“I know.” He studied her for a moment. “Your birthday approaches, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. In a few weeks.”

“Thirteen,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “The age when most wolves hear the call for the first time.”

Her heart fluttered nervously. “Do you think mine will come?”

Rowan’s expression softened. “It will. You were born under strange circumstances, but the Moon has not forgotten you.”

Samantha swallowed hard. “And if she has?”

He frowned. “She hasn’t.”

But his pause, brief and uncertain, lodged deep in her chest like a splinter.

“You are my daughter,” he said, more gently this time. “No matter what happens, that will not change.”

Her eyes stung. “Thank you, Father.”

“Now go. Elder Corvin was asking for you in the gardens. He said he needs help gathering herbs.”

Samantha nodded and turned away, her thoughts heavy as she left the field.

The gardens behind the infirmary were quiet, filled with the scent of sage and lavender. Elder Corvin sat on a stone bench, his white beard trailing to his chest, his cloudy eyes staring blankly at the horizon.

“Good morning, Elder,” Samantha greeted, kneeling beside the herb beds.

“Ah,” he said, smiling faintly. “The Alpha’s little miracle.”

She flushed. “Please don’t call me that.”

“Why not? You survived the forest that night when no one should have.”

“I was just lucky.”

“Luck is what the Goddess gives those with purpose.”

Samantha plucked leaves carefully, avoiding his gaze. “If I had a purpose, I’d have found it by now.”

The old man chuckled softly. “You’re young. The moon hides her plans until the right moment.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“I’ve lived long enough to see the Goddess speak in many ways,” he said. “Sometimes through dreams, sometimes through storms.”

Samantha thought of the rain that night, the stories she’d overheard about her discovery. “Then why won’t she speak to me?”

“She will.” He reached out, patting her hand. “When the world needs her voice through you.”

She wanted to believe him. But belief was harder when you spent every day watching other wolves shift, hearing their wolves whisper through the link while you remained silent.

That night, she sat by the lake near the edge of the pack’s territory. The moonlight painted the water silver.

Cade joined her, dropping down beside her in the grass. “You disappeared after training.”

“Needed air.”

“Or space from my amazing advice?” he teased.

She smiled faintly. “You talk too much.”

“And you brood too much.”

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the distant howls of the night patrol.

“Do you ever wonder,” she said quietly, “what if we’re meant for something different? Something not in the pack?”

Cade leaned back on his elbows. “Different how?”

“I don’t know. Bigger. Like there’s something calling out there, and we’re just waiting to hear it.”

He chuckled. “You’ve been spending too much time with Corvin again.”

“I’m serious.”

He glanced at her profile, the way the moonlight caught the curve of her cheek, the determination in her eyes. “You’re always serious,” he said softly. “That’s what I like about you.”

Her breath caught. “Cade—”

He grinned suddenly, looking away. “Promise me something?”

“What?”

“When my wolf manifests and I go to Valdyr Academy next year, you’ll still train. You’ll be strong enough that when I come back, you can beat me.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Beat you? Impossible.”

“Promise anyway.”

She hesitated, then smiled. “Fine. I promise.”

He looked at her for a long moment, then reached over and tugged gently at a strand of her hair. “Good. Because when I come back, I want to see the warrior I know you’ll be.”

The moon reflected in his blue eyes like light on the sea. For a second, everything felt simple and safe.

Neither of them knew that safety never lasts.

*

Weeks passed. Her thirteenth birthday arrived.

The entire pack gathered beneath the full moon, the night humming with energy. Wolves stood in a great circle, their eyes glowing as they chanted the ancient invocation.

Samantha stood in the center, her heart racing. Cade was beside her, already half-shifted, his aura bright and fierce.

“Ready?” he whispered.

She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

The Alpha raised his hand. “Tonight, Samantha Willow, daughter of Blackfang, will call to her wolf for the first time. May the Moon hear her.”

The chant began again, rising and falling like waves. Samantha closed her eyes, feeling the air vibrate around her. The ground pulsed beneath her feet.

Come to me, she thought. Please.

The air felt warm, her skin got goosebumps

And then... nothing.

The warmth vanished. The wind died. The chant faltered.

Silence.

Her eyes flew open. Every face around her was still. Cade stared at her, confusion giving way to worry.

The Alpha’s voice broke the stillness in disbelief. “The goddess does not favour her.”

“Wait!” Samantha pleaded. “Let me try again—”

“It’s done,” Rowan said, his tone final.

“But Father—”

“Enough!”

Tears burned her eyes as the crowd began to murmur.

“No wolf?”

“She didn’t shift?”

“She’s… human?”

Samantha’s knees buckled. Cade caught her before she fell, holding her close.

“It’s okay,” he whispered fiercely. “We’ll figure it out.”

But she could feel the pity in his arms. The shame burning across her skin.

Rowan turned away, his expression unreadable. “End the ceremony.”

As the crowd dispersed, their whispers followed her like ghosts.

“Cursed child.”

“The Alpha’s mistake.”

“Born without a wolf.”

Later, by the lake, she stared at her reflection in the dark water. Her robe was torn, her hair a mess. She didn’t recognize the girl staring back.

Cade found her there again, breathless from running.

“Sam—”

“Don’t,” she said quietly.

“You shouldn’t be alone.”

“I am alone,” she whispered. “Always have been.”

He took a step closer. “You’re not. I don’t care if you don’t have a wolf. You’re still you.”

She looked up, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Then why does it feel like I’ve lost something I never had?”

He didn’t have an answer. So he just sat beside her in silence until the moon began to fade.

When he finally left, she remained, watching the sky lighten to grey. Somewhere far away, an owl cried, and for a heartbeat, she thought she heard a voice in the wind.

“Not lost, little one. Only waiting.”

She turned sharply. The forest was empty.

But the voice, soft, haunting, lingered in her bones long after dawn came.