Chapter 3

Lysandra POV

The silence was so palpable it felt like I could touch it with my fingertips. Every corner of the camp was wrapped in a heavy stillness, amplifying the impact of his words on me. They echoed relentlessly within my mind, repeating over and over like a haunting resonance. She’s the one I want, he had said, his voice firm and unwavering.

My hands clenched the armrests of my seat as I watched my sister rise. The surprise etched across her face mirrored her confusion. The camp, calm until that moment, erupted into chaos. Whispering swelled into a full uproar, voices rising sharply in disbelief.

My thoughts raced, desperate to make sense of what was happening. With the constant hum of conversation and gasps of shock bursting from every direction, keeping my composure felt almost impossible. My heart hammered in my chest as I struggled to contain my emotions.

“Silence!” my father barked, his voice slicing through the tumult like a blade. His gaze swept from me to the alpha of the Crimson Fang Pack. “Alpha Varyon,” he added, tension thrumming beneath every syllable, “this is not what was agreed upon.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of Alpha Varyon’s lips, savoring the shock and the power he held over my father.

“It was agreed that I would marry one of your daughters to seal our union and restore peace between our packs. But at no point did either of us specify which one,” he said, his tone steady and commanding.

He remained perfectly stoic, showing not even a flicker of intimidation despite my father’s escalating fury. His imposing stature and piercing gaze made his determination unmistakable.

The two alphas shifted instantly into their wolf forms before heading toward the dark forest, seeking privacy away from curious eyes.

At that moment, every gaze fell on my sister and me. Valeria rose, rage twisting her features as her hands clenched around her beautiful white dress. Every line of her face seemed carved by fury, giving her an unsettling, dangerous beauty. Her entire body was taut, coiled like she might burst at any second.

The minutes dragged on like hours, each one gnawing at the tension on my shoulders.

At last, they returned. My father’s features were pinched with strain, while Alpha Varyon’s expression was unreadable, his face an impenetrable mask. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, offered no hint of emotion.

My father fixed me with a heavy, intent stare. He motioned for me to follow, guiding me away from the camp. My legs trembled beneath me like brittle branches, my hands slick with sweat. Fear curled in my stomach, swirling wildly in my chest and mind.

He led us toward my den, and I followed without daring to utter a word. Each step felt fragile, as if the very earth shifted under the weight of my dread.

When we reached the entrance, he signaled for me to stop. His hand landed harshly on my shoulder, an unsettling gesture. His fingers tightened, sending a jolt of nervous electricity through my body.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears, echoing the oppressive weight between us.

With a low, gravelly voice, my father began to speak.

“You’d better not disappoint me again. Make sure the Crimson Fang Pack never discovers your deficiency.” He let out a guttural laugh. “Alpha Varyon won’t be as lenient as I was.”

Every word sliced into me like a sharpened blade, each syllable lodging itself deep in my mind. My life was about to be completely overturned. I was to become the mate of Alpha Varyon, and the reality crushed me. My fate was sealed, forced upon me by my father. A violent tide of conflicting emotions surged within me, from dread to resignation.

“Pack your things. You’re leaving now,” he ordered coldly. He stepped toward the forest without looking back, but just before disappearing, he added in a low, threatening tone, “And if you jeopardize the alliance between our packs, pray you never cross my path again.”

I felt utterly helpless and lost in the storm of events unfolding around me. Everything was about to change. I was to marry a man I didn’t know, live among wolves who must never suspect even for a moment the truth about my deficiency.

How would such proud, powerful wolves ever accept me when my vulnerability was so painfully obvious? How could I pretend to be part of their life when my limitations held me back?

Questions crashed through my mind with no answers in sight. My heart ached beneath the weight of the unknown looming ahead. I felt lost, abandoned in a whirlwind of fear, sadness, and confusion, an untamed chaos within me.

I no longer knew who I was or where I was going. The only certainty was that my life had taken a devastating turn. But I needed to find some strength within myself, to survive this, to reclaim some semblance of balance.

With heavy sadness, I pushed open the wooden door to my den. This moment marked the end of my life here; I might never see this place again. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as my eyes traced every familiar detail. The few shelves were nearly empty except for insignificant keepsakes. No treasures adorned the walls. But this place was more than belongings, it had been my sanctuary.

My gaze fell on the few possessions I had chosen to take. My worn clothes were neatly folded in a corner. My bow lay beside them, its arrows tucked safely in their quiver.

With one last look filled with gratitude and sorrow, I closed the door, tears gathering in my eyes.

I turned to head back to camp just as a figure stepped from the shadows of the trees. Alpha Varyon stood leaning against a tree trunk, waiting for me. Moonlight revealed his bare chest and the jeans slung low on his hips, emphasizing his sculpted abs.

My heart stuttered, caught off guard by his presence. His messy black hair framed him with a wild, untamed allure. The forest seemed to fall silent around us. I heard only the rustling leaves beneath our feet, the soft whistling breeze through the branches, and the uneven breath I struggled to steady.

He approached silently, eyes fixed on me. Without a word, his rough fingers brushed my hand as he took my small bag and bow. He motioned for me to follow, and I obeyed. Our footsteps blended with the whisper of the wind, forming a natural symphony guiding us through the moonlit forest.

As we walked, I felt his gaze settle on me now and then. Terror and anxiety twisted inside me. Why had he chosen me instead of my sister? She had everything. I had nothing.

When we reached camp, every head turned. Surprise flickered across their faces at seeing Alpha Varyon return with me at his side. I lowered my eyes, refusing to meet their whispered judgments.

Alpha Varyon signaled to Alpha Draven, my father, indicating that he was leaving Shadowmoon territory. I realized there would be no formal wedding ceremony. A small weight lifted from my chest.

And so the Crimson Fang Pack, my new pack, left the lands of the Shadowmoon Pack. As we moved away, I couldn’t help but glance back. My father’s eyes. My sister’s fury. The pack’s cold stares. They burned into me until I finally forced myself to turn away.

Once inside the forest, the pack shifted into giant wolves and raced through the trees at full speed. Their dark pelts shimmered beneath the moonlight, their eyes glowing with a wild, primal light. Quick and graceful, they tore across the forest floor, claws and fangs ready to shred anything foolish enough to stand in their way.

Alpha Varyon’s sharp gaze shifted to me as if expecting me to transform and join the hunt. His dominant presence weighed heavily on me, his anticipation a silent pressure.

“I…I’m exhausted… I won’t be able to shift,” I breathed out, the lie burning in my chest.

He didn’t respond with words. Instead, he shifted instantly. Muscles rippled and bones snapped into place as his human body gave way to that of a massive wolf. Larger than any pack member, he towered before me, his fur a gleaming shade of midnight.

He crouched, motioning for me to climb onto his back. The gesture stunned me. His eyes flashed with impatience at my hesitation. Finally, I slung my bow and bag over my shoulders and approached. He lowered himself until I could reach, and I placed my hand on his fur before swinging my leg over.

Heat radiated through his thick, soft coat, calming my trembling hands. Our eyes met. Something indefinable glimmered in his gaze. My heart pounded so fiercely I felt lightheaded, my chest tightening with every breath.

I nodded to show I was ready. He dipped his head in acknowledgment.

His powerful muscles surged as he launched forward, carrying me with breathtaking force. The sensation was indescribable, somewhere between flying and surrendering to an unstoppable current. Trees blurred past us, and distant mountains shrank beneath the speed of our passage.

As time passed, he gradually slowed as the lands of the Crimson Fang Pack came into view.