Chapter 1

Whitmore Pack.

8 p.m.

"Lena, run!" Her Mother's voice cut through the chaotic night, raw with urgency. "Run and don't look back! That's my last command as your mother." 

Luna Lilly pushed her daughter with every ounce of strength left inside her, but Lena was too weak to move, too emotionally drained to even hear her mother's words. Hot tears streamed down her face as she watched the huge wolves ripped down her people, their claws connecting brutally to their bodies, their fangs tearing them apart like they weren't of the same kind—like they were a prey to be killed and devoured.

Bodies littered around the pack house, twisted and broken. The pack warriors, the elders, even the pups have been slaughtered. The metallic tang of blood filled Lena's lungs—suffocating and terrifying.

Lena Whitmore, the seventeen-year-old girl princess of the Whitmore Pack had always been admired for her ethereal beauty—long, cascading black hair. Her eyes were a mesmerizing shades of silver. Her skin flawless and smooth. Most of all, she was kind, and a strong fit to succeed the throne after her father, Alpha Callum. 

All her life, she had known only two things: training and studying. She had devoted herself to becoming the protector her people would need one day. But she never imagined that day would come so soon.

And now, without her wolf, she was powerless.

Lena was just returning from after school lesson, clutching her book to her chest, humming a popular tune while appreciating the evening sun. As she turned a corner leading to the pack house, she noticed the unnatural silence that settled over the place. No usual laughter, chatter and the running around of the children—just eerie silence.

Her heart thundered against her chest as she quickened her pace. On her arrival, she was met with the sight of the palace, her home completely burned down.

"Lena," her mother called, gripping her shoulders firmly and snapping her out of her thoughts. "You have to go now," she said firmly despite the pain coursing through her side. 

"Mother....." She could barely managed the word as she stared at her mother, her once-beautiful silver hair tangled with dirt and crimson. Her bare body was covered in wounds and bloodied.

Then her father was at the center of the courtyard. He knelt down on the blood-soaked ground with two warriors towering over him. Deep cuts ran across his chest and arms, but he remained proud. He was a warrior afterall and wasn't supposed to cower even in the face of death.

Then before him stood three identical figures, although they were distinct in presence. The Blackthorne triplets.

Ronan, the leader, had a cold blue eyes and he held a bloodied dagger to her father's neck. Kieran, the knowledgeable strategist, stood at his side, watching as if it was opera drama unfolding before him. Soren, the warrior, was covered in blood—not his though—it was the blood of her people.

Lena's breath seized.

Ronan raised his head, and his eyes locked with Lena's. Who was she? He thought they had killed all of them. Then when he saw Luna Lilly beside her, he knew instantly that it was the Alpha's daughter.

"Kill her," he commanded and the warriors were already moving towards her.

"Please," Alpha Callum who had been courageous begged for the first time in his entire life. "She's just a child. Let her go." His voice was low, exhausted but very desperate.

Everywhere stilled for a second, Ronan tilted his head like he was considering his words. Then a wicked smirk spread on his face. "Kill her."

The warriors moved to grab her but her father and mother couldn't watch their beautiful, and innocent daughter died just like that. They sprang into actions and chaos erupted for the second time. They lunged at the warriors with the last of their strength.

"LEAVE. NOW." Luna Lilly screamed for the last time as she fought off the guards. 

Maybe it was the desperation in her parents voice or their determination to fight even in their lowest that made Lena obey this time. Her legs acted before her mind did. She turned on her heels and ran away.

Behind her was a mix of her parents painful cries and Ronan commands. "Go after her. Make sure she doesn't get away."

The boots of her pursuers echoed behind her but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop —not when her parents had done everything to make sure she lives, not when they have been killed when trying to let her get away. She was exhausted, but she knew stopping was never an option.

She ran into the forest, the forest, the trees blurring past her, tears streaming down her face, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Pain. Immense pain burned through her veins, her legs trembling and threatening to give out, but she pushed forward.

She had to survive.

She had to live.

The howls of her pursuers grew closer. Terror settled inside her. And just as she attempted to increase her pace, her leg stumbled over a root. The ground suddenly gave out , a strangled cry slipped past her lips as she tumbled. She rolled down the cliff and her head hit a rock nearby.

The rushing of a river below was the last thing she heard before darkness consumed her.

********

Six hours later.

Pain shot through Lena's body as she regained consciousness. Her head throbbing, pounding with a dull ache that made her wince. Her body, including eye lid were sore, every muscles protesting as she blinked her eyes open.

For a moment, it seems like her memories were wiped out. She didn't move. She just lay there, her mind struggling to grasp the reason why she was alone in the dark forest in the first place. Then reality hit her.

She was alone in this brutal world. Her home was gone. Her parents was gone. Her pack.... slaughtered.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the memories came rushing back causing pain after pain. The scent of blood. The painful cries of her parents. And those..... those cruel triplets, especially Ronan, the one who gave the order to end her life.

A strangled sob escaped her throat, her fingers clenching. Why? Why would they rip her of everything she loved in one single night? What had her kind Pack done to deserve such brutal slaughter?

As much as she wanted to mourn, she couldn't. The place wasn't safe and she needed to get out of here.

Forcing herself to sit up despite the pain in her bloodied hair, she wiped her tears away with trembling fingers. She stood up and glance around the unfamiliar forest. She doesn't know the way out but she staggered forward, leaning against a tree for support.

She inhaled sharply, but just as she took a step, she caught sight of over a dozen figures emerged from the shadows, their cold, dark eyes immediately locked into her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

They weren't her pursuers. No. They were far worse. Rogues.

Lena's heart pounded as she immediately backed away, turning to the other direction. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but there was nowhere to go. They had already surrounded her, their eyes predatory.

"Well, well," a voice drawled lazily.

Lena eyes scanned them fearfully, a secret prayer of help lingering in her mind.

A ugly man with deep cut on his face stepped forward, his lips curling into a smirk as he took in  her beautiful curves revealed by her torn clothes. His eyes gleamed with dark intent.

"Looks like we've found something interesting," he murmured, his hungry eyes never leaving her. "The Rogue king is going to love this one. She would be perfect as his plaything."