Chapter 1: Take her away

Ivory's POV 

"Before you go, could you get me some herbs from the storeroom?” one of the packhouse staff asked.

“Um… sure,” I said, turning toward the storeroom. Who was I to refuse? Even after a long shift, there were always errands to run. I only worked part-time as a cleaner here, and after this I’d return to my tiny house with its leaking roof and cold floor.

My stomach grumbled again, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day. Not that it was anything new.

The storeroom was dark—so dark I could barely see. I should’ve brought a torch. How was I supposed to find the herbs in this gloom?

I moved slowly, letting my hands brush along the boxes. I’d seen where the herbs were before, so I tried to rely on memory.

Suddenly my foot slipped. I hit the ground with a thud.

“Ah!” I groaned as something cold splashed across me.

“Shit,” I muttered, pushing myself up when a sharp smell filled my nose.

Before I could process it, the door burst open.

Flashlights blinded me as heavy boots pounded across the floor.

Beta Alaric and several others stormed in. They froze when they saw me.

“So it’s you,” one of the men said.

“Wh-what? Me?” I stammered.

“You killed him! How dare you!” another shouted.

“Killed who?” My heart began racing. “I don’t understand—”

My gaze dropped to my hands and clothes and I froze. There was blood all over my hands and clothes.

I looked at the floor and there was a pool of blood. My stomach twisted. I couldn’t speak. My body felt caught in some trap, like a cornered animal.

"This is… I… I… I can’t believe this," I muttered, unable to form actual words.

“And she looks so innocent,” One of them spat.

"I didn’t do anything," I finally found my voice, shaking.

The Alpha of the pack had been missing for several days. No one knew what happened or how he could just vanish. It was unheard of for an Alpha to just disappear. The tension in the pack had been growing, and now it was all on me.

Suddenly, I felt a rough grip on my wrist.

“What is your name?” the beta demanded, his voice low and cold, teeth clenched.

I flinched. “I… I’m Ivory,” I whispered.

“Ivory,” he muttered and his eyes narrowed. “How dare you… what did you do to our Alpha?”

I swallowed hard, trying to find a voice. “My lord, I didn’t do—”

“What did you do to him?” he cut me off sharply, his tone sending a shiver down my spine.

“I… I don’t know anything.”

“Then explain this!” He released my wrist harshly, stepping back with blazing eyes. “Explain. What is all this?”

“His wristwatch, sir.” Another voice piped up. My heart nearly stopped as I stared at the Alpha’s wristwatch soaked in blood.

“What did you do to him?” Beta Alaric roared.

My breath hitched and tears blurred my vision.

“I… I didn’t do anything! I don’t know! I just… I came here to get some herbs and…”

“LIES!” The beta spat, teeth bared. Before I could respond, he barked, “Guards. Seize her!”

“What?” My eyes went wide as I instinctively stepped back.

Two guards moved quickly, grabbing me harshly. I struggled, screaming. They dragged me forward, taking me away.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as they dragged me forward. “Beta Alaric, please… listen. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t kill anyone, I’ve never hurt anyone before. I’m innocent!” I pleaded, my voice cracking.

Beta Alaric clenched his teeth, his eyes cold. “You do look innocent… but you’re a witch. I promise you’ll rot in this dungeon for the rest of your life. Take her away.”

The guard yanked me forward again, and I struggled, trying to break free. My life couldn’t end like this. Yes, it had been miserable, but at least I had freedom. I had scraped by, found food, survived in my own way. I couldn’t be thrown into a cell for something I hadn’t done.

I twisted, kicking one of the guards hard. He stumbled back, letting go for just a moment. I moved, trying to run, but the other guard caught me by the arm.

“You little slut,” he hissed, and the slap across my face made fire spread on my cheek. Tears rolled faster now.

They shoved me into the cell. “You murderer,” one muttered. “I’m surprised the Beta is still letting you live. You should’ve been beheaded on the spot.”

The other guard scoffed. “Maybe he wants her to have a slow death. That hurts more, doesn’t it?”

The first guard shrugged.

“Believe me…I didn’t do anything!” I cried, my voice breaking. Slowly, I stood, trembling.

Then another guard came rushing toward them. “The Alpha’s body… has been found.”

“What?” one of the guards stammered.

“Yes,” the new guard said.

“What do you mean?” the first asked, looking down.

“He’s dead,” the guard said, voice low. “His eyes were gouged out. His face is almost unrecognizable.”

The two guards froze and I felt my stomach drop.

The Alpha was dead?

I swallowed hard in shock and disbelief.

Then one of them turned toward me with clenched teeth. “You little…”

His fist moved toward my face and darkness swallowed me.

*6 MONTHS LATER*

I didn’t even know if what I was doing could still be called living. Most days I felt like something trapped between life and death.

If my life had been bad before, it was nothing compared to this.

They whipped me every other day. The lashes tore through my skin until my back burned like fire. Being a werewolf meant the wounds healed, but healing didn’t make the pain disappear.

They fed me once a day. A slice of bread and a cup of water, tossed inside like I was some stray animal.

This dungeon had become my hell.

Most nights I cried myself to sleep on the cold stone floor. Sometimes fever took over my body, but no one came.

No one cared whether I lived or died.

But the worst part wasn’t the whips or the hunger. It was the injections.

The drugs they forced into my veins twisted my thoughts and made my body feel strange.

I hated it.

Right now I sat on the cold floor, my back against the damp wall, staring blankly through the iron bars.

The sound of keys broke the silence. My heart sank as a guard unlocked the gate.

In his hand was the familiar syringe. My stomach twisted.

He looked at me and gave that same wicked grin I had come to dread. Slowly, he lifted the syringe, the needle glinting faintly in the dim light.

Ready to inject me again.

I shook my head weakly, my entire body trembling.

“P-please…” My voice barely came out. It was nothing more than a broken whisper.

I couldn’t even form proper words anymore. All that escaped my throat were soft, helpless whimpers.

He grabbed my arm roughly, his grip like iron. “Hold still,” he muttered.

Then the needle plunged into my skin.

Pain spread through my arm as the cold liquid rushed into my veins.