Chapter 3

~ Marina's POV ~

My head kept turning sideways, backward, and forward as I walked through the streets of Dravenmoor. It was beautiful.

So painfully beautiful that it almost made my chest ache.

Compared to the abandoned village I grew up in, this place felt unreal. Our village had been nothing but silence and shallow, dying trees stretching toward a sky that never seemed to care. But here… the trees were lush and alive, their leaves dancing gently in the wind. The streets were clean. The houses stood tall and proud.

Dravenmoor wasn’t just beautiful. It was paradise. No wonder my father always said the Moon Goddess hated us.

She gave abundantly to the pack wolves—rich lands, overflowing food, warm homes and left us rogues with scraps and shadows. The question of how we became rogues… and why we were never allowed to live among pack wolves… had burned inside me for years.

Every time I asked, my father would grow quiet. All he ever said was, "We are the good ones. They are the monsters."

And I believed him.

I still do.

I will obey his last dying words.

I will kill every wolf here.

I don’t care if Dravenmoor becomes empty. I don’t care if its beauty turns to ash.

And yet… despite the hatred clawing inside my chest, I couldn’t deny it... the beauty tempted me. It pulled something fragile inside me. The laughter of children. The easy smiles. The way everyone seemed to genuinely care for one another.... It looked like peace.

My stomach suddenly rumbled—loud and violent, dragging me back to reality. The scent of freshly grilled meat drifted through the air, rich and mouthwatering. My senses sharpened instantly, and my eyes traced the smell to a nearby tavern.

My stomach growled again, more desperate this time.

For the past two days, I hadn't eaten anything because I had been running for my life. I was hungry. No… I was starving.

Should I keep going and avoid the temptation? But the fresh meat smelled so good.

After debating for a while, I decided to take the risk. If the hefty werewolves at the gate couldn't recognize me as a girl, I'm sure no one would.

Besides, I needed to eat to strengthen myself. I still don't know where the Moonreign Academy is. If I faint before reaching it, my disguise would crumble… and so would my revenge.

Taking a steady breath, I stepped inside the tavern. A few pack wolves were seated at different tables. From their posture, their clothes, and the confidence in their scent, I could tell they belonged to powerful ranks.

I swallowed hard.

As my eyes searched for somewhere safe to sit, a chubby woman approached me. Her clothes were plain, unlike the finely dressed pack wolves eating at the tables. Lower rank. Maybe an Omega.

"What can I offer you, cute boy?" she asked brightly, her smile warm and genuine.

It was my turn to reply, but I didn't know what to say. I had never been asked what I wanted to eat before. As the daughter of a rogue leader, meals were always provided without question. I never needed to choose.

My lips parted slightly as she waited patiently for me to speak. "Give… give me the best of the house," I said, forcing a small smile.

"I'll be back, cutie. Have your seat." She gestured toward an empty table.

I gave her a fake smile and sat at the extreme end of the tavern where I could see the pack wolves inside. I made sure to sit like a boy while avoiding their eyes that flicked toward me.

As my eyes scanned the tavern, I accidentally met the side profile of someone, and for some reason I couldn't understand, I couldn't even look away from him.

I haven't seen his entire face, but his side profile gave me the feeling that he was really handsome. The way he was taking the fresh meat inside his mouth was just too...

I shook my head, discarding the thought before I could even spell the words out. I entered Dravenmoor to get my revenge, not to admire the side profile of a pack wolf.

But then again, why can't I look away from his direction? Somehow it felt like I had seen his side profile before. But it's impossible... this is my first time in Dravenmoor.

"Here's your order, cutie." The woman’s voice jolted me, and she placed a bowl of boiled chicken wing soup and fine wine before me.

My mouth watered instantly.

I hadn't had such before. We rogues only depended on rabbits and stream water. The pack wolves must really be living abundantly. The Moon Goddess was blessing them so much.

"Enjoy your meal, cutie... It's the best we have in the house?" she smiled.

I nodded, giving a small, awkward laugh.

"You're not from Dravenmoor, right?" she asked just as I was about to take a bite from the chicken.

"I'm joining Moonreign Academy," I replied.

"Moonreign Academy?" she gasped, but not too loudly. "Does that mean you're the future Alpha of your pack?"

I nodded, tittering.

"But you look too cute and small to be an Alpha," she said, her eyes studying me from head to toe.

Nervousness gripped me. She's a woman, what if she finds out I'm a girl?

Damnit! I should've resisted the temptation of hunger and just find my way to the academy.

I avoided her gaze, my eyes darting everywhere but her face.

Suddenly, she burst into laughter, almost drawing the attention of the others. "You don't have to feel shy about it. It's the Moon Goddess's fault for making a future Alpha so small and cute."

I beamed, praying inwardly that she would leave me alone.

"My name is Gwen... what's your name?" she asked, giving me a glowing smile.

"Ummm... Warren?" I lied.

As I said, I can't mention I'm Louis. She already knows I'm from outside Dravenmoor. The only ones I can lie to that I am Louis were the students of Moonreign Academy.

But how Louis was able to leave the territory of Dravenmoor and get killed in the deep forest still baffled me, but it wasn't my business to worry about him.

"Nice meeting you, Warren. When the meals at the academy get tasteless, you can always come here. I'll serve you for free," she giggled.

Serve me for free?

Why was she nice to me?

My father told me pack wolves weren't nice.

Is she… developing feelings for me because she thinks I am a boy? She better not... I'm only here for revenge.

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," I said to her. And I was so happy when she finally left me alone.

A genuine smile lit up my face when I took a bite of the chicken wings. It tasted so delicious—no wonder Gwen had confidently offered to serve me again.

Then...

CRASH!

A table slammed into the wall, splintering into pieces. My head snapped toward the source.

It was him.

The familiar side-profile boy. He had thrown the table like it weighed nothing.

His back was to me now, but I could feel the fury radiating off him like heat from a fire. Why was he angry? Just seconds ago, he was eating calmly.

"How many times am I going to warn you never to speak of her in such a manner!" he roared, flinging another table aside.

The few pack wolves didn’t flinch, almost as if they were used to his outburst. They were just focused on their meals, making me the curious one.

"I'm sorry, Conrad. I didn't mean to," the man beside him said quickly.

Conrad? Like Conrad Frost... The same name the hefty werewolf at the gate had warned me about?

It had to be him. He carried that wicked aura.

I stretched my neck slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of his face, but all I saw was his broad back. He was broad and tall. Compared to him, I felt small and fragile.

"It’s already annoying enough that my father wants me in that stupid academy," his deep baritone cut through the room, "so don’t add to it. If you speak ill about her again, it won’t be the tables hitting the wall. It’ll be your head."

It wasn't a threat... he meant it. But who could he be referring to as "her"? The way he spoke… the raw protectiveness in his voice showed he cared deeply about her.

"I'm... sorry," the man stammered again, his voice small and shaken.

But Conrad didn’t spare him another glance. He simply turned and walked out of the tavern.

And for the first time, I saw the faint outline of his profile as he passed through the doorway—the sharpness of his jaw, the storm brewing behind his eyes.

Dangerous.... that was the only word that fit him.

He was part of Moonreign Academy. If he was heading there… he would unknowingly lead me straight to it.

Without thinking twice, I followed him.