Chapter 3

OCTAVIA

Smoke stung my eyes as I stumbled through the trees, each step dragging more than the last. My clothes were torn, and soaked in blood and dirt. Some of the blood was mine, but most wasn’t. I had spent hours smearing animal blood on myself, standing in thick smoke just long enough to carry that burnt scent, just to make my story and act believable.

I collapsed just past the Shadow Crescent border, gasping. My lungs burned from the smoke, and my thigh throbbed painfully where I’d cut myself just enough to sell the lie without slowing me down. The plan was simple. Look like a survivor. Seem helpless. Be the victim. That was the only way they'd let me in. And I needed in.

So I waited.

Time passed slowly. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours.

The sun was nearly gone when a loud howl met my ears, followed by fast and heavy footsteps and sound of leaves and twigs snapping.

Three men burst into the clearing, their wild-eyed, scanning the scene.

I swallowed as I recognized their scent.

Shadow Crescent patrol.

I let my body go slack, draping one arm over my head like I was hidding in fear.

“Wait! Someone’s here!” one of them called out.

“Is it a rogue?” Another voice asked.

“No, looks like a female. She’s hurt. Bad.”

"Maybe she was attacked by rogues?"

"Or maybe she escaped from somewhere?"

Rough hands touched my arms, but they were careful, and gentle. I whimpered, flinching like a scared rabbit. Just enough to convince them that I was harmless.

One of the men leaned closer. “Hey, it's okay. It's okay, don't be sacred. You’re safe now. Can you talk? Tell us what happened.”

I gasped, my voice cracking like I’d been crying for hours. “R-Rogues… They came out of nowhere. My family... My pack… they’re all gone. I ran. I didn’t know where else to go. Please don't hurt me.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Please. Don’t send me back. I don't want to go back. There’s nothing left.”

Their expressions softened instantly and they shared a look of sympathy.

“We need to take her to Beta Colton. She’s bleeding too much. She needs medical attention.” One of them said.

The others nodded in agreement and ey helped me up gently, guiding me through the woods. I leaned on one of them, letting my head droop and I listened carefully to their conversation.

“A rogue survivor this close to Shadow Crescent? That’s rare.” The one on my left said.

“Tell me about it,” another one muttered. “Last week it was bodies at the southern border. Before that, missing kids from the orphanage. This whole territory’s gone nuts. I hope the moon goddess comes to our rescue soon before it gets worse.”

I frowned in confusion.

Bodies?

Missing kids?

That wasn’t part of my plan.

I hope whatever was going on here before my arrival won't complicate my mission in anyway. There was too much depending on it.

They brought me through a long hallway until we reached a thick wooden door. One of the guards knocked. “Beta Colton! We’ve got a situation!”

The door opened, revealing a tall man with dark skin and hazel eyes that instantly narrowed when he saw me.

“What’s going on? Who is this?”

The guard whispered something in his ear and Colton looked me over, frowning.

“I'm sorry, did you say rogues wiped out your pack?”

I nodded, my voice shaking as I explained. “Yes, sir. They came this afternoon in broad daylight. They were too many. We didn’t stand a chance.”

“And you ended up here?” He asked, raising his eyebrows in question.

I could hear the doubt and suspecion in his voice as he asked the question.

I forced myself to remain calm.

“I didn’t know where I was going,” I whispered. “I just ran. I’m not here to cause trouble, Sir. I just a place to sleep for the night. I’ll be gone in the morning. Please.”

He studied me for a long moment.

Then he sighed. “That's not my decision to make. The Alpha decides.”

My pulse skipped. Here we go.

I followed Beta Colton down the hall, and we stopped in front of a door. He knocked once.

“Enter.” A deep voice called out.

Colton opened the door, stepping in and I stepped in behind him.

A man stood by the window with his back to us. He had broad shoulders and messy dark hair.

He turned slowly, and my breath caught in my throat.

Dorian Lysander.

The Beast of Shadow Crescent.

He didn’t look like a beast.

He looked like a war.

Colton walked over and whispered something in his ear, and his gray eyes met mine. They looked cold and unreadable, but they also looked dangerous. He didn’t speak. Just stared.

I stood still trying my best to look calm and unreadable. Just a lost girl.

He stepped forward, his intense gaze fixed on me.

“Rogue attack?” he asked Colton without breaking eye contact.

Colton nodded. “She says her pack was wiped out. Barely made it out alive.”

Dorian stopped just in front of me.

“What’s your name?”

“Octavia,” I whispered, and froze.

I had a fake name. I was supposed to use a different name. But something about the way he looked at me threw me off.

Too late.

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing like he was studying something behind my face.

Then he smiled.

It wasn’t friendly. It wasn’t cruel either.

It was cold. And it felt like ice sliding down my spine.

Something in me stirred in discomfort. It was almost like he was warning me.

This man wasn’t going to be fooled easily.

This wasn’t just a mission.

I had walked straight into the lion’s den.

And I had no idea how I was going to walk out.

Before I met him I thought I had him. But now I wasn't so sure...