PROLOGUE

OCTAVIA

The Wolf Mountain Pack was full of life that night.

Laughter filled the air as music played and paper lanterns hung under the trees. The smell of roasted meat and honey cakes made your stomach growl just walking past. Kids ran barefoot through the grass, yelling and laughing, while the grown-ups watched them with smiles and full plates.

It was all for one little girl.

Octavia Stormborn had just turned seven. Her long, dark hair was braided with tiny white flowers, and her mom had tied a silver ribbon around her wrist earlier that evening. Octavia couldn’t stop spinning in circles, giggling as her twin brother, Orion, chased her around with a wooden sword.

“Come back here, little wolf!” he yelled, laughing.

“You’ll never catch me!” she shouted back, weaving through dancing feet and zooming past their father’s legs.

Alpha Lorian Stormborn chuckled and raised his drink as they ran by. “They’re getting bigger,” he said to his beta.

“They’ve got your strength,” the beta replied, “and their mother’s heart.”

Lorian glanced over at his mate, Seraphina. She was standing nearby, one hand resting on her round belly. She looked tired, but still beautiful.

“They deserve this,” she whispered. “Just one peaceful night.”

Lorian squeezed her hand gently. “They’ll have tonight. And tomorrow too—I promise.”

But things didn’t go that way.

Later that night, the music was gone. The lanterns were still alive, but now everything was quiet. Most people had gone home.

Octavia was curled up in bed, hugging her stuffed wolf. She wore the moon-shaped pendant her mother gave her around her neck. Her eyes were half closed, and she was smiling, still thinking about the games and the cake.

Then came the scream.

At first, it was just one. Then more followed, getting louder and closer.

She sat up, her heart pounding. Her room was dark and she couldn't see much.

She ran to the window and peeked through the curtain. At first, she saw nothing but shadows.

Then she saw the flames.

Her eyes widened in fear.

“Orion?” she called to her brother. But when she turned around his bed was empty.

“Mom?” she whispered.

Another scream sounded, followed by a loud noisy crash. And a sound that didn’t sound like any wolf she knew.

She dropped to the floor and crawled under her bed, her stuffed wolf clutched tightly in her arms.

She heard heavy footsteps, then thedoor slammed open. Octavia held her breath as she saw them walk in.

“She’s not here. Check the others.”

“Alpha said take the girl. Just her.”

Octavia's heart stopped. What girl? Why?

Then she heard her father shout down the hall. “Stay away from them! Don’t touch my son!”

There was a loud roar. Then sound of fighting and screams.

Then she heard Orion’s voice. “No! Leave her alone! Get away from my mom!”

Octavia wanted to run out and help. But then she heard a scream die suddenly. Her stomach twisted as she wondered what that was about.

“Come out, little wolf,” one of the men said. “We know you’re in here.”

She tried not to cry. But the tears came anyway.

A hand reached under the bed and yanked her out. She kicked and screamed, but the man just laughed and threw her over his shoulder.

“Got her! Alpha Maeron will be pleased!”

“Burn the rest,” another voice said.

Upside down over the man’s shoulder, Octavia saw her home in flames. Her mother’s body on the ground. Her father with a dagger in his chest. She looked for Orion, but he was gone.

Something in her cracked and she screamed loud enough to shake the earth..

But no one came.

They took her to a stone fortress. Two armored wolves dragged her in, ignoring her screams and fights. Her fists beat against them, but it didn’t matter.

They brought her to him.

Alpha Maeron.

He stood tall, with a scar down his jaw and a wicked look in his eyes.

“So,” he said, stepping forward, “this is the little Stormborn girl.”

Octavia glared at him. “You’re a monster!” she shouted.

And then she bit his hand.

Hard.

He roared in pain as she bit the tip of his finger clean off.

“YOU LITTLE—” he growled.

The guards grabbed her, but he just stared at her, breathing heavy.

Then he smiled.

“There’s fire in you,” he said, holding his bleeding hand. “More than I expected.” He leaned in. “You and I, little storm, we’re going to change everything.”

Octavia spat at his boots. “Next time I’ll bite off your whole hand.”

He chuckled. “Lock her up. She’s worth more alive.”

They dragged her into the dungeon with cold stone walls and rusted gates.

The cell door closed with a heavy clang and she pressed her back to the wall, shivering from the cold and the experience.

he sound of someone sniffling caused Octavia to pause and turn towards the corner of the room.

Octavia noticed a small figure seating there and she crawled forward on her hands and knees. Then she reached out and touched the leg.

The figure jumped back into the corner.

“Hey,” Octavia whispered. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”

But the figure only answered with more sniffles.

A pale face turned toward her. It was a girl, younger than her. Maybe five. She was skinny and looked scared.

Octavia sat near, careful not to get too close.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

The girl didn’t speak. She lifted her hands and started to sign.

Octavia blinked. “You can’t talk?”

The girl nodded.

“Okay,” Octavia said. “Let’s figure it out. You show me, I’ll guess.”

The girl held up four fingers, and Octavia nodded.

“Four letters. Got it. Starts with an A?”

The girl shook her head no.

"B?"

Still no.

"C?" Octavia asked but she shook her head once more.

"D?" This time the girl nodded, causing Octavia's eyes to light up.

“Do?” Another nod.

Octavia guessed a few names. Finally: “Dory?”

The girl smiled and nodded happily.

Octavia giggled. “Dory! That’s pretty. I’m Octavia.”

She hesitated before asking. “Do you have a family?”

Dory shook her head, no.

Octavia's voice cracked. “Me neither. Not anymore.”

They sat in silence for a few seconds. Then Octavia whispered, “We can be family. You and me. Okay?”

Dory nodded.

Octavia smiled. She reached into her pocket and pulled out two crumbled cookies.

“I snuck these earlier. Mom said I had too many already.”

She broke one and handed it over.

They ate in the dark, sitting side by side.

That night, Octavia Stormborn disappeared.

No one saw her again, not the way she was.

She was taken to a place without light, without kindness, where she was trained. Hurt and changed.

But somewhere deep down, she still remembered her mother’s voice. Her brother’s laugh. Her father's love.

One day, she would return.

Not as a girl.

Not as a victim.

But as the storm.