Chapter 0009

I didn't think I'd live to be 18, but the day is coming.

The sun was slowly rising as I made my way to the training grounds, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The memory of my arrival at the Blood Rose pack and how Luna Melanie and Alpha Brandon adopting me flooded my mind as the scent of pine and the dew on the grass brought it all back.

I could still feel the sting of branches scratching against my skin as I staggered through the forest, each step heavier than the last. Panic and exhaustion, my legs were barely able to hold me as each step forward was a challenge.

I didn't know how long I had been running away from the Iron Claw pack, but when I found myself collapsing in a clearing filled with voices and laughter, a tiny flame of hope flickered in me. Maybe I had finally found refuge even if it was only for one night.

"Kailani, I want you on the punching bag," shouted a voice, snapping me back to the present. I shook my head, trying to shake the memories that clung to m