17

SIENNA

I woke up to the faint smell of smoke and the low murmur of voices outside my room. The rogues were already awake… arguing, laughing, sharpening blades. Life in their pack always sounded like chaos barely held together by loyalty to one man. Rhys.

The thin blanket I’d been given did little against the chill of dawn. I rubbed my arms, staring at the ceiling. I’d been here for weeks, maybe months… I’d stopped keeping count. Time moved differently when everyone wanted you gone.

When I finally stepped outside, a few of them paused their work to glare. One spat at the ground, another muttered something under his breath. I ignored it. That has become second nature now. If I reacted to every insult, I’d never have a moment of peace.

“Morning, healer,” Rhea called from the side, tossing a bundle of herbs into my hands. “We’re out of dried willow bark. You think you can find some before the storm hits?”

“I’ll try,” I said. “If the rain doesn’t drown me first.”

She snorted. “You’ll live. You always do.”

Her words were half teasing, half genuine and that alone made me grateful. Rhea was one of the few who didn’t treat me like a curse walking among them.

I tied the bundle to my belt and made my way toward the forest edge. The cold bit at my fingers, the wind pushing my hair into my face. Every step away from the camp felt lighter, like the air itself didn’t hate me out here.

I was halfway through picking bark from a fallen tree when I heard them… whispers. Low, hurried, and not meant for me.

“...said he’s starting to soften on her. Elira won’t like that.”

“Doesn’t matter what she likes. The Alpha’s the one calling the shots.”

“Still, that girl’s dangerous. You’ve seen what happens when a Silverfang gets close to power. It never ends well.”

My fingers froze. They were talking about me.

I straightened slowly, straining to hear more, but the voices faded as they moved deeper into the woods. I took a step to follow, my boots crunching on dead leaves, too loud.

“Who's there?” one of them snapped.

I ducked behind a tree, heart hammering. The two rogues emerged through the mist, looking around. One was tall with a scar running down his jaw, the other broader, holding a knife.

“Probably just an animal,” the tall one said.

“Maybe,” the other replied. “Still, keep an eye out. Luna said to watch her. Closely.”

Luna. Elira.

I waited until their footsteps vanished before stepping out, my pulse still racing. So Elira had eyes everywhere. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely.

I hurried back toward the camp, my mind spinning. If she was giving orders about me, it meant she still saw me as a threat and the whispers about Rhys “softening” toward me weren’t helping. I needed to be careful.

By the time I reached the main yard, everyone was gathered, training, cooking, tending to the fires. I tried to move through unnoticed, but a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“Well, if it isn’t our little Silverfang,” Marlo sneered, blocking my path.

I sighed. “Not now, Marlo.”

“Why? Got somewhere better to be? Maybe running back to your Alpha for protection?”

“He’s your Alpha too,” I said.

That wiped the smirk off his face. “Watch your mouth.”

Before I could respond, someone called from across the yard, “Rhys wants her!”

Marlo glared once more before stepping aside. “You’re lucky,” he muttered.

I didn’t feel lucky. My hands were still trembling as I walked toward the Alpha’s quarters.

Rhys was waiting near the entrance, his dark hair tied back, his expression unreadable as always.

“You went into the woods alone?” he asked the second I appeared.

“I was gathering herbs.”

He folded his arms. “You were gone too long.”

I frowned. “Do I need permission to breathe too?”

He didn’t smile. “You need permission to wander into rogue territory. If they catch you out there…”

“I’m already surrounded by people who want me dead. What difference does it make?”

That earned me a look, one that lingered too long. “It makes a difference to me,” he said quietly.

Something in my chest twisted at that, but before I could respond, Elira appeared from behind him. Her voice was honey-sweet, but her eyes could have cut glass.

“Rhys,” she said, placing a hand on his arm. “I was just about to ask if you’d seen Sienna. And here she is.”

I forced a smile. “Luna.”

She tilted her head. “You look tired. Been out enjoying the forest again?”

I met her gaze evenly. “Just doing my job.”

“How diligent of you.” She smiled again, but her tone dripped venom. “Be careful out there, Sienna. The forest is… unpredictable.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Of course you can,” she said, brushing past me. “You seem to have a talent for survival.”

When she was gone, Rhys rubbed a hand over his face. “Ignore her.”

“I’d love to, but she keeps appearing like a bad omen.”

He almost smiled at that. “You shouldn’t provoke her Goldie.”

“Shouldn’t or can’t?” I asked.

“Both.”

We stared at each other for a long moment before I finally said, “If you called me here to lecture me about my safety, I’ve heard enough for one day.”

“I called you here,” he said slowly, “because I need your help.”

That caught me off guard. “My help?”

“There’s been a sickness spreading among the border guards. I want you to take a look.”

I hesitated. “And what happens if they refuse to let me near them?”

“They won’t,” he said simply. “I’ll be with you.”

It was the first time he’d ever said something that almost sounded like reassurance. Against my better judgment, I nodded.

We spent the next few hours moving through the camp, checking the guards. Some of them flinched when they saw me, but Rhys’s presence was enough to keep them quiet. I mixed herbs, gave instructions, and kept my head down.

When we reached the last hall, Rhys stopped me. “You’re pale,” he said. “You should rest.”

“I’m fine.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You always say that.”

“Because it’s always true.”

His gaze softened for a second before he looked away. “You don’t have to keep proving you belong here, Sienna.”

I blinked at him. “You think that’s what I’m doing?”

He didn’t answer.

I sighed. “I’m just trying to survive.”

“That makes two of us,” he said quietly.

The air between us grew thick again, heavy with something neither of us wanted to name. Finally, I stepped back. “If we’re done here, I’ll go check on the herbs I put out for mixing.”

He nodded once. “Go.”

As I turned to leave, Elira’s voice drifted through the open flap of the tent. “Rhys, darling, I need a word.”

He glanced toward her, then back at me. “We’ll continue this later.”

“Sure,” I said, already walking away.

I didn’t look back, I couldn’t because even from across the yard, I could feel Elira’s gaze burning into my back, cold and calculating and I knew this was far from over.

Whatever she was planning, whatever game she was playing, I had to be ready because next time, I might not be lucky enough to walk away.