Landon's territory.

Her life, her future and every dream were ruined. Olivia had hoped that breaking the ties with the pack would free her, but the plan backfired in the worst way possible. 

She became damaged goods: a marked woman who ran away. No pack in their right mind would take her in now, and no man could ever look her way. 

And worst of all, Olivia knew that even if a pack took her in, they had to announce her arrival to the man who marked her. 

The chances of getting away from Noah were close to none, but that didn't mean she would give up. No, she wasn't the scared little girl anymore and knew better than to give Noah what he wanted. She would fight for her freedom. 

So, once she saw a chance, Oliva stormed to her room, grabbed her wallet and sneaked out the window. Noah had gone to his office and would probably discuss what he did with his best friend- Olivia intended to use every minute they wasted to her advantage. 

She loved Enzo. He was Noah's best friend, but he was nothing like the feral monster Noah was, so she used to love spending time with Enzo. 

But even as she crossed the field and tried to escape prying eyes, Olivia didn't regret her decision. If the cost of her freedom was the possibility of never meeting her friend again, she had to take it. 

The closer she ran to the forest line, the harder her heart beat against her ribcage. Olivia could hear her parents' voices in her head, but she ignored the warnings and pleas. Those people weren't her parents; she didn't belong in their pack. 

"It has to be somewhere here," Olivia panted as she disappeared between the trees and kept pushing her body forward. 

She chose the nearest border and didn't think of the neighbouring packs or free lands. She didn't intend to stay in a pack if she were to enter one, just pass through it until she found the nearest airport and returned to England. 

As she ran, tears welled in her eyes. Only now did Olivia have to accept and understand how her life changed. She had no home, no parents, and darn it; she lost even a brother. 

What was Olivia supposed to do? Did Noah think she would open her arms for him and accept his attempts to become something? A bitter chuckle left her lips at the thought. 

Years ago, Olivia would have loved the idea; she used to have the worst crush on the man and couldn't explain it no matter how hard she tried. Back then, she stopped herself with reminders about them sharing blood, but as she ran through the woods, away from the monster who marked her, she knew they weren't siblings, and Noah already took full advantage of the fact. 

She kept glancing back, fearing someone might have decided to follow her, but the thoughts and adrenaline did nothing but make her run faster. 

She fell and stumbled back on her feet a couple of times, and at one point, she noticed blood. 

If there were rogue wolves nearby, she was as good as dead, which was another thought that drove Olivia closer to the border. 

Only after another painful tug at her heart did Olivia understand she was free. Free from the past that wasn't hers and the demons that might haunt her. 

Her eyes scanned the area as she leaned against the nearby tree to catch her breath. Olivia had to think of what she might tell the patrol wolves in case she entered another territory, but she decided that telling the truth was the only option for her. 

It didn't take too long for six massive wolves to appear next to her and surround her. Olivia knew running would be the worst thing she might do, so she raised her hands to show she didn't have a weapon. 

"My name is Olivia," she whispered. "I ran from my pack, and I promise I won't stay here for longer than necessary. I had to get out of there, but I'll be on my way shortly after I catch my breath. You can take me to your Alpha, and I will tell him everything he wants to know. I didn't come with ill intentions; I just needed a safe space to cross and get away." 

One of the wolves, the biggest one, tilted his head in a direction, and the others slowly started moving there while this one stood and waited on Olivia. 

She hoped the man didn't shift for her good. The last thing she needed was a nude man yelling at her for being reckless or invading territories without permission. 

Olivia knew this might happen, so she nodded and followed the wolves. What she did was indeed reckless and even stupid so, as she never bothered to think of which territory she might step into. 

The biggest problem she had now wasn't Noah anymore; it was the Alpha who owned this territory. Many packs couldn't find the middle ground between the Alpha rulings, so some became allies, and others became enemies. 

Midnight Blood was notorious for being one of the largest and most wealthy packs, but with the extras came far too many enemies. If this Alpha were to find out who Olivia truly was, he might try to sell her back to Noah. Or, even worse, kill her. Now that she wore Noah's mark on her neck, it wouldn't surprise her if someone decided to use her to hurt Noah. 

She cast her glance down to her feet and focused on following the wolves without another fall. Oliva didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the warriors of another pack.

Perhaps she should have kept an eye on where the men took her, but since all wolves looked healthy and had no blood on their fur, Olivia knew as much as they weren't rogues. 

Once they stepped out of the cover of the forest and Olivia finally looked up, she gasped. The packhouse was beautiful, and the people around it looked so joyful; she wondered why this was the first time she had seen this place. 

A wolf nudged her side, encouraging Olivia to keep walking. Her cheeks heated as she glanced at the wolf and muttered, "I'm sorry, sir." 

If the wolves could grin, Olivia would swear that's the thing this one did. It walked close to her as if it could sense how scared and uneasy Olivia was. 

The presence provided more comfort for her, and once the wolf started growling and baring his teeth at everyone who looked in Olivia's direction, she knew this stranger was on her side. 

The wolf stayed by her side while the others disappeared briefly. Soon enough, five massive men dressed in only jeans approached Olivia. 

"Miss, the Alpha is expecting you." One of the men spoke. 

Olivia couldn't understand where she was, yet she wasn't as shocked about the unfamiliar place as the kindness these strangers showed her. 

Olivia gulped and glanced at the wolf, who still sat near her. "Can..." She bit her lip and scanned her surroundings. 

"Cassius can go with you, but he doesn't shift." The same man adds, and the tension leave's Olivia's features. 

She didn't know the wolf, but it was nice, he looked after her, and in a new place, it's always easier to fit in if you know at least one person. 

Following the men again, with the wolf at her side, Olivia entered the enormous packhouse. The men led her down multiple halls until they stopped in front of an office, and one of the men knocked on the door. 

"You may enter," a voice called out. 

The door opened, and Olivia was shoved inside. She instinctively reached down to touch the wolf for comfort, but he wasn't there. Panic coursed through her as Olivia looked down and then around, seeking something. And then, her eyes settled on the man sitting behind the desk. Her heart sank, and her breath hitched. She was on Landon's territory. The only pack that hated the one she came from with passion: their hatred was deep, wild and personal. 

Olivia held her breath as the man rose from his seat and cleared his throat, "I'm far too old to deal with trespassing bullshit, so you will have to wait until my son hears you out. Three days, you have three days to set your story straight. Then, we shall decide your future." 

She gaped at the man. Wasn't he the Alpha? What did this have to do with his son? Besides, how hard could it possibly be for him to hear her out and let her leave?

"Guards!" He yelled, and the door behind Olivia immediately opened. "Take our guest to the cells. Until we figure out why we have one of the Bloods runts here, she isn't entitled to food or water. Three days won't kill her."