Chapter 1

 In Chains (Vera’s POV)

My scalp burned as Lana’s claws tore through my unkempt hair, yanking me up from the icy stone floor of the rogue lair. 

The air reeked of silver spray, its metallic sting filling my lungs, and chaining my weak wolf deep within me. 

“Look at yourself, Vera,” Lana snarled, her voice dripping venom as she shoved my face toward a cracked mirror. My sunken eyes stared back—hollow cheeks, cracked lips, my weak body wearing tattered rags. 

Three years of torment had drained me, silver chains on my wrists stifled the alpha blood Grandpa Gideon swore ran in my veins. 

My wolf whimpered, caged by pain.

Lana’s amber eyes glinted, her lips curling. “Six years I schemed to grind you into dust, and you give me nothing? I wanted you to beg, Vera, to break like the weak pup you are.” 

Her claws dug deeper, drawing blood, but my body stayed limp, my spirit crushed by endless cruelty. “Despite Gideon’s strength, he’s as stupid as you,” she spat. “I’m shocked he ruled the pack without ruining it.”

I barely reacted, but at grandpa’s name, my wolf stirred, a spark of defiance flaring. Lana grinned, sensing it, and dragged me across the jagged floor, her claws scraping my scalp. 

She ripped open a heavy curtain, revealing Gideon on a rusted cot. My breath caught, my wolf clawing against the silver’s burn. Once our pack’s towering alpha, he was now skeletal, tubes in his arms glowing with a sickly green witch’s toxin, created to sever his mind-link. 

His silver hair clung to his brow, but his eyes, sharp with will, met mine. Tears streaked his cheeks, his silent pain cutting me like a blade. His fading mind-link begged for forgiveness.

Three years ago, I’d torn my bond with Gideon to bind myself to Damon, a rogue alpha who’d faked our mate bond. I didn’t know he was involved with Lana, my adopted cousin, their scheme to steal our pack’s moonstone—a relic showed our strength. 

On our binding night, Damon tricked me into signing away pack leadership, then betrayed me, locking me in this rogue lair. Lana used me as her punching bag, her claws and silver torturing me for years, venting her rage over her family’s fall. 

Shock made my wolf growl. “What did you do to him?” I rasped, my throat raw. 

Lana’s laugh echoed off the stone walls. “Chronic venom, brewed by a witch I paid with your stolen moonstone. He endured it, thinking it’d save you.” 

My blood roared, my wolf desperate to break free. “You ungrateful bitch! You didn't just steal our pack, you tortured me for three years! Now this?” I lunged, my scarred hand aiming for her face, but her claw slashed me down, pain radiating as I crumpled.

“Ungrateful?” Lana hissed, her yellow eyes exposing her rogue blood. “Gideon let loan sharks rip my father apart for his debts. My family was destroyed!” 

I spat blood. “Your father’s gambling ruined you. Gideon paid his debts, took you in, and you betrayed him!” Her claws raked my cheek, the wound burning with silver dust. 

She shoved my face toward Gideon’s trembling form. “Six years ago, you weren’t violated,” she sneered. “Those photos at your initiation? Staged by my rogues. Gideon believed the lies, pushed you to Damon. All my plan.”

My heart shattered, memories flooding—indecent photos spread at my coming-of-age, my pleas ignored, Gideon’s shame binding me to Damon to steal our moonstone. Gideon’s eyes widened, his body jerking, guilt flickering in his mind-link. 

“What are you saying?” I choked, my wolf howling. Lana’s claws grazed my throat. “My scheme, start to finish. Damon never loved you—his charm was a lie. He despised you, a weakling unfit to lead.”

My breath hitched. “Cee warned me,” I whispered, recalling our seer’s pleas to avoid Lana, ignored in my foolishness. 

Lana’s laugh turned manic. “She begged me to spare you before I slit her throat.” 

My eyes widened, grief choking my wolf. “Cee’s dead?” I murmured, guilt drowning me. “You said she left for her den.” 

Lana shrugged. “Dead mouths don’t talk.”

“And least I forget, Your parents’ crash? No accident,” she taunted, her rogue scent choking me. “They questioned me about the photos, believed my lies. I tampered with their brakes.” 

I roared, my scarred hands gripping her leg, my wolf’s hatred blazing. “You killed them!” I screamed, my voice raw. She kicked my arm, the crack of bone drowned by my cry, pain crashing over me. 

“They died because of you,” she spat, wiping her leg. “If you’d trusted Cee, if you weren’t weak, they’d be alive. If you hadn’t bound to Damon, my plan would’ve failed.”

The machines by Gideon’s cot wailed, his body convulsing, the truths tearing his alpha heart. I crawled to him, ignoring my broken arm, my wolf clawing against the silver. 

“Grandpa, hold on!” I sobbed, brushing his cold hand. I turned to beg Lana, pride gone, Gideon was my only pack left. “Please, I’ll do anything!” 

But gasoline, laced with silver dust, splashed over me, searing my skin. Lana’s eyes flashed with madness. “You’ll burn, Vera, and the pack will curse you. ‘Heir goes feral, burns elder alpha.’ Perfect story don't you think?”

My wolf whimpered, its strength fading. Death was a relief after years of torment, but Gideon deserved better. “Spare him,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. 

Lana laughed, sauntering to the door. “You’re dreaming. Even in death, I’ll ruin you.” Her lighter flicked, its flame dancing in her eyes.

“Gabriel’s downstairs,” she sneered. “Didn’t expect that cold-blooded alpha to fall for a weakling. He gave me half his Nightmoor territory for you. Too dangerous to live. Let him burn as well.” 

I froze, my wolf stirring at Gabriel Black’s name, the Nightmoor alpha who’d tried to claim our territory. I barely knew him, recalling only his piercing blue eyes at a summit. 

Why would he sacrifice for me? 

My mind reeled as the lighter snapped, flames roaring as she tossed it. Silver-infused fire erupted, consuming Gideon’s cot, his struggles tearing my soul, his mind-link fading. “I’ll haunt you, Lana!” I screamed, my voice piercing the darkness. “You and Damon will die screaming!” 

But, she was gone.

A deep growl shattered the night, the lair’s door splintering as someone burst through, their blue eyes glowing, their alpha aura blazing like a storm. On a second glance, I was shocked to find the alpha of Nightmoor pack beyond the thick smoke in the room.

“Vera!” he roared, his black hair wild, his claws extended as he dove through the flames. His scent—pine and all male—cut through the silver-laced smoke, stirring my wolf, igniting a deep pull I couldn’t name. 

He wrapped his arms around me, his body shielding me from part of the flames. I screamed, “Run, you’ll burn!” my voice cracking, my wolf urging him to flee.

But Gabriel’s grip tightened, his chest rumbling with a growl. “I’ll never leave you alone again.”