The training outfit was fitted—a little too fitted if you asked me. The top was a sleek black
long-sleeved spandex that clung to my frame like a second skin, exposing every curve. My
breasts were practically gift-wrapped, and the leggings didn’t help either. They were just as tight,
high-waisted, and black.
I glanced at the mirror and nearly scowled. Great. I looked like a fitness influencer prepping for
battle. At least I wasn’t flat in the front or the back, or this would’ve been a whole new level of
humiliation.
Something told me Darius intentionally picked this dress. The bastard!
I slipped on the white sneakers left at the edge of the bed and tied my hair into a high ponytail.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
Kellan stood leaning against the wall directly opposite, arms crossed and picking at his nails like
he had all the time in the world.
His eyes flicked up as he registered me—and then traveled down slowly, appraising every inch
of the ensemble. A grin twitched at the corner of his lips.
“At least we got the outfit right.”
I shot him a look and tugged at the hem of the top, trying to stretch it lower.
“Half right,” he added with a chuckle, pushing off the wall. “Come on. Follow me.”
We moved through the hallways in silence, the sound of our footsteps muffled by plush rugs. As
we descended the staircase, I began to take in more of the mansion. Marble floors. Polished
railings. Chandeliers that probably cost more than my childhood home.
This place was absurdly rich.
He probably got all the money from the packs he'd conquered.
Every staff member we passed bowed slightly to Kellan. Some offered him respectful nods.
Others cast curious glances in my direction before quickly looking away making me feel less
comfortable.
The stupid outfit!
I stayed close behind him, my shoulders tense and my eyes scanning
everything—half-expecting Darius to appear at any moment like some nightmare shadow.
Kellan led me through a pair of tall double doors and into a spacious kitchen that looked like
something out of a luxury lifestyle magazine.
A woman in a white apron greeted us with a warm smile and handed Kellan a travel mug
"His coffee. Two sugars. No cream.”
Kellan turned to me and offered the cup. “Here. Make sure you don’t spill it. Alpha Darius hates
messes. Especially in the morning.”
I took the mug carefully, trying not to roll my eyes.
“Why can’t you take it?” I muttered.
He gave me a pointed look. “Because you're his mate, remember? You’re supposed to serve
him now.”
My stomach twisted, but I said nothing.
I can't continue like this! That stupid Alpha is practically turning me into his slave.
And the worst part? The day hadn’t even started yet. I internally groaned as I let Kellan lead me
to his office. Thankfully, Alpha Darius wasn't there yet.
I released a breath of relief.
Carefully, I placed the mug on the table, careful not to spill any on the table that seemed to be
full of papers.
Kellan led me outside of the pack, as we began the tour. The packed house was big. Really big.
And more people were living there than I imagined and the worst thing¿ They wouldn't stop
staring.
I had finally had enough when two guards stopped to whistle as I walked past with Kellan.
I stomped my feet on the floor and folded my hands, causing Kellan to stop ahead of me.
"What is it?" Why did you
stop?
"I'm not doing this anymore. I'm not going to walk around the pack looking like a well-fed cow for
slaughter." I said firmly. "You and Darius are messing with me intentionally. Make me dress up
this way to show the members of your pack what a trophy you've acquired right? Now even your
guards are making funny sounds and having stupid thoughts about me."
He tilted his head to the left as the grin slowly fell from his face. "Which guards?" He asked.
"The two that just passed us," I said, pointing at the guards.
Daniel! Alvin!" He called out, his usual playful self slipping away. The two guards turned to face
their Beta. "Come over here."
The two guards ran and stopped in front of him, their heads bent slightly as they answered their
Beta. "I heard you two seem to find your Luna appetizing." I saw their throats bubble as they
raised their head to look at me and brought them back to the ground.
"No, Beta. We would never." One of them said, his voice quivering with fear.
"So you call your Luna a liar?" They both raise their heads in fear and I almost feel bad for
telling Kellan about them.
"For your impudence, I want you two to report yourselves first to Gamma Griffin. After that, I
want you two to give yourselves 50 lashes each—"
"Kellan, it's fine. I say but he only smiles at me and turns back to face the
men.
"Right after that, I want you two on patrol for the rest of the week. Is that understood?" They
both nodded and walked off.
That was too much." I yelled at him but he only gave me his
signature smile and walked on.
"Hurry up Luna, you have someone waiting for you." He called over his shoulder.
I wanted to scream! To bite something or punch something but I settled for counting to ten and
following him as he led me deep into the woods.
Waiting for us was a man in his late forties wearing a combat suit and leather boots. He had a
scar over his right eye. One eye was a milky white, while his other eye was grey. His grey hair was
neatly combed to the back and he stood like someone from the military.
"This," Kellan said as we approached him, " is Gamma Griffin. He'll be in charge of your
training."
I was beyond shocked.
"I'll be undergoing military training as well? What am I exactly? A soon-to-be slave warrior?"
"Nope, you're a soon-to-be unstoppable Luna," Kellan said as he began to walk away. "Have
fun!"
I turned to face him, looking at him from head to toe once again.
"Have you had any military experience?" He asked, his voice thick and croak.
"Why am I being trained in the middle of the woods?" I asked, curious. There were other better
places I possibly could train in.
"So others won't see your shortcomings. No one will hear you beg here." I didn't know if that was
supposed to calm me or scare me but I did know something, though.
Something important.
"Can I at least ease myself before we continue?" I asked in my most sincere voice.
The question left him unstable because his stoic expression changed to something a little
embarrassed. "Ah...sure. You can go deeper into the woods. I'll wait here." He said, scratching
the back of his neck.
I smiled nicely at him and began walking deeper into the woods. My pace slowly increased as I
moved deeper. Before I knew, I was sprinting.
Close to the pack's borders, right? Let's see how close.
I didn’t know how long I’d been running, but the moment I crossed the border, something insideme shifted.It felt like I could finally breathe—not fully, but still breathe.My legs moved faster, my heart beat wilder, and my senses sharpened. Maybe I was a shiftlesswolf, but I still had her in me. Her instincts. Her rage. Her will.I was strong. I was fast. And right now, I was free.I ran, leaping over twisted roots and crashing through brush. Branches clawed at my face andarms, tugging at my training outfit, leaving scratches in their wake. Still, I didn’t stop.I couldn't.I had a chance—a real chance—to get home. To return to my pack, to my friends, to whateverwas left of the life I once knew. Even if it was ashes, I’d rather choke on them than remain underDarius Blackthorn’s control.By now, the pack would know I was gone. Kellan would have returned to find an empty clearing.The guards would be mobilizing. Hell, Darius might already be on my trail himself. But I didn’tcare.
The training outfit was fitted—a little too fitted if you asked me. The top was a sleek blacklong-sleeved spandex that clung to my frame like a second skin, exposing every curve. Mybreasts were practically gift-wrapped, and the leggings didn’t help either. They were just as tight,high-waisted, and black.I glanced at the mirror and nearly scowled. Great. I looked like a fitness influencer prepping forbattle. At least I wasn’t flat in the front or the back, or this would’ve been a whole new level ofhumiliation.Something told me Darius intentionally picked this dress. The bastard!I slipped on the white sneakers left at the edge of the bed and tied my hair into a high ponytail.Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.Kellan stood leaning against the wall directly opposite, arms crossed and picking at his nails likehe had all the time in the world.His eyes flicked up as he registered me—and then traveled down slowly, appraising every inchof the ensemble. A grin twitched at the
"I am Darius Blackthorn, Alpha of the BloodVeld Pack, and you are my chosen mate."I glare at him like he has two heads.The audacity.I almost scoffed. “You think just because you're the big, bad wolf, you can command anyone?Just demand whatever you want and get it?” My voice quivered—not with fright, but with rage.“You think the world bends for you just because you have an army?”He blinked slowly, then his lips twitched. A moment later, Darius began laughing.Laughing.He threw his head back, the deep sound rumbling from his chest. Then he collapsed onto thenearby sofa, one hand clutching his abdomen, the other gripping the armrest as if he couldn’tcontain himself.I stood there, fists clenched, heat burning beneath my skin.He was laughing at me.At my pain. My life was torn apart and he was laughing.“Are you mad?” I splintered, my voice cracking like a birch across the room. “Is there somethingwrong with you?”But it only made him laugh harder.My blood boiled. I could feel
I couldn't count how many times I screamed and begged. My throat was raw, my voice cracking with desperation, but they didn’t put me down. Darius had given the command, and like loyal dogs, they obeyed. The man who carried me—tall, broad, definitely a warrior, maybe his Beta—had slung me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I kicked, clawed, and cursed. I’m pretty sure I left a dozen claw marks down his back and shoulders. I didn’t care. Let him bleed. Let them all bleed. I wouldn't go with them.But he wouldn't bulge. He just kept on walking.Eventually, I gave up. Not because I was tired—though I was—but because something inside me broke.My father had given me up. He’d stood there, stone-faced, as if I were a lamb he was happy to sacrifice. No fight. No hesitation. No apology. Just cold compliance. He’d handed me over like I meant nothing. Like I wasn’t his daughter. Like I wasn’t even a person. I could still hear Carla’s screams ringing in my ears.“LET HER GO! LET HER GO
There were fewer trees in the clearing—just dry, swaying grasses stretching for miles like theearth had been scorched of life and left half-barren. It wasn’t how I pictured No-Man’s-Land.Then again, I never really pictured it.Maybe I expected something more dramatic—craggy rocks, eerie fog, or whatever aNo-man's-land was supposed to have. Instead, the place looked like a forgotten meadow in latesummer.A technically neutral territory. Still, I wasn’t impressed.Not that it mattered.Because for the first time in years—I was out.Out of the Crescent Moon Pack’s borders.Freedom."Seriously, did someone give this she-wolf glucose or something? Her energy is annoying me,"Carla muttered behind me, voice heavy with fake annoyance.I turned to grin at her and stuck out my tongue. “You’re just jealous of my happiness, you sad,puny human.”Carla rolled her eyes. “If you bounce one more time, I’m going to shove you into a bush.”“I knew I shouldn't have gotten you that ice cream,” Davi