CHAPTER ONE

There were fewer trees in the clearing—just dry, swaying grasses stretching for miles like the

earth 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 a

No-man's-land was supposed to have. Instead, the place looked like a forgotten meadow in late

summer.

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,” David said with a groan, palm smacking

against his forehead. “This is my punishment. It will never happen again.”

I pouted, giving them both my most exaggerated puppy-dog eyes. “You guys are just mad

because you’re not feeling the sense of freedom like I am.”

They groaned in unison. But I wasn’t fooled. Beneath the mock annoyance, they were happy for me.

They’d been by my side since I couldn’t pronounce their names properly—my ride-or-die. We’d

done everything together… except this. This was different. This was outside. This was

No-Man’s-Land.

This was the first time I was allowed beyond the packhouse walls

Why? Because I'm a shiftless wolf.

Werewolves are supposed to shift at eighteen. But me? I’m twenty-two. No shifting. No fur. No

claws. Just… human.

It’s not exactly something to be proud of in a pack like mine.

My father, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, pretends he’s okay with it. Stoic nods, polite

smiles. But I see it in the way he won’t look me in the eye for too long. The way he redirects

conversations when other wolves mention their offspring.

To him, reputation is everything. And I—his second daughter—am the crack in his perfect

image. So they hide me. Keep me locked inside the packhouse like some shameful family

secret.

"For your safety," they said.

Yeah, right.

But then the impossible happened. A letter arrived from the BloodVeld Pack—our long-time

rivals.

After years of bloodshed and bad blood, they proposed a truce. And not just whispers in the

dark. A formal meeting.

They demanded that all high-ranking members of the Crescent Moon Pack be present for the

negotiations—held here, in the barren land between our borders.

That’s how I got here. With a new dress, a glowing face, and the kind of buzz that comes from

finally tasting air that isn’t soaked in duty or expectation.

“You guys are just jealous,” I said again, spinning slightly on the balls of my feet. “Jealous

because you don’t get to experience this kind of freedom.”

Carla snorted. “If this is what freedom looks like, I’ll take my boring pack routines any day.”

David, however, narrowed his eyes. “Hold up. Aren’t you a little overdressed for a peace treaty?”

I looked down at myself. My dress was a soft purple, embroidered with delicate white floral

patterns. Flowing sleeves, fitted waist. Newly stitched. Clearly expensive.

Yeah… I was definitely overdressed.

“Father’s orders,” I replied with a shrug. “Nothing I can do about it.”

David raised a brow. “Is this a treaty meeting or a fashion show?”

“Probably both. You know how much he loves appearances.”

And just like that, the air shifted—just a little. The distant sound of footsteps crunching through

the grass reminded me that this wasn’t just a personal escape. This was politics. This was

history.

This was the beginning of something.

I just didn’t know if it was peace… or war.

Ahead of us, the high-ranking members of the BloodVeld Pack came into view. They

outnumbered ours and for a moment, I thought it was a trap.

Maybe they'd called the high-ranking members of my pack so when they wiped us out, to claim

my pack would be easier.

That all changed when they stopped moving when they'd gotten a few feet from us.

My father, Alpha Brocks Vale, turned to face his pack members behind him. Suddenly, he looked

older than he was. His face was soggy, his eyes, black and heavy underneath.

I don't know how I missed it. He didn't look this way when we left the pack. Something's not

right.

We locked eyes for a second and I saw the apology in his eyes. I didn't understand. What

exactly is going?

"Before us," he said, his voice gruff and deep. " Stands the members of the BloodVeld Pack.

They come before us with a peace treaty. They ask for one thing in return. One thing to end the

bloodshed and war. One thing to bring peace finally." His eyes swept over us all but lingered on

me and for I second I held my breath.

Realization finally dawned on me. The dress, the freedom, it was for me to be given as a peace

offering.

I saw the tears fall from his eyes as he whispered, "I'm sorry."

"He can't do that." I heard David say beside me. "You're his daughter! He can't give you away."

"They asked for my daughter. A union between my daughter and their Alpha." I released Carla's

hold on my hand and run to my father, falling at his feet.

"Dad, please. Don't do this to me. I can't stay with him. Please, Dad." But he wouldn't look at

me.

"It has been settled." He said, and as if on cue, I saw two shadows above me. I turn around to

see two huge men standing behind me.

One of them, his eyes glowing golden. The eyes of his wolf.

Alpha Darius Blackthorn.

"She'll do." His deep voice sentenced me.