INTO THE WOODS

“Keep moving, traitor!”

“You deserve worse than this for betraying the Alpha!”

“You will suffer the fate that you deserve!”

“You should be glad the Alpha didn’t order you to be beheaded! That’s more befitting to a traitor like you!”

The insults and curses mingled with the rustles of heavy feet as I was mercilessly dragged toward the borders, to exile, literally.

This was a cruel death sentence, one that I did not deserve, but to them it was mercy. My people turned against me, treated me so cruelly over a lie.

I was bleeding, wounds unhealing, and that was worrying me. I was a wolf and bore the strongest blood. I was not supposed to be slow to heal naturally this way, but it was happening for the first time. My wolf was literally dead, not even a stir through all this pain. Something was wrong somewhere.

Every step was heavy and painful, like knives digging into my chest. Strand by strand, I felt the mate-bond break, that and every other bond that bound me to the silverwood back.

I struggled through every step, every valley, every push, every punch, and every kick. I nearly collapsed several times along the way, but their brutal hands were so quick to hold me up. My vision swam with black spots. I was weeping bitterly, but tears had dried long ago.

The heaven had cleared, but I still wondered what that symbol meant. What prophecy did the beta speak about? Whether it was in my favor, or it was condemning me too.

We reached the borders, and a whip of pain and fear shot through me. I cried out, falling to my knees as the bond tore further.

The guards stopped. “She is weak now. Will make it easier for the rogues to feast on her without a fight,” one muttered.

“Good,” the other said. “We need to be quick before the rogues sense us.”

They pulled me up roughly, pressing on my wounds and broken bones. I winced, tried to cry the pain out, but no sound came out.

I tried breathing, but I couldn’t. My chest felt on fire, and my whole soul felt suffocated. I felt weak, like I was merely floating in the air. I felt even empty of breath itself.

They lifted me up and made me stand on the border stone. This was the final point. Beyond this point was the world of the monstrous beasts. The ones I was being fed to. The air shifted, and I sniffed death as a wave of cold wind pushed against my skin.

The bond snapped painfully, tearing completely, and a sound ripped from my dry throat as I shattered violently. I tasted blood.

I collapsed to the dirt again. For a long moment, I didn’t know if I was alive or dead until I felt the ruthless fangs of the guard hold me up. They made me stand in front, on top of the border stone, my back on the Silverwood pack and my front on my new world. They released me and tossed a thin cloak at my crumpled body.

Then they stepped back.

“You are no longer part of us. From this moment on, you are considered an enemy of the Silverwood pack!” One of them said as they kicked me again, pushing me into the forest.

The fall into the rocks was hard and merciless to my wounded body, but the fear was what made me tremble. Any minute, any second, a rogue would appear, and that would be my end.

I lifted my face up to the empty sky. “Why, Goddess? I am innocent. Why did you choose this disgraceful ending for me?” I cried loudly, forgetting that I was an intruder here.

The air was colder than anything I had felt back at my former pack. It was chilling. My entire weak body was quivering uncontrollably.

The moonlight flickered through the branches, mocking me with its calm glow.

I jolted up with the little energy I had left and clawed at my lungs, stumbling deeper between the towering pines. The sharp stones and ice cut deep into my swollen feet. I was barely able to walk, each step a painful struggle.

Every breath was pure, raw pain, every heartbeat like a stab. Every memory of Alpha Aldrin, his betrayal, and his unjust, cruel verdict made my heart bleed the last few drops of blood I had left in my system.

From a corner far on my right, I heard a sound. It was not a faint rustle. It was heavy and echoed with sounds of danger.

I stopped to listen, and it continued.

It sounded like the steps of an approaching wild animal.

Fear struck me unaware. I recoiled. My skin crawled, the hairs rising. I knew death was inevitable, but I guess I was just not ready for it that soon.

I tried to crouch, but I ended up collapsing at the foot of an ancient oak. My fingers dug into the damp soil, while my face landed on the soil, my tears and fresh blood mixing with the earth as I tried to steady my ragged breathing. My face was covered in a blend of tears, blood, and soil.

Then I heard it again… that controlled, monstrous rustle, like a predator taming its prey.

My instincts froze, and my heart lurched.

Dry branches snapped behind me hard. Something powerful was approaching, each step vibrating through the ground, sending waves of energy rippling into my bones.

That wasn’t a normal wolf. Not even a normal rogue.

Not human.

It was something more.

The footsteps echoed so near, making my skin crawl even more.

A monstrous growl echoed behind me and tore through the forest, making me quiver while the forest grounds shook.

Running was not an option. I wouldn’t make it anywhere in my condition. I had only one option;

I forced myself to turn—

And I immediately froze the minute I turned. My breath caught, and I suddenly felt like I was 2’2” in height.

A towering giant figure stood only a few feet away, half-shrouded in moonlit mist. Broad shoulders that could hold ten wolves my size without stretching a muscle. Strong arms. A presence so dominating the air seemed to bend around him. 

His eyes burned a molten silver, pupils slit like a beast from ancient legends. His face was rugged, carved with primal perfection. His hair, long and black, shimmered like shadows dancing in firelight. His entire body vibrated with power.

He wasn’t just a wolf or an ordinary alpha. He seemed something more, something older, stronger, and dangerously wilder.  

A rogue?

No.

His wolf aura slammed into me, so overwhelming I gasped.

He inhaled sharply, as if he could read the raging thoughts in my head.

His body stilled. Then his eyes widened, glowing brighter—violently bright.

He sniffled in my direction, like he wanted to scent the smell of my blood. His eyes shut immediately when he caught my scent, inhaling deeply.

His eyes peeled in a snap, as if triggered. “You…” His voice dropped into a growl, deep enough to tremble the leaves around us. It struck with a hint of familiarity, like he knew me. “Your scent—gods—” he wavered and shut his eyes to scent me more.