CHAPTER 2; THE SILVERBLOOD PACK

Isla's pov

I needed him to follow me. Behind me, the formation grew brighter as I felt my father’s life force slowly fading away.

“Goodbye, Father,” I whispered.

Then I turned and ran. I could already sense Elvis approaching behind me. He was fast—far too fast. I pushed myself harder, but I could barely keep ahead of him.

My heart pounded, and I quickly slipped my father's ring onto my finger.The moment it touched my skin, a surge of energy rushed through my body.

My legs suddenly felt lighter. My senses sharpened.

I could run faster, so I pushed myself harder, disappearing into the darkness of the forest.Behind me, a furious roar echoed through the trees.

Elvis had found my trail, and he was gaining on me.He kept pursuing me for hours.

At first, the ring made running feel almost effortless. My feet barely seemed to touch the ground as I raced through the forest, branches whipping against my face and my lungs burning with every breath.

But the longer I ran, the weaker I became.The strength the ring had given me was slowly fading.

My legs grew heavier.

My breathing became ragged.

I stumbled several times, catching myself against trees before forcing my exhausted body forward again.

I couldn't stop.If I stopped, Elvis would catch me, and I knew exactly what would happen if he did.

I pushed myself harder, but my speed suddenly dropped.

My heart sank.“No,not now ”

I looked ahead,and the forest ended abruptly.There was nowhere else to go.I had reached the edge of a cliff.I slowly turned around.

Elvis stepped out from between the trees.His towering figure blocked the path behind me, his chest rising and falling as he stared at me with an amused smile.

Despite the exhaustion consuming my body, I forced myself to stand straight.I wouldn't let him see me afraid.

“Little bunny,” he said, his smile widening. “Did you really think you could outrun me?”

I clenched my fists.

“I would rather die than become your breeder, Elvis.”I sneered at him, even though my voice trembled slightly.

He laughed.

“Oh, come on. Stop acting like a saint.”His gaze travelled over me in a way that made my skin crawl.“Your pussy was made for that,”he replied.

Disgust twisted my stomach. “You’re disgusting,” I managed to say, slowly stepping backward.

Elvis took another step toward me.“There's nowhere left to run.”

I step backwards at the edge of the cliff ,my heel touching empty air.

My heart lurched,I was scared of heights already .Elvis suddenly lunged toward me,his hand reached for my arm.

I didn't think before he could grab me if I jumped.

“ISLA!”His furious roar followed me over the edge.

Wind tore through my hair as I fell.For one horrifying moment, I couldn't breathe.I desperately clutched the ring.Father had said it could give me one last burst of strength.

I focused everything I had left on it.The ring flashed light ,strength surged through my body, but it wasn't enough.The cliff was too high,my body slammed into the ground.Pain exploded through me,then everything went black.

When I finally opened my eyes, I couldn't remember where I was.For several seconds, I simply stared at the unfamiliar sky above me.

Then the pain came,I gasped.My entire body ached, and blood covered my clothes.I slowly pushed myself upright, biting down on my lip to keep from crying out.

I couldn't stay here.

I tore strips from my already ruined clothes and wrapped them around my wounds as tightly as I could.My hands were shaking,I had no idea where I was.

Then I heard it—a branch snapping somewhere in the darkness. My head whipped toward the sound. Another crack followed. Then another. I stiffened as a familiar scent filled the air. I knew that smell.

Werewolves.

I looked frantically around the trees,the scent,the territory markers.I had fallen straight into werewolf territory.

“Could my day get any worse?” I muttered bitterly.

Apparently, the universe had heard me because several wolves emerged from the trees.

I panicked.

There was no way I could outrun them in my current condition.Still, instinct took over.

I ran but made it only a few steps.A massive wolf lunged at me,I screamed as I was tackled to the ground.The wolf transformed almost instantly, leaving a man crouched over me.

“Who are you?” he demanded. “And why are you trespassing on our borders?”

“I—I…”I stammered, trying to think of the best lie I could . Beast clans hardly cross werewolf territory without prior engagement or rear circumstances .Before I could answer, another wolf approached.

“She’s probably a spy sent by one of the rival packs,” he said, distrust evident in his eyes

My chest tightened at his words.“No! I'm not,”I quickly said.

I suddenly touched my head,something felt wrong.My fingers searched desperately through my hair.

My ears,they were gone.My eyes widened at the realization I remembered the ring.

Of course ,whatever magic it had used to give me strength must have also hidden my beast features.

I quickly looked at the men surrounding me.

“I am not a spy,” I said desperately trying to explain myself. “I was running from attackers and accidentally landed here.”

They stared at me suspiciously.One of them looked me over before nudging the other.“We should probably take her back.”

“Why?”He shrugged.

“She looks pretty,”he replied.

I blinked. What?

“ We need more candidates for the Alpha's breeding selection ceremony.”The other man sighed.“I hope he picks one this time.”

My stomach dropped.Breeding ceremony?

I had escaped one man who wanted to make me his breeder, only to fall directly into the territory of another Alpha searching for one.

Was this some kind of cruel joke?

Before I could protest, the wolves grabbed hold of me.

“Wait! Where are you taking me?” I demanded, struggling against their grip.

They ignored me. One of them suddenly shifted into his massive wolf form before lowering himself into a crouch.

“Get on,” he ordered.

“I can walk,” I insisted, trying to sound tough, but my legs immediately betrayed me. My knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed.

The wolf glanced back at me.“Clearly, you can't.”

With no other choice, I climbed onto his back.The moment his powerful legs pushed off the ground, I held tightly onto his fur.

The forest blurred around me as they carried me deeper into their territory.I had no idea that with every step they took, I was getting closer to the most feared Alpha in the supernatural world.

My dad had told me stories about him, and judging by their markings, I was certain they belonged to the Silverblood Pack.

And unknowingly,I was running straight toward the man who would change my entire fate.

When we finally reached the pack, I couldn't help staring.

I had heard stories about werewolves and how wealthy their packs were, but seeing it with my own eyes was completely different. Their homes were enormous, beautiful structures made from polished marble, bricks, and dark wood. Everything looked so carefully designed that, for a moment, I forgot I was a prisoner.

It looked like a real home and a very beautiful one at that.

I couldn't help comparing it to where I had grown up. The Bunny Beast Clan had always had a special connection with nature, so most of our homes were built from materials found within the forest. Wood, vines, stones, flowers—we allowed nature to become part of our homes rather than forcing it away but this place was different.

Everything about the werewolf territory felt powerful,even the air seemed heavier.

I barely had time to take in my surroundings before the warriors carrying me stopped.

I was dragged off their back and pushed forward.

“Wait,” I protested weakly. “Where are you taking me?”

No one answered.They led me through a large building and down a narrow flight of stone stairs. With every step, the warmth and beauty of the pack disappeared behind me.

The deeper we went, the colder it became until I saw the dungeon.

Dread settled over me.

“No,let me out”I yelled, kicking at them.One of the warriors opened a heavy iron door and shoved me inside.I stumbled forward, barely managing to stay on my feet.

The door slammed shut behind me.

Bang!

I rushed toward it.

“Stop! Please!” I called out desperately.

I gripped the cold iron bars and looked through them desperately.Their footsteps gradually disappeared,I slowly slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor.

I had escaped Elvis, survived the fall and somehow, I had ended up in a dungeon.

I stayed there,Three days.No proper food,barely enough water to keep me alive.My injuries still hurt, and my body grew weaker with every passing hour.

Back home, even the poorest member of our clan would never have been left to suffer like this. We might have been considered weak by other beast clans, but we took care of our own.

Here, nobody cared whether I lived or died.I curled my arms around myself, trying to preserve what little warmth remained in my body.

My stomach growled painfully.I closed my eyes remembering home.

“Lisa ”I whispered. The moment I thought of my sister, tears burned my eyes.

I wondered if she was safe.Had the barrier held?So many questions tortured me, and I had no answers.

I wiped my tears angrily,I couldn't fall apart.I had promised Lisa I would come back.I had promised Father I would survive.But as I stared into the darkness of that dungeon, exhaustion began to swallow me.

Finally, after five long days in that dungeon, they came for me.The iron door opened, and a guard stood outside, looking at me impatiently.

“Get up. The selection is about to start.”

I slowly lifted my head.My body was still weak, and my stomach twisted from hunger, but I forced myself to stand.

“The Luna will be presiding over the selection alongside the Alpha,” he continued. “You need to wash up first.”

Before I could ask anything, a young woman appeared behind him.She looked nervous, keeping her head lowered as though she didn't want to draw attention to herself.

From the way the guard spoke to her, I could tell she was an Omega—the lowest rank in their pack.

“Take her and get her cleaned up.”he ordered.

The girl nodded quickly.“Yes, sir.”

She led me away from the dungeon and into a small room that looked like her own quarters.It wasn't anything like the beautiful homes I had seen when I first arrived, but it was warm and clean.

“You can shower here,” she said softly.

She walked over to a small wooden chest and pulled out a set of clothes.

“They're mine, but I hope this will do”,She looked at me apologetically.

I accepted them from her.The clothes were old and worn, almost like rags compared to the beautiful clothes I'd seen around the pack, but I didn't care.After spending five days in a dungeon, clean clothes felt like a luxury.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

She gave me a small smile then replied “You're welcome.”

There was something gentle about her.Her green eyes stood out immediately, bright and captivating against her soft features. I found myself staring for a moment before realizing I hadn't even asked her name.

“What is your name?”I asked

She blinked, almost surprised that I cared enough to ask.

“Oh, I'm Genny,” she said with a shy smile.

“Genny.”I repeated her name quietly.

She nodded.“Yes.”

For the first time since arriving in this strange territory, I felt a little warmth. I didn’t know it then, but Genny’s small act of kindness would mean a lot to both of us.

I walked into the hall alongside the other she-wolves, and the moment I stepped inside, I couldn't help looking around.The hall was enormous, decorated with polished marble and towering pillars that made the entire place feel more like a palace than a pack house.

But there was one thing I couldn't understand.

Why would a werewolf Alpha need a breeder when he already had a Luna?

Unless She wasn't his mate.Perhaps she was only Luna by title and couldn't bear him children.

The thought made me uneasy.As we were led farther into the hall, I caught fragments of whispers from the women around me.

They spoke quietly, careful not to let the guards hear.

The Alpha had been cursed.A witch had placed the curse on him years ago, when he was still a teenager.

I hadn't heard the details of what happened or why the witch had cursed him, but one thing I knew about witches was that they never acted on impulse.

There was always a reason,Always. Before my clan went into hiding, I had even studied under a witch myself.

Her name was Rose.She had taught me that magic was never as simple as it appeared. Every spell had a price, every curse had a purpose, and every witch had a reason for casting one.

So if this Alpha had been cursed as a teenager, there had to be a story behind it.I glanced toward the enormous doors at the far end of the hall.

What kind of curse could force a powerful Alpha to hold a breeding ceremony?

And why did he need so many women?

My curiosity grew with every step,Then the hall suddenly became quiet.The conversations stopped one by one,everyone turned toward the entrance.

I followed their gaze.Someone was coming.The atmosphere changed instantly, and an unfamiliar fear settled in my chest.

The Alpha had arrived.When I finally saw him, I couldn't help holding my breath.

Alpha Alex.He was devastatingly handsome.I had never seen a man built like him before. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with a quiet authority that made the entire hall seem smaller in his presence.

For a moment, I simply stared.Then his eyes shifted in my direction.

My breath caught. Had he noticed?

I immediately averted my gaze, pretending to study the floor as heat crept into my cheeks.A few minutes later, his Luna entered.She was beautiful, elegant, and dressed in a way that made it obvious she held an important position in the pack. She walked to Alex's side, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Then the show began,the Beta stepped forward.

“As you all know,” he announced, his voice carrying across the hall, “this is Alpha Alex and Luna Vivian.”

He gestured toward them before continuing.

“You have been brought here because the Alpha requires a breeder. If selected, you will be expected to serve the Alpha for as long as he requires and produce an heir for the pack.”

A murmur passed through the room.I swallowed ,the way he said it made my stomach twist.

“For years, the Alpha has been unable to produce an heir. Even the Luna has been unable to bear his child because of the effects of the curse.”

I glanced toward Vivian.For the briefest moment, anger flashed across her beautiful face.

It disappeared almost immediately, replaced by a carefully controlled expression.

But I had seen it.The Beta continued as though he hadn't noticed.

“You should also understand that this is not a temporary arrangement. The selected woman will be bound to the Alpha until he decides otherwise.”

I stared at him.

This was supposed to be a selection ceremony?

It sounded more like a sentence I glanced at Alpha Alex.He remained completely silent, his expression unreadable.I couldn't help wondering what kind of curse could make even his Luna unable to have children with him.

And judging by the way the Beta was speaking so openly about it, he clearly wasn't afraid of the Alpha's reaction.

I almost smiled at his confidence. This Beta certainly had some balls.