Prologue

Violet

My bare feet pound against the forest floor as I run. My feet hurt as it gets scraped by stones and sticks and the goddess only knows what else, but I have to keep running.

My dad pushes on my back as he urges me forward and says, “Keep going, Vi.”

His encouragement is just another reminder of the danger that we're in. I nod my head in acknowledgement as I try to push myself forward. This would be so much easier if I had my wolf, then I’d be able to run like the wind! But I’m only 15 and there’s no way for me to shift.

Mom suddenly cries out and there’s a victorious laughter behind her. Dad yanks my arm back, causing me to stumble and almost collide with the ground, but he catches me and keeps me steady. His eyes are shining with worry and he brushes my hair from my face as he says, “Listen to me, Violet. You need to keep running. Do not stop, no matter what! And no matter what you hear, do not look back. Okay, baby?”

My eyes flicker back to where I hear mom and her cries of struggle, but dad grabs my chin and forces me to look back at him as he asks, “Do you understand, Violet?”

I nod my head slowly and he presses a kiss to my forehead and says, “Go, it’ll be okay.”

I don't believe him. The doubt that I have must be obvious because he forces a small smile as he says, "I promise, Vi. It'll be okay."

Pressing my lips together, I do as he says and I turn and run as fast as my legs will carry me, trusting that somehow, someway, me and my parents will meet again.

Tears stream down my cheeks, but I try to stop them from flowing. I have to move forward. But when I hear a heart wrenching scream, it causes me to lose my footing and I trip and skin my knees. Guilt rises inside of me and I feel like I could throw up. I try to get to my feet, but I stumble and let out a sob. What am I going to do?

That man, that monster of a man, is killing my parents and I'm just running away like the coward I am. Xavier Black is going to find me too and my life will be ruined!

A chill washes over me before an unbearable amount of pain passes through me. Suddenly, my bones crack as I’m forced into a shift. This shouldn’t be possible! I shouldn’t get my wolf until I’m 18, but as I look down and see white paws on the ground, I know that’s exactly what happened. My wolf has a soothing voice as she commands, “Rest. I’ll get us to safety.”

“What’s your name?” I ask her and she grumbled back, “Selene. Now, sleep.”

I don’t argue with her as I allow her to run our body and find safety.

I don’t know how long it takes before I become aware of what’s going on, and I notice that Selene is exhausted. She whimpers to me, “I’m sorry.”

I suddenly shift back into my human form and I gasp in surprise as the winter wind blows over my naked body. What am I going to do?

There’s a light in the distance. I’m scared that this could lead me to more danger, but I don’t have any other choice if I want to live. I stumble to my feet and walk closer to the light as snow starts to fall. I speed up and relief floods through my body as I see a cottage that I recognize.

My wolf did good. She brought me to Cora. Cora is a powerful witch, and she is like my grandma. She has been friends with my parents for years and we have lived with her off and on throughout my life. I stumble to her front door and knock on it before crossing my arms over my chest.

When she answers the door, she has a bat in her hand, but it falls when she sees me in front of her. Her jaw drops as she takes a step back and says, “Come in, come in, child.”

My lip quivers and I walk straight to the fireplace to get warm. She drapes a large blanket around me and asks, “Where are your parents, Violet?”

I murmur, “Xavier Black caught them.”

Her face freezes from shock and I grumble, “I hate him.”

She doesn’t respond and I rant, “I want him dead, Cora.”

“You’re too young and inexperienced to kill him, Violet.” She says in a soft tone. 

I can’t help but snap at her as I ask, “What do you expect me to do, Cora? I have no life without my parents! They’re all I had in this world and he took them from me!”

She rolls her lips in her mouth and she nods, “I understand your anger, Violet. But you’re only 15. You need to take your time and train. That’s the only way you have any hope of killing him.”

I let out a shuddery breath and ask, “Will you help me?”

The corner of her mouth twitches up as she nods, “I’ll take care of you and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re prepared for this, dear. I’ll even get in contact with your uncle to see if you can stay there and get properly trained by his warriors.”

The thought of living at the Renegade Pack with my uncle, aunt, and cousin makes me feel uneasy. I love them, they’re family and they’re good people, but…

My cousin, Magnolia, has everything I’ve ever wanted. She has both of her parents; she is being set up to become the first Female Alpha, and… I don’t know how I’m supposed to be around them indefinitely without going crazy with my own jealousy.

I ask, “What if I didn’t want to stay with my uncle and his family?”

Cora pouts and brushes a strand of her curly black hair behind her ear as she says, “Violet, you’re a werewolf. You belong in a pack.”

My eyebrows crinkle together from her statement and I say, “I’ve never been a part of a pack, though. I’ve always been on the run with my parents. How do you expect me to jump into that kind of lifestyle? Surely, we can figure something else out.”

The corner of her mouth twitches up, and she shakes her head and says, “Okay, so how would you want it, Violet?”

“I want to stay here with you and just go visit them for a couple months throughout the years. Would that be okay? My dad always said this was the safest place to be. I’m the white wolf… isn’t it best for me to be in the safest place?”

Cora’s eyes widen from my statement and she realizes I’m right. I’m in danger and the best place possible for me is with her.

She breathes out and says, “We’ll try this on a trial, okay? I’m not sure how this will work between us. I haven’t had to live with a kid in a long time.”

A small smile appears on my face and I murmur, “Thanks for giving me a shot, Cora.”

Hopefully, I won’t disappoint her.