Chapter Two – The Wolf’s Gaze

Zoe’s POV

As I lay on the cold, wet ground, the world began fading in and out of focus. My mind was clouded by blood loss and the damages of recent events, struggling to accept reality reality, but my thoughts slip away like grains of sand. What was happening?

A low growl was Heard through the clearing, sharp and threatening. Damon’s wolf ran over me, his golden eyes narrowing as they assessed my battered and weak state. My heart raced violently, so fast in my chest as I tried to summon the energy to sit up. I couldn’t reveal my weakness. Not now,not ever.

But I was weak. My body betrayed me as I felt the poison from my wounds coursing beneath my skin, my vision blurry once more.

Damon’s wolf stepped closer, the ground shaking beneath him. His gaze remained fixed on me, radiating the aura of a being who was fully aware of his power, who felt untouchable in this world. I had never felt so small, so vulnerable and helpless.

I willed myself to speak, my voice barely a whisper, “W-What do you want?”

The wolf's lips curled back, revealing a row of sharp, gleaming teeth. He paused, his gaze boring into me as if trying to uncover the shattered pieces of my identity.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Damon’s wolf transformed seamlessly and easily back into a man, his naked, muscular form towering over me like a dark deity, his golden eyes studying me with cold calculation.

“You’re not from here,” Damon stated, his deep voice sending a chill down my spine. “Who are you?”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry and sore. Revealing my true identity would mean death; the Bloodmoon Pack had been wiped out, and if Damon discovered I was an Alpha’s daughter, a survivor of the Bloodmoon tragedy, he would kill me without hesitation, without thinking twice.

Choosing to lie, I forced out the words through my bloodied lips. “I—I’m just a runaway, a… weak Omega.”

His expression shifted, eyes narrowing in search for any hint of deception. “Do you expect me to believe that?” He faced down until his face was inches from mine, the scent of his wild wolf intoxicating and overwhelming.

I held my breath, fighting against the tremors coursing through me, desperate to hide my fear from him.

“You're lying,” he said, his eyes piercing mine like hot coals in the cooler. “But I don’t care about your past. Not right now. What matters is that you’re here.”

Confusion settled in. What did he want from me?

“I could end you here,” Damon continued, his tone icy cold and lethal. “But I sense that won’t be necessary. Not yet.”

A shiver ran down my body. Not yet?

“I’ll let you live,” he decided, standing tall again. “For now. But you must prove your worth.”

My mind struggled to grasp his words. “Prove… my worth?”

He regarded me with a blend of amusement and hate. “You’re weak, and weakness has no place in my pack. If you want to survive, you’ll need to learn your place, Omega.”

I attempted to push myself up, but pain shot through my side, making it nearly impossible to move. “I’m not weak,” I insisted, though my own voice sounded feeble and weak.

Damon smirked, clearly enjoying my pathetic plight. The air of power he wielded, the fear he detected in my eyes it all fueled his ego. To him, I was simply a plaything.

But I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart.

“I’ll prove it,” I declared through gritted Sharp teeth, forcing myself to rise, though I stumbled and nearly fell. “I’ll show that I’m not weak.”

He watched me for a moment, as if weighing my resolve, then turned away. “We’ll see. But first... you need to earn my trust.”

Trust.

The concept stung me like bee. What trust could I possibly gain from a man who ruled with intimidation and hate, feared by even his own followers?

Yet, I had no choice. I was in his territory, and whether I liked it or not, Damon Blackwell was my sole shot at survival for the mean time.

Before I could respond, Damon’s commanding voice cut through the silence.

“Follow me.”

I hesitated, but only briefly. The alternative was to die alone in the woods, and I wasn’t prepared for that yet. Not when my pack’s memories were still raw and fresh, and the blood of my parents stained my hands.

I staggered after him, my body protesting every step, but the will to survive drove me forward. As I walked behind him deeper into Nightfang territory, my mind raced with questions. What did Damon want from me? Why was he sparing my life,what did he really wants?

One thing was clear: I had ventured into the dark place, and there would be no turning back. The Nightfang Alpha had marked me, and now I was subjected to his whims and call.

I could only hope I wasn’t about to make the gravest mistake of my life….