Chapter 5

Aria

The air was thick with the stench of wolves I didn’t recognize. This was it—the enemy’s den, the Black Glow Pack. The moment my boots hit the dirt outside their territory, a twisted kind of satisfaction curled in my gut. I made it. I was here. Now, it was time to get my sister back, and if I had to fight through every single one of them to do it, then so be it.

My body ached from the long journey. Every muscle was tight, every nerve screaming for rest, but I had no time for weakness. I crouched near a fallen log, scanning the trees ahead. The pack’s territory stretched wide, guarded by thick forest and high walls. A fortress, but no place was impenetrable. If I could just—

A rustle behind me had me snapping my head around, my hand already on the knife at my hip. A rabbit bolted from the underbrush. My fingers tightened around the handle before I exhaled and forced myself to refocus.

**Breaking In or Calling Him Out?**

I had two choices—sneak in like a cowardly thief or storm in and demand they hand my sister over. Either way, I was probably going to get hurt, but at least one of those options let me keep my pride.

I gritted my teeth. Sneaking in made more sense. I needed to find my sister first before I went swinging my fists at their Alpha like some fool with a death wish.

There was the packhouse looming in the distance. Massive, dark wood and stone, a symbol of wealth and power. Some windows glowed with light, while most of the structure remained lost in heavy shadows. Perfect.

I moved quickly, low to the ground and shrouded in darkness. The pounding of my heart thundered in my ears. The stench of wolves was thick and pungent here. I had to be close to their watch post, a morsel of information I could use to my advantage.

I slid through trees, ducking behind a wooden fence and pressing myself against the cold stonewall of the packhouse. My breath was shallow, and my fingers flexed around my knife. I peered around the corner. Two guards were standing near the main entrance, talking in low voices.

This was going to be tricky.

I took a slow step back, but before I could pull away, a rough hand seized my wrist. I swiveled around and snarled, but another hand clamped around my waist, lifting me into the air.

“What do we have here?” a bass voice sneered against my ear.

I thrashed, twisting with a vengeance, my knife blurring through the air, but this guy was fast. He deflected my arm and seized my knife away from me. Pain shot through my wrist as he slammed me into the ground and held me there with his weight.

“Let go of me!” I spat, kicking blindly.

More footsteps. More voices. Another guard bent beside me, holding my chin and forcing my face toward him. “Looks like we have a little intruder.”

I growled, trying to jerk away, but the man holding me pressed down even harder. My ribs protested.

“She’s a rogue,” one of them muttered.

“No,” the first guard said, tilting my face from side to side. “She smells like another pack. Not one of ours.”

I spat at him, and he recoiled, cursing. “You idiots,” I snapped. “I’m here for my sister. Let her go or get your Alpha out here. I don’t have time for this.”

They exchanged glances, and one of them scoffed. “The Alpha doesn’t take demands from trespassers.”

“Tough luck,” I shot back, wrenching against their hold. “I’m not leaving without her.”

They began dragging me toward the guard post. No way in hell would I allow them to lock me inside before I got close enough to run.

I pulled on the hold, spinning my body sideways with all my strength. It was enough to catch them unprepared. I yanked my arm free, rammed my elbow into one of their throats, and ran.

“Stop her!”

I just kept going. Anticipating crates, slipping through narrow pathways, my heart hammering like a war drum. Their furious cries erupted behind me.

The set of packhouse doors was dead ahead. I just had to—

Something slammed into me from the side, sending me sprawling onto the ground. Pain jumped up my side and knocked the breath out of me. I gasped as I twisted, only to have a heavy boot ground into my back.

“You’re a real pain,” snarled one of them.

I lifted my head, lips curling. “Yeah? Well, get used to it.”

And then I did the only thing I could think of—scream.

“Let her go! Let my sister go! Get your Alpha out here, you cowards!”

My voice boomed out across the packhouse grounds, shouts growing more pronounced as they converged toward it. Now more bodies were coming, opening doors, gazing from balconies, murmurs scattering into the night.

“Shut her up!” one of the guards hissed, yanking me up roughly.

I thrashed against their hold, but it was useless. I just did not have the strength. Not yet. Regardless, I screamed; screams filled with rage, demanding my sister until my throat burned.

Then, out of nowhere, a blunt, enormous hit came to the back of my head.

Pain seared in my skull, sharp and blinding, everything darkened. My legs gave way, and the strength drained from my limbs. The corners of my sight faded to black.

No. Not like this.

I fought against the darkness swallowing me, but my body betrayed me.

The last thing I heard was a low chuckling sound before everything faded to black.

****

Waking up was disorienting. My head throbbed, a dull, pulsing ache. I gritted my teeth. I was lying on something hard and cold. Stone? My wrists burned. The ropes. Those bastards tied me up.

I flexed my fingers, testing the restraint. Not too tight but tight enough to keep me from slipping free. I forced my breathing to stay even, and my ears strained for any sound.

A door creaked open. Footsteps. Slow and deliberate.

“Well, well,” said a voice. “Still got some fight in you?”

I looked up, glaring at the shadowy figure in the doorway. “You have no idea.”

The man stepped closer, golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. He was broad-shouldered, thick with authority. Not the Alpha. But someone really close.

“You made quite the scene out there little bitch,” he said. “What are we supposed to do with a little rogue like you?”

I clenched my jaw. “Let me go, and maybe I won’t make things worse for you.”

He laughed, crossing his arms. “Oh, I like you. Too bad you won’t be leaving anytime soon.”

They dragged me out again after whispering to themselves. I just wished I could see where exactly they kept Whitney. I glanced around as they kept pulling me along like a dog refusing to move.

It was late already, probably the middle of the night. The whole pack was at peace, unlike the storm inside me. I hadn’t planned for it to turn out this way. If I could just see the Alpha, I wouldn’t mind begging if I had to.