Chapter 002

*FREYA*

Three others circle around me, growling at me.

I open my mouth to scream but it dies in my throat.

A man emerges from behind the wolves and the air thickens with a formidable aura that reeks of dominance and power.

To my utter bewilderment, he is —naked.

He steps into the light and I swallow a gasp.

He is breathtaking. Massive even.

His long dark curls touch the sharp angle of his jawline. His lashes sweep across his high cheekbones. A tattoo of a wolf baring it's fangs at the moon sits proudly on his shoulder blade.

The moonlight catches the sweat on his ripped torso and I hold my wandering eyes from going lower.

I still when his eyes settle on me lazily, like a predator sizing his prey.

“What are doing in my territory?” he asks lowly, his eyes glowing unnaturally.

My lips part but I can't utter a word.

His eyes narrow slightly and then they darken as he sniffs the air.

He lets out a growl that makes me tremble.

“Mate!”

Without thinking, I slip my hand under my dress and fish out a silver knife.

“D-Don't come any closer,” I stammer,waving the knife at them with trembling hands.

The girls at the courtesan house used to whisper that wolves feared silver, which is why I strapped one on my thigh.

I guess it’s true — the wolves hesitate, their glowing eyes narrowing on me.

They bare their fangs, low growls vibrating in their throats.

My fingers shake, but I tighten my grip anyway.

The one who seems to lead them just stares—unimpressed and entirely too calm. His domineering presence suffocates me.

“Want to know which is faster....me or your blade?” he drawls,voice a low rasp that slides over my skin like a threat.

Before I can process his words, he's in front me.

How did he move so fast—

He pries the knife from my hand and without breaking eye contact, snaps it into two.

My eyes widen in horror as the silver burns his hand, the air thick with the stench of sizzling flesh.

Yet, he doesn't flinch.

What sort of man—wolf— whatever is he?

His jaw ticks and his fingers circle around my throat, slamming me against the tree.

I gasp harshly, feeling my eyes burn.

The scent of ash and pine clings to him , sharp and intoxicating.

Heat crawls beneath my skin where his fingers touch.

The air crackles between us, his eyes flickering between violent red and molten gold.

He feels it too.

“This pathetic human is my...mate?”

He says it like a curse and chuckles darkly. “The moon goddess must be mocking me.”

“P-Please,” I whisper with a trembling voice, not knowing exactly what I am begging for.

His grip tightens slightly enough to inflict pain as he glares at me with loathe.

A low growl rumbles from his chest, disgust curling his lip. “Why do you feel... different?”

Before I can answer, his hand burns hot, unnaturally hot—and a violent jolt shoots through me. My scars itch beneath my sleeve, pulsing as though alive.

He jerks back, eyes wide for the first time, staring at his own hand as if it’s betrayed him.

“What the hell are you?”

I crash to the ground, gasping, trembling.

“I-I am—”

He doesn't let me speak.

“Are you a witch sent to spy on my territory?”

My breath catches.

“No—”

“Bring her along,” he orders, cutting me off.

My chest tightens with dread at his words.

He's going to kill me.

“But Alpha,she's...human.”

I peek through my lashes to see one of the wolves transform into human.

“And she's my mate,” the leader answers, turning away, without sparing a glance to the wolf who had spoken.

Panic seizes me. I push myself weakly against the tree, searching for an escape.

“Bind her,” he commands.

“Yes, Alpha.”

My heart drops into my stomach.

A chill crawl down my spine.

“No! N-No—”

My protest is cut off when something hard strikes the back of my neck.

My vision blurs.

Through the ringing in my ears, I hear his voice, low and dangerous.

“Take her to the dungeons.”

Then my body goes limp.

*****

Pain.

That’s all I feel when my eyes flutter open.

A sharp sting radiates from the back of my neck, and I wince, forcing myself upright.

Where am I?

My gaze darts around the space, if it can even be called a room. It’s small, cold, and suffocatingly damp.

Everywhere is silent apart from the coal of fire cackling in a corner.

Moisture drips from cracked stone walls, pooling around my bare feet.

The light that filters through the room comes from a jagged hole above.

The air is thick with dust, dried blood and....rotting flesh.

Memories crash over me all at once like wave.

Panic flares in my chest and I tug at my arms, only to feel cold iron biting into my wrists.

Cuffs. Heavy ones, chained above my head to a rusted metal bar.

I pull harder, desperate, the sound of rattling chains echoing through the silence.

The metal scrapes my skin raw, and I hiss at the pain.

It’s no use. I’m trapped.

A sob breaks free before I can stop it, hot tears slipping down my cheeks.

I’m so stupid.

Why did I run?

I should have stayed in Ashvale. At least I would die somewhere familiar and not this dreadful place.

My stomach growls, the sound echoing embarrassingly loud in the silence.

I stop crying as time slips by like sand between my fingers. Slow and endless.

My arms ache from pulling against the restraints many times, my body weak and trembling.

The metal doors groan as they open and my ears perk up.

Who is it?

The air shifts as footsteps echo before stopping.

A shadow fills the doorway and my pulse spikes.

Even before my eyes adjust, I know who it is.

That presence… that suffocating, electric aura.

“Glad to see you are awake.... finally,” he drawls mockingly.

I flinch at the sound.

I try to sit up, but the movement makes the cuffs dig deeper into my wrists, metal biting into raw skin.

A sharp hiss escapes my lips.

He pauses, watching me struggle, amusement flickering in his violet eyes for a second.

“Are you ready to reveal your identity?” he asks lowly, his voice tinged with a dangerous edge that sends a chill crawling down my spine.

“P-Please,” I choke, my eyes stinging with tears.

“Wrong answer.”

He turns away, his boots echoing against the cold stone floor. My breath catches as he reaches for one of the iron tongs resting by the crackling fire. The orange glow dances along his sharp features, painting his dark expression.

“Let's try this again,shall we?” He says, crouching down to my level.

“Who are you ?”

His lips tilt into a cruel smirk but the coldness in his eyes is unmistakable.

I swallow a lump down my throat.

“I-I'm f-from A-Ashvale,” I whisper weakly.

His eyes narrows like he doesn't believe me.

He grabs my chin harshly, his fingers digging into my skin until pain blossoms. My breath hitches as he forces me to meet his gaze. Sparks dance under my skin where he touched.

“Ashvale?” he repeats, voice dropping to a low growl.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

The scent of smoke clings to him,mixed with something wilder, something feral. My mind races, searching for words that won’t make him angry, but all that escapes me is a broken sob.

The iron in his hand glows an angry orange, heat radiating off it. He lifts it higher, and I squeeze my eyes shut, a strangled sob escaping my throat.

“Please,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “ Spare me.”

His low growl cuts me off.

“Why should I?”

The air between us thickens.

“Please—”

Before I can finish, the searing heat brushes the side of my neck. I scream, jerking away on instinct, but his other hand clamps my shoulder, holding me in place.

Tears streak down my cheeks as I bite back a sob.

The iron doesn’t touch my skin — he holds it just close enough to make me sweat.

“P-Please, let me go.”

For a moment, our eyes lock and something shifts.

Time still as the fire cackles behind us.

He leans closer, inhaling the air around my throat. His breath ghosts over my skin, making every nerve stand on edge.

“You are not human, are you?”

I tremble beneath his gaze. “I'm telling the truth, believe me.”

He tilts his head, golden eyes narrowing.

Then he presses his palm flat against my chest , right above my heart. I gasp as a violent surge courses through me. My scars burn like wildfire beneath my skin.

His eyes widen slightly, his hand jerking back like I had scorched him.

“What the hell—What did you do to me?” he growls.

“I didn’t—” My words stumble out, my heart racing. “I didn’t do anything!”

He’s silent for a long moment, breathing hard, jaw clenched. Then he straightens, the iron clattering to the ground beside him.

“Take her to the servant's quarters,” he orders coldly, without looking at me.

“Until I find out what she is.... she stays alive.”