Chapter 3

The cold wind whipped through the trees, tugging at my clothes as I stood by the edge of the pack’s borders. My heart pounded in my chest, a drumbeat of fear that echoed louder than the howls of wolves in the distance. The pack had ordered me to join the border patrol that morning, despite my blindness. I couldn’t make sense of it. Why would they send someone like me-a girl who couldn’t see a thing-out into the wild, where danger was lurking at every corner?

But what could I do? I was just an omega. A servant. An unwanted burden. I couldn’t afford to defy them. If I did, the punishment would be worse than anything I could imagine.

The sounds of the forest-the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs-did nothing to reassure me. Every step I took felt like I was walking further into a nightmare, a world I couldn’t control. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, to run far from the patrol and the dangers it brought. But my packmates were already waiting for me, their eyes hard and cold as they watched me approach.

"You're late," Lucas sneered, his voice cutting through the quiet air. “We don’t have time to babysit.”

I clenched my fists, feeling the heat of anger surge through me, but I said nothing. I knew better than to show my emotions around them. It would only give them more reason to torment me. The last thing I wanted was to give them a reason to hurt me more.

They didn’t care that I was blind. To them, I was just an inconvenience, something to endure until they could send me off to do their bidding. I was a tool to be used, nothing more.

The leader of the patrol, a tall and muscular wolf named Jordan, glanced at me, his expression unreadable. He was one of the few who didn’t mock me openly. But I could sense the irritation in his eyes, the frustration at having to babysit me, the “unfit” omega. It was the same look I saw in every pack member’s gaze-those who thought I was weak, useless.

"Follow me," Jordan said gruffly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to take one hesitant step forward. My senses were heightened, sharper than they had ever been before, but nothing could replace sight. The world was a blur of smells, sounds, and touch, but none of it made it easier to navigate the treacherous forest.

I could feel the pack members flanking me on either side, their eyes trained on me, watching to see if I would falter. Their silence was more menacing than any words could be.

We walked for what felt like hours, the forest growing denser as we ventured deeper into the unknown. The smell of pine and damp earth filled my nose, and the cold air bit into my skin. My heart raced with every rustle of leaves, every snapping branch, convinced that danger was just around the corner. I wanted to run, to escape, but my legs carried me forward, driven by the fear of what would happen if I didn’t.

“Stay close,” Jordan ordered, his voice tense.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if he could hear me. My hands brushed against the rough bark of the trees as I walked, using them as a guide to keep myself steady. But even the trees couldn’t protect me from the real danger that lurked out here.

Suddenly, a low growl broke the silence, sending a chill down my spine. My body froze, every muscle locking in place. I could feel the shift in the air, the tension that had settled over us like a thick fog. My heart hammered in my chest, faster and faster, as I tried to locate the source of the sound.

I could hear the rustling of bushes, the soft padding of paws against the earth. My breath caught in my throat as I realized we weren’t alone. Something-someone-was out there, watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Stay alert," Jordan muttered, his voice low and commanding.

I could hear the pack members around me shifting, getting into position. But all I could do was stand there, feeling utterly helpless. The wolf inside me, the one that had been locked away for so long, stirred faintly in my chest, but it wasn’t enough to give me the strength I needed. It didn’t respond, didn’t wake, leaving me vulnerable and exposed.

The growling grew louder, closer, and I could hear the snarl of a wolf just beyond the tree line. It was only then that I realized what was happening. The Riverside pack-our enemy-had found us.

Before I could fully process the situation, the first wolf leapt from the shadows, a blur of teeth and fur. It slammed into one of our packmates, sending him crashing to the ground with a yelp of pain. The others reacted quickly, shifting into their wolf forms, snarling and snapping at the invaders.

I stood frozen, my heart thundering in my chest, as chaos erupted around me. My mind screamed at me to run, to get out of there before I was caught in the middle of a battle I wasn’t ready for. But my legs refused to move. I was paralyzed, unable to act, unable to protect myself.

"Clarissa!" Jordan shouted, his voice frantic. "Get to safety!"

I nodded instinctively, but I had no idea where safety was. I couldn’t see where the fight was taking place, couldn’t hear the direction of the attack over the noise of the chaos. I stumbled backward, trying to find some sort of cover, but it was useless. My body was too slow, too weak, and my fear kept me rooted to the spot.

Suddenly, I felt a rush of air behind me-a wolf, larger than any I had seen before, was barreling toward me. I didn’t have time to react. I could only hear its growl and feel the heat of its breath on my neck.

Before it could reach me, a dark shape appeared in front of me, blocking my path. The wolf collided with the shape, the force of the impact throwing it off course. I recognized the figure immediately.

Jordan.

He had thrown himself in front of me, taking the blow so I could escape.

"Go!" he snarled through gritted teeth, his body strained under the weight of the attack.

I hesitated, but only for a moment. I had no choice. I ran.

I didn’t know where I was running to, didn’t know what was safe anymore, but I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding in my chest. The sounds of the battle faded behind me, but my fear never did.