Chapter one: Double forest

Alina Pov:

The moon filtered through the trees, casting a pale glow over the treetops. Crouching on a thick branch, I peered down at the pack guards below, my chest pounding as they followed the false trail I had left earlier. They were close, their heavy boots crunching against the fallen leaves.

I grinned. Idiots.

All they had to do was look up, and they'd find me. But instead, they drifted farther from their target. Fooling them had been easy, I had masked my scent, leaving them no way to sniff me out. Even if they tried, they would never find me.

I stifled a laugh at the frustration on Zack's face. He had been so sure he would catch me before the third day, but here we were, already nearing the end of the second. Just a few more hours, and I would have my freedom. As the guards disappeared into the distance, my mind drifted back to my last conversation with my father-the Lycan King.

****

"Why? Why do you forbid me from leaving the pack?" I demanded.

My father sat behind his desk, his expression grim. His usual you wouldn’t understand excuse was written all over his face, but I wasn’t going to accept silence this time.

"I can’t go on like this," I murmured, staring at him. "There’s so much I want to do, so many places I want to explore, but I can’t if I’m caged here."

"The outside world is more dangerous than you think," he said, stepping toward me. He cupped my face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You wouldn’t understand, Alina. I’m trying to protect you."

i hated this. Why did he think this was the best decision for me? Why wouldn't he give me an explanation? Why was he looking at me like I was backing him into a corner? when all I wanted was my freedom

"If it’s so dangerous, then why not forbid every pack member from leaving? Why not forbid my brother?"

"Your brother is the future Alpha," he countered. "He needs to familiarize himself with the outside world to rule effectively."

I scowled, my hands curled tightly, "I’m your daughter, yet I haven’t even been to a neighboring pack. I’ve never seen a human. I’m over twenty and haven’t even found my mate. All I do is train and memorize landscapes that are no use to me."

silence.

"This isn’t living. I’m not living." My voice wavered, but I bit my lip, holding back tears. "I want to find my mate, experience romance, make mistakes, taste new foods, visit new places—but I can’t do that here. That’s why I have to do this." yes, I can't back down, this has to stop, something has to change

I lifted my chin. "I’m not a child anymore, father. I’m a member of this pack, and I demand to be treated as an equal or would it be better for me to go rouge"

His expression faltered. I knew I was trending on a treadmill, saying I'll turn rouge is no more than requesting for a death sentence

Silence stretched between us. Then, finally, he sighed.

"Three days."

I frowned. "What?"

"Survive in the forest for three days without being caught." His eyes darkened. "If you can do that, I’ll grant you the freedom you want."

*******

Now, I hopped down from the tree, certain the guards had gone far enough. I moved toward the forest’s border. The day before, I had stumbled upon something unusual—another forest beyond this one. The map I had studied never mentioned a double forest, nor had I ever heard of it. Right now, that second forest was my best chance of hiding.

The moment I crossed over, an eerie sensation settled over me. The trees were taller, older, and twisted in unnatural shapes. The air was colder—biting and unnatural. As a Lycan, I tolerated the cold well, but this was different. Shivers ran down my spine. Goosebumps prickled my skin.

Maybe I should turn back.

I hesitated, but a distant sound made me freeze. I stilled as apprehension filled me, could a pack guard had seen me

I saw a person, he was neither a pack guard nor was he a warewolf, my eyes widened as realization hit me, he was a vampire

His skin was as pale as snow, his blood-red eyes gleaming in the darkness. His long black claws flexed at his sides. A vampire.

For centuries, Lycans and vampires had been at war, though our conflict had simmered to a fragile halt as we hid our existence from the human world. But we were still enemies. My father had told me about vampires driven into a frenzy, losing themselves to starvation. Blood was the only thing that could quench it.

Filthy creatures, I thought in disgust. They survived by feeding on the lives of others.

A sudden grip on my arm yanked me backward. Before I could react, I was hurled into a tree. Pain exploded through my body as my back struck the rough bark. The impact stole the air from my lungs, and I coughed up blood, feeling the skin on my back tear.

It happened too fast.

More figures emerged from the shadows. I was surrounded.

My mind raced. What are vampires doing this close to pack borders?

My wolf, Kaia, growled inside me, trying to gain control

My vision flickered between gold and blue as she fought for control. But if I shifted now, the pack guards would sense me, and my escape would be for nothing.

Grinding my teeth, I pushed myself to my feet. My claws elongated, my muscles tensed. I've trained for this. I’ve sparred with my father, my brother, and the Beta. These vampires made the worst mistake of their miserable lives by crossing me—and I will make sure to end them