Chapter 5: A Run for Life

As I was dragged out of the hall, I heard Viktor’s daughter laughing and whispering to her followers that I wouldn’t last an hour. The alpha’s personal guard would hunt me down and find me in the blink of an eye.

Being so underestimated pissed me off. Even weak and battered, I was still agile and had enough stamina to escape. I’d spent my life as bait for that bastard alpha’s wolves, training their skills. At night, I hid from them—for very different reasons.

The chains were heavy, dragging my arms down. The castle grew distant; forest darkness swallowed us like a bad omen. Celebration shouts and lights from the castle still pierced the treetops. I growled, furious and frustrated—my odds of keeping my promise were slim.

The soldiers stopped, glancing around suspiciously. When one turned to me, eyes crawling over my body, I knew what was coming. I’d seen that disgusting look too many times. He grabbed my shoulders and slammed me to the ground.

“Be a good girl and stay quiet. We can’t take long.” His foul, panting breath hit my face. I wrinkled my nose and snarled; he slapped me hard. “You whore, you should feel honored I even looked at you.”

“Finish it quick. The hunt signal’s coming soon.”

The wolf on top of me ripped the front of my clothes. I lay still like a corpse. He seized my face, forcing me to look at him.

“Open those pretty eyes wide and watch me take your body…” I jerked my head and sank my teeth into his hand, tearing flesh. Blood gushed as he yanked back.

His screams alerted his partner, who rushed in with a knife, ready to kill me. I released the first wolf, kicked him into the second, and bolted.

“After her!” one shouted as the signal flare lit the night sky.

“Shit,” I snarled, sprinting between trees, leaping rocks. “I need to hide. Somewhere even Viktor can’t reach—like…” I climbed a boulder and spotted city lights not far off. “There!”

I raced down the hill, sniffing as I fought Shade back. Every time she tried to take over, the chains burned my wrists, weakening me.

“Damn it, Shade,” I growled, slipping on a root and tumbling, branches and rocks slicing my skin. “Can’t you see we can’t shift yet?”

I glanced back—my fresh blood trail stark on the damp earth.

“Fuck!” I whimpered.

I was exhausted, wounded, clothes torn, strength draining from the silver. But I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t surrender. The only thing keeping me moving was the need to destroy Viktor with my own hands—but for that, I had to survive this forest.

I scented the human city. But before I could reach freedom, howls closed in. A large group. I grabbed a heavy, sharp rock.

I stood listening. One wolf lunged from my right, jaws aiming for my throat. I dodged, spun, and smashed the rock into his skull. He whimpered, dazed. I leapt on him and struck again and again until his head split, my arms bathed in blood.

“One down,” I whispered as a larger group approached.

I fled, veering off to avoid leading them to the city. If anyone saw me heading there, Viktor would plan my recapture fast.

I was veering away, hyper-aware, when something slammed my left ribs. I rolled in mud, pain exploding as blood poured from my side.

“I think the prize is mine.” Viktor’s Beta emerged—Gideon Preston. Contempt poured from his dark-brown eyes. He stepped on my leg, slowly increasing pressure. “Now you’ll pay for your insolence against the alpha, filthy wolf.”

“Like hell.” I snarled, kicking him in the knee with my free leg. He dodged; I used the moment to yank my trapped leg, unbalancing him.

He recovered fast—Betas don’t earn the rank by chance—but he didn’t expect his own wolves’ greed. Two lunged, trying to claim me, knocking Gideon aside.

One leapt at me. I grabbed his paws, spun, and hurled his massive body into the Beta. Gideon dodged; I bolted back toward the city.

The wounds in my ribs and leg slowed me, but I reached a house on the forest edge. I crawled to the backyard, stole clothes from a line, washed my face and hair as best I could under a faucet.

I wasn’t safe yet. I needed somewhere my scent would be masked. The streets were nearly empty, but one place reeked of strong alcohol—humans stumbling out.

“There. I have to get there,” I whispered, struggling to breathe.

My vision darkened; my legs dragged, swaying side to side, but I refused to fall. I couldn’t collapse—that would be the end.

I reached out with a shaking hand and pushed the door. A tall, broad shadow emerged from the back, striding toward me. Then I couldn’t hold on anymore and blacked out.

Something burned my skin. I had no strength to complain. I opened my eyes slowly. A man looked down, worry etched on his face, sweat on his brow. Night-black hair fell over warm brown eyes.

A human.