Chapter 3

SCARLET

Branches scratched my skin as I darted deeper into the woods, lungs burning, heart pounding. I knew nothing about the land I was racing through—only that it was a place no one sane dared to venture.

The wolves had stopped at the border, pacing but unwilling to cross. That should’ve been a relief, but it wasn’t.

Still, I kept running. I ran until my legs screamed in protest and air almost dried up in my lungs. I stumbled to a halt, leaning against a tree, my heart hammering in my chest.

Had I lost them? Hopefully I have.

I looked around, my body trembling from exhaustion and fear. The forest was quiet, scaringly too quiet.

Something moved in the distance, it sounded like the soft ripple of water stirring in the silence. I darted behind a tree, pressing my back against the rough bark. My heart thudded violently in my chest as I peeked out, scanning the river ahead.

And then he appeared.

A man stepped out of the water, slow and deliberate, like a predator confident in its territory. I swallowed hard, my gaze glued to him. He didn’t look human—he looked otherworldly, like a god.

His appearance screamed authority and mercilessness.

His damp hair clung to his sharp cheekbones, droplets tracing paths down the chiseled lines of his face. His jaw was sharp enough to cut, and the full curve of his lips looked both cruel and enticing. The water shimmered along every ridge of his perfectly sculpted chest and abdomen, trickling down to where his shorts—if they could even be called that—sat low on his hips, clinging to his skin.

He moved with a relaxed grace. His muscles are perfectly sculpted, each shift of his body mesmerizing, like art in motion. For a moment, I forgot where I was—forgot all my life’s problems. I forgot that I was standing in the lion’s den.

He stopped suddenly, his gaze lifting to where I hid. I held my breath. His eyes—dark as night but gleaming with something deadly—pinned me in place. He hadn’t seen me. He had sensed me.

“Come out,” he called, his voice smooth and commanding, filled with an unsettling calm that sent shivers racing down my spine.

I didn’t come out, I was too scared to. I clutched the bark of the tree tighter, as if it could somehow save me.

He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in the ghost of a smile. But it wasn’t kind.

“Run if you like,” he whispered, voice like velvet. “It won’t matter. You’re mine now.”

His words wrapped around me like a snare, but I stayed silent, pressing my lips tightly together, barely able to breathe.

I watched him with wide eyes as he moved with precise calmness, almost too calm. He reached for his trousers and slipped them on with ease. Each step he took was measured, dangerously slow, like he had been searching for a prey and he finally found one.

I clenched my fists, as if making myself smaller could somehow make me disappear. The only hope I had was that he would pass by without noticing me, that somehow, by sheer luck, I’d be invisible to him.

But then, suddenly, the silence shattered.

Leaves rustled, a sound that grew into a thunderous crashing through the trees. A low, familiar growl rippled through the forest, followed by the pounding of paws hitting the ground. Wolves, racing toward us.

In an instant, his eyes shifted, gleaming a fierce, unnatural golden yellow. His head snapped angrily in their direction, and my heart leaped.

I knew those wolves—they were pack warriors, sent by Alpha Jade to track me down.

Without hesitation, he tore through the wolves ruthlessly. His movement was swift and merciless, like he had had a lifetime of training.

One wolf lunged; he sidestepped, stretched out his hands and ripped out its heart, crushing it in a single blow.

Another tried to flank him, but he seized it mid-leap, slamming it into the ground.

Suddenly, more men emerged from the woods, their eyes gleaming the same bright yellow as his but of less intensity. A chill swept through me, keeping my feet rooted to the ground. I felt my stomach twist painfully, my heart pounding in my chest. I had only heard rumors of his brutality and now I was witnessing it first hand. This is definitely my end.

The forest was frighteningly silent, with dead bodies scattered across the blood-soaked ground.

Every last wolf that had invaded Willow Brooke lay dead. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat.

The warriors, breathing heavily from the intense fight, stepped back and lowered their heads in respect as he strode forward, exuding an oppressive authority.

His gaze swept across the fallen wolves before flickering to the tree where I crouched, hidden in the shadows. His eyes narrowed, and he raised a hand, pointing directly at my hiding spot.

“There’s one more,” he announced, his voice echoing through the clearing, low and dangerous. He turned back to his warriors, his expression hardening.

“Bring me her heart!”

They turned towards me immediately, their footsteps thundering closer. My heart hammered against my ribs, a wild, frantic rhythm of terror. I crouched lower in my hiding place, praying that the shadows would swallow me whole. But the moment their piercing eyes locked on mine, I knew it was over for me.

A rough hand seized the neckline of my top, yanking me out of my hiding place.

He looked even more scary up close , his hands clasped behind his back. His lips curled into a predatory smile, one that promised pain and fed on fear. One of his warriors unsheathed his sword. The metallic hiss cut through the silence, and I felt the blood drain from my face.

The blade gleamed as it was raised high above me, its edge set to deliver the inevitable. My body shook violently, tears stinging my eyes as I clutched the dirt beneath me in a futile attempt to anchor myself to life.

“Please! I’ll do anything you want!” The words tore from my throat, raw and desperate. I was supposed to say my last prayer, even though I knew the words wouldn’t help, I still wanted to take my chances. My eyes clamped shut, my lips trembling as I braced for the blow that would end it all.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Time seemed to stretch, but the pain never came. Instead, there was silence.

My eyes fluttered open, hesitant and tear-blurred. The sword was no longer descending toward me. Instead, it replaced by a dark green orb staring deep into my eyes like he could see my soul.

“You have no idea how dangerous your words were.” His voice was calm, almost conversational, but each word carried an unspoken threat that sent shivers down my spine. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

“I-I meant it. Anything...just don’t—don’t kill me.” My voice cracked, my desperation spilling out of me like blood from a fresh wound. He crouched in front of me, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Anything?” His tone was mocking, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Be careful, little one. Promises like that can chain you to things far worse than death.”

Without giving me any more audience, he straightened, turning his back to me with a dismissive wave of his hand.

“Bring her,” he commanded, his tone cold and detached, as if I were no more than a stray animal being rounded up.

*****

I stood frozen in front of the full-length mirror, staring at my reflection as if it belonged to someone else. The girl in the glass wore a stunning gown that hugged her body too tightly for comfort, its embroidery shimmering under the dressing room lights. Her face was painted with unfamiliar colors, eyes darkened with smoky shadows and lips a shade too bold for her usual plainness. It felt like staring at a stranger.

Hours earlier, they had dragged me from the cramped, windowless room where I had been locked away like some animal. Now, I was here, dressed up like a Barbie doll, the perfect picture of grace. But for what?

My fingers twitched as I fidgeted with the flowing fabric of the gown. I took a deep breath, trying to loosen the corset's grip on my ribs. My hair, which I had always kept in a tight, neat bun, now cascaded down my back in loose waves. A strand escaped and caught on my lips. Frustrated, I spat it out, wishing for the simplicity of my usual look. This wasn’t me—this couldn’t be me.

I glanced down at the silver heels they’d forced onto my feet. They sparkled like they belonged to royalty, but all they did was make me feel unstable. How could I run, fight, or survive in these, if I had to? My legs felt like jelly just standing still.

The sudden creak of the door made my heart skip a bit.

“It’s time,” A guard said, bowing slightly before motioning for me to follow.

He led me out into the dimly lit hallway, his boots echoing against the wooden floorboards as I stumbled behind him. The further we walked, the louder my heartbeat grew. We took the grand staircase, leading down to the massive entrance doors of the pack house. Another guard pushed the doors open with a dramatic flourish, My heart skipped a beat at the sight in front of me.

A crowd of people gathered across the courtyard, their faces illuminated by the golden glow of lanterns and the pale light of the moon. Cheers erupted. My anxiety surged, sending my vision spinning. My knees buckled, but I stood rooted to the ground, staring in disbelief.

I felt a rigid presence beside me, I looked up to see my captor —their Alpha. His piercing cold gaze bore into mine, a cruel smirk playing on his lips.

“All hail the Luna of Willow Brooke!” someone shouted from the crowd, their voice ringing with reverence.

“We’ve been expecting you. Welcome!”

My breath hitched, my mind scrambling to process what I had just heard.

Luna? What the actual heck!