CHAPTER ONE

Carly woke to the sound of keys jangling and the heavy door of her cell creaking open. Her heart skipped as the light from the hallway flooded in. She squinted, trying to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness. Alpha Arnold stood in the doorway, his silhouette looming menacingly.

"Get up, Carly," he barked. "Today's going to be a busy day, and I don't want any of your sluggishness slowing us down."

She hurried to her feet, her body still sore from the previous day's work. Without a word, she followed Alpha Arnold out of the cell and into the dimly lit hallway.

Carly's mind raced again with thoughts of escape plans. She had to be careful with Alpha Arnold. Any mistakes could lead to severe punishment, and she couldn't afford that now. She had to bide her time, waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.

They entered the main hall, where the other slaves were already at work. The room buzzed with activity as they prepared for another day of their monthly responsibilities. Carly's heart sank as she saw the fear in their eyes, the same fear that had taken root in her own heart.

"Listen up, everyone!" Alpha Arnold's voice boomed across the room, silencing the murmurs of the slaves. "Today, we have special guests arriving from the neighboring packs. I expect everything to be perfect. No mistakes. Do you understand?"

A chorus of murmured agreements followed, and Alpha Arnold was pleased with everyone's response. He turned to Carly, his eyes narrowing.

"Carly, you'll be in charge of cleaning the guest quarters. Make sure everything is spotless. And remember, any mistakes will be severely punished."

"Yes, Alpha Arnold," Carly replied, her voice trembling slightly. She turned and made her way to the guest quarters, her mind focused on the task at hand.

The guest quarters were a series of rooms at the far end of the hall, reserved for the most important visitors. Carly entered the first room, a large, opulent space filled with rich furnishings and elaborate decorations. She took a deep breath and began to clean, her hands moving quickly and efficiently.

Finally, the guest quarters were clean, and Carly stepped back to admire her work. She was exhausted, her body aching from the effort. At least for now, she had done something right.

"Carly!" Alpha Arnold's voice called from the doorway, and she turned to see him. "Are you finished?"

"Yes, Alpha Arnold," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear that gripped her.

"Good. Follow me. There's more work to be done."

Carly followed him out of the room and back into the main hall. The other slaves were still hard at work, their faces etched with weariness.

"You'll be helping with the preparations for tonight's feast," he said, gesturing to the mess. "Make sure everything is in order."

Carly nodded and began to sort through the supplies. While she was working, she overheard snippets of conversation from the other slaves, their voices low.

"Did you hear about the new visitors?" one of them whispered. "I heard they're even worse than Alpha Arnold."

"Just keep your head down and do your work," another replied. "We can't afford to get on their bad side."

Carly's heart sank at the thought. If these new visitors were truly worse than Alpha Arnold, then their situation was even more dire than she had imagined. She had to find a way out, and soon.

But who could she trust? The other slaves were just as fearful as she was, their spirits broken by years of servitude. She needed someone strong, someone brave enough to stand up to Alpha Arnold and his pack.

The guests began to arrive, their voices filling the hall with a cacophony of noise. Carly kept her head down, focusing on her tasks, but she couldn't help but listen to their conversations.

"Did you hear about the latest raid?" one of the guests said, his voice filled with excitement. "The Resistance is getting bolder. They attacked one of our outposts last night."

"Yes, I heard," another replied. "But they'll never win. We're too strong for them."

Carly was surprised when they mentioned the word Resistance. If they were truly out there, fighting against the wolf packs, then maybe there was hope. She just needed to find a way to contact them.

As she served the guests, Carly couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. The wolves from the neighboring packs seemed restless, their conversations hushed and urgent. She moved carefully, avoiding their scrutinizing gazes, her mind racing with the possibilities.

There, in a hidden alcove, was a man she had never seen before. He was dressed in dark, practical clothing, and his eyes were sharp and alert.

"Who are you?" she whispered, glancing nervously back toward the stairs.

The man raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. "My name is Liam," he said quietly. "I'm with the Resistance."

Carly's breath caught in her throat. The Resistance. They were real, and they were here. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We've been watching the packs for some time," Liam explained. "We're looking for people who want to fight back."

"I want to fight back," Carly said quickly, desperation in her voice. "I can't stay here any longer."

Liam nodded. "I can help you, but we need to be careful. Alpha Arnold has eyes everywhere. Can you meet me here again, tomorrow night?"

"Yes," Carly replied without hesitation. "I'll be here."

Liam handed her a small, folded piece of paper. "This has the details of our next meeting point. Memorize it and destroy it. We can't risk it falling into the wrong hands."

Carly took the paper, her hands shaking. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Stay strong," Liam said, his voice steady and reassuring. "We'll get you out of here."

With that, Carly quickly made her way back to the hall. She had to be very careful. Arnold has connections with the Lamine packs, and any information he disperses to them and the Alpha of Lamine packs is what they will always follow and do. They can never object to it.

As she resumed her duties, Carly's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and plans. She now had hope, a light in the darkness that had consumed her life for so long. But she had to be cautious. One wrong move, and everything could be lost.

The feast went on, the guests laughing and talking, oblivious to the turmoil inside Carly. She moved among them, serving food and drinks, all the while plotting her escape. The Resistance was her only hope, and she clung to it with every fiber of her being.

 Carly could feel the weight of the small piece of paper in her pocket. It was a symbol of her newfound hope, a reminder that she was not alone. She had to memorize its contents and destroy it, just as Liam had instructed.

Finally, the guests began to leave, their laughter echoing in the hall. Carly let out a sigh of relief, hoping she could retire to her cell without any more trouble. But as she started to clean up, Alpha Arnold approached her, a smirk on his face.

"You did well tonight, Carly," he said, his tone mocking. "But don't think for a second that means you're off the hook. You still have a lot to learn about serving your betters."

"Yes, Alpha Arnold," she replied, her voice barely audible.

"Go to your cell. Tomorrow will be another long day."

Carly nodded and made her way back to her cell, her body aching from the day's labor. She lay down on the hard, cold floor, her thoughts turning to escape once more. She couldn't stay here forever. She had to find a way out, no matter the cost.