Chapter 2

When I was eighteen, my clan performed the ascension ritual for Gregor to take his father's place as alpha. We were the same age, and I remember how excited my mother was that I had been chosen as his partner, and that, until then, nothing had proved otherwise.

Gregor and I got along as well as we could. I never thought that one day I would run away from him and that, for a millisecond, would rather that rival alpha just put an end to it.

I took another step back. The heavy shadows of the trees stopped covering my body, and I felt exposed, bathed in moonlight, trying to hide my arms as if they were too intimate.

He took another step towards me. I closed my eyes. Of course, this was the moment he would attack me. I wouldn't survive an aggressive bite from an alpha.

His eyes, a war-yellow, shone with some kind of curiosity as he analyzed my body. From head to toe, he judged me mutely, his eyes lingering on the marks on my skin.

The other wolves were getting closer. I could hear their footsteps, smell their scents.

"...What..." he muttered.

"Viktor!" one of the wolves called out, coming closer. His irises flashed, turning blue, as he abruptly moved his head in the direction of the voice.

My chance.

Taking advantage of his distraction, I ran as fast as I could.

"Hey!"

I knew I couldn't go back to Gregor. Not like that, like a useless little girl, proving to be every name he called me. So, aimlessly, I just looked for any place free of smells, somewhere I could be alone.

I looked over my shoulder. My heart was pounding in my chest, the adrenaline numbing my wounds. He was behind me.

I couldn't stop.

With all my concentration, I tried to get as much momentum as possible to slip between the trees, trying to lose him. At some point he would tire. He'd see that it wasn't worth separating himself from his companions for just any girl, even an Ashenfur one, lost in a forest... or so I told myself to try to calm down.

I didn't think much. I just concentrated. Run, run, run. Like I did before. I was good at it, I was fast.

And little by little, the sounds faded away.

I didn't dare look back until all my breath was gone and my ribcage was on fire with the pain of every inhale.

I leaned against an oak tree and it supported my weight. I just needed a second to recover, and then I would run further. I would find a safe distance.

Just as I was about to start running again, there was a thud.

And pain.

I couldn't quite understand what had happened. I rolled through the remains of the snow, the fallen tree leaves and the damp earth. There was a strong pressure on my body, throwing me sideways, and my vision spun, blurred.

Only then did I understand.

I was lying on the ground and the enemy alpha was standing over me.

Viktor Frostbite.

For generations, the Ashenfur and Frostbite clans have coexisted in a fragile peace. We maintained an alliance based on mutual agreements of non-aggression and trade in resources until Gregor led us into a territorial invasion.

I remember the retaliation all too well. The blue-eyed wolves invading our home, the irreparable losses. My mother.

I suppose that's when things became so chaotic with Gregor.

I tried to push Viktor. The other Frostbites hadn't reached him, so maybe I'd be able to throw him off again, but I was weak and out of breath.

He pressed my wrists above my head, pinning me in place.

"You're hurting me," I said brokenly. I imagine that was his aim, but, to my surprise, he loosened his grip.

Just not enough for me to get rid of it.

He stared at me. His eyes glowed green, as if they were halfway to turning yellow again. As if his aggression had subsided, for whatever reason.

He didn't say anything for a moment. I only felt his cold, gloved hands encircling my skin and the weight he was putting on me.

"What happened to you?" he said.

His expression was strange, frowning, torn between anger and... I don't know. Concern? Doubt?

"What?" I stammered, and he pressed me to the floor once more. I grunted.

"What happened to you?" he repeated, aggressively. "Alone, black and blue, and wearing... this."

He let go of my wrists and straightened up. But he didn't get off me. He held me in place, and I looked down. My clothes. I was still only wearing my nightgown.

"Get off me," I ordered, trying to get off, but he responded aggressively again.

Almost like Gregor, his hand squeezed my neck and he roared, cutting off my air for a moment.

"Answer me," he demanded.

I stared into his now completely yellow eyes.

"Aren't you going to kill me? Get it over with!"

"I see his mark on you," he said, his thumb pressing Gregor's mark of possession on the side of my neck. "Why are you here?"

My eyes burned.

It was a bit humiliating, wasn't it? To be found in this situation. I wasn't sure what to answer, and the adrenaline slowly stopped masking the pain of exhaustion settling into my bones.

I turned my face away. He just stared.

"Get off me," I pushed him once more, and he deliberately let me push his torso away. "I just... need some time alone..."

"What?" He frowned.

Gradually, he pulled away. He got off me, but remained on the floor next to me, his eyes glued to mine.

I sat up, cringed in place. Don't be pathetic. Don't cry in front of the enemy.

His eyes went down to the wounds on my arms, the dark marks on my skin.

"Who did this to you?"

I shuddered.

Damn. My vision blurred before I could control myself or try to divert the knot in my throat into a pinch or anything that would bring me back to reality and out of that self-pity bubble I hated.

He squeezed the leaves beneath us. There was something fierce in his expression, but I wasn't sure why.

"He's here!" a distant voice exclaimed. His companions.

I turned away. I tried to wipe my face, but my hands were too cold and they hurt.

"Don't run off like that..." said another Frostbite, approaching us. Three others arrived, silently analyzing me, standing in an imaginary line behind Viktor. Their respect for Viktor's command was obvious. I almost admired it.

Viktor stared at me. He stood up.

I didn't know what to expect from them, and now, even more weakened, I didn't think I could fight back. Just wait. And accept.

I closed my eyes.

My end.

I expected pain. A twisting, burning sensation.

But I felt softness.

Viktor had taken off his furry coat and draped it over my shoulders. The warmth quickly relaxed my muscles, but I forced them to remain tense.

What the hell?

I looked at him. He was standing next to me, frowning.

"...You said you wanted some time alone."

He held out his hand.

"Come."