Chapter 3

He emerges from the shadows, his steps slow, measured. Like a predator that's already decided I'm his prey. He is pitch black, his fur shining under the moonlight, his blue eyes, gleaming like a cold fire, lock onto mine, and for the first time in a long time, I feel something cold slide down my spine. But I don't flinch. Instead, I meet his gaze, my breath steady despite the fire raging in my chest.

He says nothing at first. Just watching, sizing me up. That's when he decides to shift right in front of me, revealing a man standing tall, with cream-white skin as compared to my tanned, caramel one... His hair is dark, as dark as it was in his Wolf form and his features are sharp and defined, He is naked, baring his large, muscular body before me, and I try my best not to look at his manhood, my eyebrows rising for a moment before I look away, trying to ignore ... large it is...

I eventually look back at him, finding him putting on a bare of trousers, his skin glistening as he tilts his head at me, analysing me as he steps forward. I've been in enough fights to recognise that look. He's calculating. Figuring out if I'm worth the trouble.

"You have 10 seconds to tell me who you are and what you're doing on my territory," he speaks and his voice, low and sharp as a blade, sends a cold shiver through my body...

The Wolves behind him grow restless, their growls rising as the tension between us builds. One twitch of his head, a slight nod from his head, and they'll attack. I know. I can feel the violence already simmering in the air...

"10." He begins to count down and my heart thumps harshly in my chest, realising that I am only moments away from becoming worm food.

"Kaida. Kai for short." I answer as my eyes dart to all the wolves around me. "Just passing through..." I answer him.

His lips twitch but there's no humour there.

"You think I have time jokes you fucking rogue?" He tells me and I can feel the anger slipping through his voice, the pure hatred even though he has no idea who I am.

I then raise my hands in the air, turning around to each of them to show them that I won't be attacking any of them... just yet...

"Look I don't want any trouble. I came here by accident, so if you guys could just let me go...-" I try to say, having my back turned on the Alpha, but he soon interrupts me...

"You're not going anywhere... unfortunately for you, we don't spare rogues... " I hear him say behind me and that's when I sigh to myself before slowly turning around to face him, my once civil expression dying down to serious as I bring my grey eyes to face him...

I figured this wouldn't be that easy...

The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy.

His wolves prowl closer, waiting for the word that'll send them flying at my throat, ready to tear me to shreds...

And soon, he gives the order.

"Seize her." He orders and I was expecting an order of execution, but thankfully it never comes. The moment his gaze shifts from me, I bolt, breaking for the trees. I hear the snap of jaws behind me, the snarls of wolves too close for comfort. My heart slams against my ribs as I tear through the brush, faster than I should be after days of running. But fear does that. It wakes you up. Sharpens you.

Something barrels into me, and I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from my lungs as I roll across the dirt. Pain explodes in my side, and before I can get my bearings, I feel a heavy weight pinning me down. One of his Wolves.

Teeth graze the back of my neck, and I know it's over. They’re about to kill me... Except... they don’t... not yet at least.

The weight is gone just as quickly, a low snarl filling the air. I roll onto my back, gasping, and catch a glimpse of the Alpha standing over me, his hand raised to stop his wolves... I then notice that the wolf that was on top of me is metres away, whining as if he had been injured.

Did he just... throw him off me?

The Alpha’s eyes are locked on mine, a frown pulling at his lips. He's not happy. He expected this to go differently. He expected me to be easy.

I push myself to my knees, glaring up at him, every instinct telling me to fight, to run, to do something other than kneel here in the dirt like prey. But I don't get the chance.

"Seems I will have to deal with you myself," he says, his voice cold and final.

I wipe the blood from my lip and meet his gaze with the last bit of defiance I have left. "Do you expect me to be flattered?"

But it's not my choice anymore. They think I'm done.

The Alpha's wolves circle me, their eyes glowing in the dark, teeth bared and ready. Their claws dig into the ground, impatient for blood. I stay on my knees, playing into their assumptions. Weak. Beaten.

Let them think that.

The first one lunges without warning. His teeth snap, aiming for my throat, but I twist out of reach just in time. My body may be bruised and aching, but I'm not broken. Not even close.

I grab his muzzle and wrench him to the side, slamming his head against the hard ground. The impact shakes through me, but I'm already moving, spinning on my heels as the next wolf charges.

Another one. Bigger. Slower. I don't even give him a chance to think. I grab him by the fur and flip him onto his back, my boot driving into his ribs. He howls in pain, and it echoes in the night.

Good. They'll remember this.

The other wolves hesitate now, their eyes switching to the Alpha, waiting for his command. But he just watches, arms crossed over his chest like this is some kind of test. His calm is unnerving, but I can't afford to think about him right now. Not with three more wolves to deal with.

They won't hesitate forever.

Another one barrels toward me, but this one is smarter. He comes at me from the side, aiming for my legs, trying to knock me off balance. I jump, kicking out mid-air and catching him under the jaw. His head snaps back with a yelp, and he stumbles, but he's not out yet. Not like the others.

I roll forward, spinning back onto my feet just as he leaps again. He's fast, but I'm much faster. I grab his fur and use his momentum to swing him straight into a nearby tree. The crack of bone is loud enough to make the others flinch.

One more down.

The remaining two move in sync now, smarter, more cautious. They flank me, one on each side, eyes locked on me, waiting for the right moment. I don't wait. I dive forward, grabbing the one on the left by his throat. His claws tear into my arm, but I don't let go. I squeeze, watching the light fade from his eyes, and toss him to the ground.

Blood drips from my fingers. My own blood, mixed with theirs. One left.

This one's different. Bigger. Older. His eyes are steady, calculating. He's not just a wolf; he's a soldier. One who's been trained to kill. He charges me without hesitation, his teeth flashing in the moonlight.

I brace for impact, but I'm not fast enough. His claws catch my shoulder, and the pain is instant, sharp. I grunt, pushing back against him with everything I've got, but he's too strong. He's forcing me to the ground, his weight crushing the air out of my lungs.

I'm about to strike when a shadow moves behind him. The Alpha.

Before I can react, he's on me. His hands lock around my wrists, pinning me to the dirt. The remaining wolf steps back, retreating as the Alpha takes over.

His grip is powerful as he keeps me on the ground, hovering over me. I thrash, bucking against him with everything I have left, but it's not enough. He's stronger than any of them. Stronger than me...

"Stop fighting and maybe I'll end it quickly..." he growls, his voice low and rough, like he's irritated I'm still resisting.

"No chance," I snarl, baring my teeth at him as a growl vibrates through my teeth. His eyes darken.

"Very well then..." With a swift motion, he yanks me up, dragging me to my feet. My vision blurs, pain lancing through my shoulder where the wolf's claws tore into me. Blood drips down my arm, but I push through it.

I twist, trying to break his hold, but he slams me back into the ground. The world tilts, and my head hits the dirt hard enough to make my ears ring. For a second, everything goes black, but I refuse to let it swallow me. I bite down on the pain and keep my eyes locked on his, defiance burning in my chest.

He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear.

"You should have listened when you had the chance..." His grip tightens around my throat, and the edges of my vision start to darken again. He's not choking me—he's too controlled for that—but he's reminding me that he could. Easily...

"Just do it... kill me if that's what you want so badly..." I spit out, struggling against his hold as I look deep into his eyes.

"Now you're begging? Can't say I was expecting that" he says, his voice calm, almost bored.

I manage a smirk, though it hurts like hell.

"Trust me I've been ready to die a long time ago... death doesn't scare me anymore" I whisper through the pain.

For the first time, I see something flash in his eyes. Anger? Amusement? I can't tell. But he doesn't react the way I expect. Instead, he loosens his grip just enough for me to breathe, though he doesn't let go.

I growl, pushing against his hold with whatever strength I've got left. But he's not budging. He presses down harder, and this time, my body can't keep up. My limbs go heavy, and no matter how hard I fight, it's like trying to swim through quicksand.

“What… are you…waiting for…?" I whisper, the words barely escaping as the blackness creeps in. I hate this—hate being trapped, hate being weak. I won't let it end like this. But I don't have a choice. The world tilts again, and the last thing I see is the Alpha's eyes, cold and unreadable, before everything fades to black...