2

NAIA

The moment I step outside, my heart pounds in my chest. I head straight for the gates, but my stomach sinks when I see two guards stationed there.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Panic threatens to take over, but my eyes dart around, searching for a way out. That’s when I spot Helen, a maid carrying a platter of food.

"Hi, Helen, I’ll take care of this," I say quickly, snatching the platter from her hands. She gives me a side-eye but doesn’t protest.

I turn around, rolling my eyes as I approach the guards.

"Hi, boys. Hungry?" I ask with my sweetest smile. Their stances shift immediately, muscles tensing at the sound of my voice.

They don’t answer, just glare at me suspiciously.

"I was ordered to hand these out," I say, motioning to the cupcakes on the platter. "The Luna didn’t want them, and you know how she gets when food is not of her liking."

Their suspicion lingers, but hunger wins. One of them grabs a cupcake, then the other. I make sure to snag two for myself, biting into one to sell the act.

But before I can savor the moment—

"Hey! Don’t let her escape!"

The shout freezes the air.

The guards whip their heads toward me, realizing too late. I shove the cupcakes into their faces, crumbs and frosting flying everywhere, and bolt toward the gates.

I don’t look back. I throw the gates open and run like there's no tomorrow.

"Now would be a great time to shift, Kyra!" I yell to my wolf.

"You know shifting will kill us. Use those training lessons we practiced in secret!" Kyra snaps, her voice sharp.

I grit my teeth and push myself harder. My legs burn, my lungs scream, but the sound of paws hitting the ground behind me keeps me moving. I don’t dare look back, but I can feel them closing in. Four wolves, maybe more.

"Fuck, I can run!" I shout, exhilarated despite the fear.

"Of course you can," Kyra growls. "You have Alpha blood in your veins. Now head for the Dark Forest. We can lose them there."

"But—"

"Just go!"

I don’t argue. I veer toward the shadowy expanse ahead, the air turning colder as I cross into its eerie embrace. The forest is silent, too silent, and every shadow feels like it’s watching me.

I slow down, scanning my surroundings, but Kyra's voice cuts through my hesitation.

"Run, Naia! Faster!"

I take off again, but something sticky and cold brushes against my leg. I stumble, tripping over the invisible force.

I glance down, expecting to see something wrapped around me, but there’s nothing. My heart races as I push myself back to my feet and start running again—only to slam into something solid.

I crash to the ground, groaning in pain.

When I look up, my breath catches.

A towering man stands before me, his head tilted slightly, dark eyes boring into mine with a predatory calm. He looks like he’s carved from stone—broad shoulders, thick muscles, and an air of raw power that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Before I can react, howls pierce the air. I whip around to see the wolves that had been chasing me. They stop a short distance away, and one shifts into his human form.

"Naia, you need to come with us," the man says softly, almost a whisper. "This place isn’t for you, and the King demands your presence."

My lips part, ready to spit out a defiant refusal, but the mountain of a man I bumped into steps forward.

His voice is deep, commanding, and final. "She’s not going anywhere."