Prologue

Serena POV.

It was already late when my mother whispered those words to me, her voice trembling with urgency as she woke me up.

“Run, Serena. The Alpha is looking for you. He wants to hurt you, my dear.”

“W– why? I did nothing…” I trailed off.

I knew exactly why Alpha Pedro hated me, why everyone in our pack also did. I was the one who caused the downfall of our family. My father was once a Gamma of the pack and was a strong pack warrior, and my mother was also respected, but all that changed, when I was discovered to be without a companion. The one thing that was the most important in our world.

To them, I was cursed. I didn't have a wolf. It seemed like I was a late bloomer at first, but over 5 years had passed, and still, nothing. Other members of the pack found their wolves at very young ages, but still, I didn't. Even on the night of my 18th birthday, when I expected my stronger self, my wolf, to manifest, it still didn't, and then, they all developed hatred towards me.

Nothing but strong hostility towards me.

They made me different and wanted me to isolate myself from them, but more than that, the Alpha wanted my life. He was ruthless and wanted to kill me.

My mother stared at me with a knowing look. "Just go and hide, Serena. We can talk about that later," she whispered to me.

She knew that I had an idea of what was going on, but she always tried to comfort me whenever I felt like giving up in our pack.

I didn’t hesitate. I bolted out through the back door into the woods, the night swallowing me whole. The cold air slapped my skin, and every crunch of leaves beneath my feet sounded louder than it should. The forest stretched ahead like a pitch-black ocean of trees. I didn’t know where I was going—just that I had to keep moving.

Then I heard it—a growl. Low. Commanding. Terrifying.

“Find her!” Alpha Pedro’s voice thundered through the trees like a curse, and I knew his men were already close.

I ducked under branches and stumbled over roots, my breath shallow and ragged. My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted out.

My body screamed for rest, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Being wolfless made me weaker, slower—I had no chance of outrunning them. But I had to try.

“Hey! Stop right there!” one of them shouted behind me.

I risked a glance back—two guards were gaining on me.

I didn’t stop.

I wouldn’t stop.

My legs were on fire. My throat burned. Then—

Wham!

My foot hit something—maybe a root, maybe a rock—and I crashed hard to the ground. Pain shot through my ankle, raw and sharp. I tried to stand, but my leg buckled under me.

Shit.

My ankle. It was strained. Badly.

The leaves behind me rustled. Footsteps. Laughter.

They’d found me.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered as they stepped into view. “Thought you could outrun us, little virgin?”

“Get up,” the other chuckled, eyes gleaming. “Alpha Pedro’s been waiting for you. I bet he’ll be real gentle... since you’ve kept yourself so tight all this time.”

Disgust twisted my face. I clawed at the ground and flung a handful of leaves at them, as if that would hurt them.

They just laughed harder.

I crawled backwards on my hands, panting, every breath scraping my throat raw.

“You should’ve let me take you when I asked,” one of them said, crouching low. “Maybe I would’ve protected you.”

“You morons!” I screamed, my voice sharp and furious, even though I was shaking.

They laughed louder, like it was a joke.

“You’re pretty,” one whispered. “Alpha Pedro might make it quick... or maybe not. But I think he'll go gentle on you in oppose to how he his with others since your pussy has never been drilled.”

“Either way, your parents won’t be able to save you.”

My mind was racing. What could I do? I was trapped. Weak. Injured. Now I was going to be Pedro's sex toy for the night?

No, no, no.

Then—

I saw something.

A figure.

Standing just behind them.

Tall. Motionless. Eyes glowing red through the dark.

“Hey, baby,” one guard mocked. “Don’t be scared. Maybe the Alpha will enjoy breaking a virgin like you.”

But I wasn’t looking at him anymore.

I couldn’t look away from that figure behind him.

Then came the growl.

Low. Feral. Terrifying.

The guards turned sharply.

“Who the fuck—?” one began.

“Maybe a wanderer,” the other muttered, stepping forward. “I’ll handle—”

Before he could finish, a swoosh of movement, and the stranger was already there. He grabbed the guard by the throat, and in a heartbeat—crack.

He tore his head clean off.

I screamed, frozen in place. My entire body trembled.

The second guard lunged, but the stranger was faster—too fast. He jabbed something into the guard’s gut. I caught a glint of claws as moonlight pierced through the trees.

He dug them into the man’s stomach, tearing through flesh like paper. The guard dropped, lifeless.

I was panting, frozen, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air. My eyes locked with his—red, glowing, dangerous.

My breath hitched.

I scrambled to my feet, ignoring the fire shooting through my ankle, limping, trying to flee.

But he was faster.

He dashed forward and in a flash, pinned me to a tree. The bark scraped against my back.

I screamed.

I couldn’t see his face—only his glowing eyes. That made it worse. I didn’t know who—or what—he was. But I could feel it in his aura.

He wasn’t just a wolf.

He was something darker. Something far more dangerous.

His fingers grazed my cheek. I squirmed, terrified, but when his cold hand made contact with my skin—I froze.

Then—

He sniffed me.

Like he was searching for something.

“…It’s you?” he said, voice rough and thrilling, like thunder laced with silk.

I didn’t understand. I couldn’t even breathe.

His eyes burned into mine. My whole body trembled.

And then—

His lips crushed mine.

I gasped into the kiss.

It was too sudden. Too fierce. Too overwhelming.

His mouth moved over mine with wild intensity, claiming. His hand gripped my waist like steel. I tried to push him away, clutching at what felt like an arm carved from stone, but I couldn’t move him.

I was drowning in it.

In the heat.

In the power of it.

In the jolt it sent through me—deep, ancient, terrifying.

Then just like that—he stopped.

He pulled away.

I was breathless, my lips tingling, my chest heaving.

He growled, low and deep—almost like pain—and then stepped back.

That was all I needed.

I turned and ran.

Or limped—stumbling, wincing with every step—but I didn’t stop.

I had to get away.

Away from the blood.

Away from the danger.

And away from the stranger who kissed me like he already owned me.