Chapter Seven: Into the Wild

The night was endless, stretching out before Selene in a vast expanse of darkness.

The wind howled through the towering trees, carrying with it the distant cries of wolves, some wild, some rogue, and none friendly. The cold bit at her skin, even through the torn dress she wore—the last remnants of her life in the Bloodmoon Pack.

Her feet ached, raw and blistered from hours of walking. No destination. No home. No pack.

Just her.

Alone.

For the first time in her life, Selene was truly, completely alone.

She had left behind everything she had ever known, not by choice, but by force.

By rejection.

By betrayal.

She sucked in a shaky breath and forced herself forward. She had already made it past Bloodmoon’s borders, but she knew that meant nothing.

The world outside a pack’s territory was ruthless. It was not meant for wolves like her—wolves who had never been forced to survive on their own.

Selene had never been weak, but she had also never been alone.

She had always had a home.

A place to return to.

Not anymore.

Each step felt heavier than the last, exhaustion gnawing at her bones. Her wolf, normally a steady presence in the back of her mind, was silent—curled in on itself, licking the wounds of rejection.

Selene swallowed hard, trying to shake the deep, aching emptiness inside her. The mate bond had been severed, but the pain of it lingered like a phantom limb, a dull, throbbing ache in her chest.

She could still feel it, even though she wasn’t supposed to.

Even though Kieran had rejected her.

A sharp pang went through her at the thought of him, but she shoved it down. She had spent too many years thinking about Kieran Blackwood—loving him, wanting him, pretending it didn’t hurt when he kept his distance.

Now?

Now she would learn to exist without him.

Even if it killed her.

Hunger and Desperation

By the time the sun began to rise, Selene was weak with hunger.

Her stomach twisted painfully, and she had to clench her jaw to keep from crying out. She had shifted into her wolf hours ago, letting her instincts take over, but even then, she hadn’t been able to find food.

Her wolf had been raised in a pack. Hunting had always been a team effort—not a skill she had been forced to master alone.

But now, she had no choice.

She slowed her steps, her ears twitching as she listened. A faint rustling in the undergrowth caught her attention, and she turned her sharp gaze toward the sound.

A rabbit.

Small. Weak. But food.

Selene crouched low, every muscle in her body tense. She moved slowly, her paws pressing lightly against the damp earth.

The rabbit twitched, sensing something—sensing her.

Selene lunged.

The rabbit bolted.

Too fast.

Selene snarled in frustration as she skidded to a stop, her breath ragged.

Pathetic.

She had been trained to fight. She had spent years honing her body into a weapon, learning the techniques of warriors. But without a pack, she was useless.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t help her survive.

She needed food.

She needed shelter.

She needed to find a way to live—even if she didn’t know how.

The Storm

By the time night fell again, the sky had turned dark with angry clouds. The scent of rain thickened in the air, and Selene knew what was coming.

She needed to find cover. Fast.

The terrain had grown harsher the farther she traveled. The trees here were denser, the shadows deeper. She wasn’t sure where she was anymore—not that it mattered.

She had no pack.

No borders.

She was nowhere.

A sudden clap of thunder made her flinch, and then the sky opened up.

The rain came down in an icy sheet, soaking her fur instantly. She let out a soft whimper, her body trembling from exhaustion and cold.

She needed to keep moving.

She pushed forward, weaving through the trees, her vision blurred by the downpour. Her paws sank into the mud with every step, making it harder to move.

Another crack of thunder.

And then—the scent.

Selene froze.

It was faint, almost drowned out by the rain, but she knew it instantly.

Rogues.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She turned sharply, scanning the darkness. They were close.

Rogues weren’t like pack wolves. They weren’t bound by laws or honor. They were wild, feral, unpredictable. And they didn’t take kindly to trespassers.

Selene’s pulse pounded in her ears. She had no backup. No protection.

If they found her…

She wouldn’t survive.

She needed to hide.

Now.

She forced herself into motion, ignoring the pain in her body. She wove through the trees, her breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts. She had to be smart.

She caught a glimpse of an old, half-rotted tree with a hollowed-out base. Not perfect, but better than nothing.

Selene darted inside, curling up as small as she could.

The scent of damp wood and moss filled her nose. She pressed herself into the shadows, her ears twitching at every sound.

And then—footsteps.

Heavy. Close.

Selene’s breath hitched.

They were here.

A low growl rumbled through the air.

Selene squeezed her eyes shut, her body tense.

If they found her, she would have to fight.

But she was weak. Hungry. Exhausted.

She had never felt more vulnerable.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the forest for a split second.

She caught a glimpse of them—three wolves. Their fur was ragged, their eyes feral. They were hunting.

Her heart pounded violently.

One of them sniffed the air, their head tilting slightly.

Selene held her breath.

Please. Keep moving.

Seconds stretched into eternity.

Then—one of them growled, signaling the others.

Selene’s stomach twisted. They knew.

She was out of time.

She had to run.

With a burst of adrenaline, she lunged from the hollow, her paws kicking up mud as she bolted into the night.

Snarls erupted behind her.

They chased.

Selene’s breath came in ragged gasps, her limbs screaming in protest. She was fast, but she was running on empty.

And they were closing in.

Her vision blurred from exhaustion, but she kept moving, pushing her body past its limit.

The forest opened up ahead—a river, swollen from the rain, its currents fast and dangerous.

Selene had two choices.

Face the rogues… or take her chances with the river.

Her decision was made for her.

The moment she reached the edge of the cliffside, one of the rogues lunged—teeth flashing, claws outstretched.

Selene didn’t think.

She jumped.

The world tilted.

The last thing she felt was the icy grip of the river pulling her under.

And then—

Darkness.