Chapter 3

Diane’s POV

When the clash died down, we found ourselves outside the pack’s borders, blindfolded and surrounded by an eerie silence. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air, but without my sight, it was impossible to tell where we were. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder that there was no turning back.

The cold air bit at my skin as I stumbled forward, my vision shrouded by the blindfold tightly wrapped around my eyes. Every step I took was uncertain, my balance thrown off by the lack of sight. Around me, the others were just as disoriented. The only sound was the crunch of boots on dirt, the occasional muffled grunt, and the distant howl of wolves echoing through the forest.

No one knew the route to Mooncroft, the biggest and most feared pack in existence, where the Alpha King resided. Those who entered rarely spoke of it afterward, as if the place was a well-guarded secret no one dared to expose.

A firm grip on my arm yanked me forward, forcing me to quicken my pace.

“Move faster,” a deep voice growled.

I bit my tongue, forcing myself to stay silent. I had learned that speaking out of turn only earned me bruises I couldn’t afford.

Hours passed, or maybe it was just minutes. Time meant nothing when you were powerless.

Then, the movement stopped.

The blindfold was ripped from my face, and I flinched at the sudden brightness. Blinking rapidly, my eyes adjusted to the sight before me.

Mooncrooft.

The massive stone gates loomed ahead, etched with ancient symbols of power. It was larger than I had imagined, a fortress built to withstand time itself. Beyond the gates, towering structures stretched toward the sky, blending with the thick forest that surrounded the pack’s territory.

It wasn’t just a pack. It was a kingdom.

The guards wasted no time ushering us forward. As we passed through the gates, my senses were immediately overwhelmed.

The inside of Mooncroft was breathtaking. Unlike my old pack, which was filled with constant tension and cold stares, this place radiated life. Women moved with grace, their skin glowing under the soft torchlight. Some were arranging lavish silk garments, others carried trays of food so fine it made my stomach twist with longing, and a few sat by a large fountain, whispering amongst themselves.

I couldn’t deny it—there was beauty here. But it was the kind of beauty that came with a price.

A sharp, authoritative voice cut through the air.

“Line them up.”

The guards obeyed instantly, forcing us into a straight row. My heart pounded as I lifted my gaze to the source of the command.

Lady Celestine.

Her presence was suffocating. She was tall, with striking features that held an ageless elegance, but her eyes were cold—calculating. She moved with an air of superiority, her gaze flickering over us as if we were nothing more than cattle at an auction.

Then, her eyes landed on me.

A slow, wicked smile stretched across her face.

“Oh?” she mused, stepping closer. “And what do we have here?”

I forced myself to hold my ground, but my fingers twitched at my sides.

Her gaze trailed from my tangled hair to the worn fabric of my clothes. “Disgraceful,” she muttered. “I don’t know why Lucien’s men bother bringing such filth into Mooncroft.”

The women around us giggled, their laughter light but cruel.

I swallowed the anger bubbling in my chest.

“Pathetic,” she continued, circling me like a vulture. “You’re weak. Frail. You should’ve been left behind.”

Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, but I refused to let her see that. Instead, I stared straight ahead, locking my jaw to keep from saying something that would get me into more trouble.

Lady Celestine seemed pleased by my silence.

She turned on her heel, dismissing me as easily as one would discard a broken toy.

The inspection continued, but I barely heard the rest. My mind was still burning from her words.

A hush suddenly fell over the hall.

I didn’t need to be told why. I could feel it—the shift in the air, the weight of power pressing against my skin.

Someone had entered the room. Someone important.

I turned, and the sight before me stole my breath.

A man stood at the entrance, his very presence commanding every ounce of attention in the room.

He was tall, his body carved with the kind of strength that spoke of both raw power and discipline. His black tunic hugged his muscular form, and his sharp jawline only made his dark, piercing eyes more striking.

He was… breathtaking.

It didn’t take long for whispers to ripple through the hall.

“That’s him…”

“Alpha Lucien.”

The name sent a shiver through me.

This was the man they feared. The Alpha King himself.

But he wasn’t what they expected.

There were no scars marring his face, no monstrous deformities. Instead, he looked like something out of a legend—dangerous, untouchable, and devastatingly handsome.

My heart pounded in my chest.

I expected him to speak, but he didn’t. He merely stood there, letting his presence alone do all the work.

Then, out of nowhere, a rough hand clamped onto my wrist.

I gasped, my body jerking at the sudden touch.

A guard loomed over me, his grip tightening as his fingers dug into my skin.

“Look what we have here,” he sneered, yanking me closer. His breath was warm against my cheek, laced with something rotten. “You don’t belong here. But maybe, just maybe, I can find a use for you.”

A sick feeling settled in my stomach.

“Let go of me,” I gritted out, trying to wrench my arm free.

He laughed.

“You’ve got some fire, I’ll give you that. But here’s the thing—no one cares.” His grip tightened painfully. “I’ve got some time before my shift ends. How about we—”

A sharp gasp rang through the air.

The guard’s body suddenly stiffened.

His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Then, just like that, he collapsed.

I barely had time to process what had happened before I saw it—the blade buried deep in his back.

Blood pooled around his body, the scent thick in the air.

My breath hitched.

The hall was silent, everyone frozen in shock.

Then, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the space.

Someone was approaching.

I turned my head, my heartbeat a wild drum in my chest.

And then I saw them.

The person who had just saved me.

And in that moment, I knew—nothing would ever be the same again.