Chapter 4

Nephele's POV

Hours of desperate flight had brought me deep into forbidden territory. The cold bit deeper than any wolf's teeth as I stumbled through the underbrush, but I was alive. More alive than I'd felt in two years.

My star-shaped birthmark pulsed with heat, and wherever my blood touched the forest floor, it left faint silver traces that glowed in the darkness. Something was awakening—something that had been sleeping under Magnus's control.

The sounds of pursuit had faded hours ago, but I knew better than to feel safe. Magnus wouldn't give up. Not when I'd wounded him, humiliated him, escaped his perfect trap.

My foot caught on an exposed root, sending me sprawling into the dirt.

For a moment, I considered staying down. What was the point? Where was I even going?

Get up. Keep moving. Survive.

The voice whispered through the shadows around me, ancient and compelling—something that belonged to this place, to the very roots of the Shadow Forest itself.

I pushed myself upright, wincing as fresh blood soaked through my torn dress. The birthmark's glow brightened with each step, like it was answering some distant call I couldn't hear.

The forest grew stranger as I went deeper. Ancient trees twisted overhead like arthritic fingers, their bark scarred with symbols I couldn't read. This wasn't ordinary woodland—this was somewhere wolves feared to tread.

Between the trees ahead, a cave entrance yawned black beneath moss-covered boulders. Something about its too-smooth edges made my skin prickle, but exhaustion won over caution.

I crawled inside, collapsing against stone walls that smelled of old frost and something sharper—like winter apples left to ferment. The scent triggered a memory I couldn't quite grasp, lost as darkness swallowed me.

Sleep came in broken fragments. Nightmares where Magnus chased me with glowing syringes, promises to drain every drop of my blood echoing through twisted corridors.

I never thought I'd end up here. Wolfless. More vulnerable than even humans. Only a birthmark that made me prey instead of predator.

Mom's voice haunted me: "Wolfless have two choices—find a protector, or learn to suffer."

Bullshit.

I'd found a third choice. Run.

Dawn brought voices.

"—Wolfless scent!"

My blood turned to ice. I pressed deeper into the shadows.

"Are you sure?" another voice responded. "We're close to Sovereign territory."

A harsh laugh. "I know a Wolfless scent when I smell one. They fetch good coin in the black markets."

Three ragged werewolves appeared at the cave entrance. No pack emblems, no loyalty scars—just predators hunting alone.

My eyes swept the cave desperately. There—in the corner, pale blue flowers sprouted from stone cracks. Silver-edged leaves caught the pale dawn light.

Moon shadow herb. Thank the goddess for all those boring library hours.

The plant could overwhelm werewolf senses if used right.

"Come out, little Wolfless," the leader called. "We won't hurt you... much."

I carefully gathered the herbs, crushing them in my palm as I listened to them drawing closer.

"This is risky, Varg," the third man muttered. "What if—"

Varg sniffed deeper. "Sovereign Pack. Magnus's territory." His laugh turned ugly. "You're a runaway."

My heart hammered against my ribs. In desperation, I tried bluffing. "The Alpha of Sovereign Pack is hunting for me. He won't forgive anyone who harms me. Do you want to incur an Alpha's wrath?"

They laughed. "If an Alpha is hunting you, then you're a runaway. And you reek of fear, little Wolfless."

As they lunged forward, I crushed the herbs and hurled the powder in one fluid motion.

Instant chaos. All three staggered backward, sneezing violently, clawing at their eyes.

"Moon shadow—"

I was already moving. Past their flailing bodies, through the cave mouth, into the night.

Behind me, bones cracked and reshaped as Varg shifted to give chase.

I zigzagged between trees, leading my pursuers through silver-leaf plants. The powder clung to their fur, temporarily overwhelming their sense of smell.

Their howls of frustration told me my plan had worked, but it wouldn't last long.

A stream cut through the darkness ahead. I plunged into the icy water, gasping as cold bit through my torn dress, and forced myself upstream. Water would erase my scent.

Hours passed in numb misery—frozen feet, chattering teeth, the constant fear of pursuit fading behind me. When silence finally replaced howls, I dragged myself onto the bank.

Miles later, I found salvation in a charred campsite: stale bread, a torn cloak, a broken knife. As I huddled there, voices approached.

Two Sovereign Pack soldiers walked past, close enough to touch.

"Alpha's ordered territory-wide searches for the escaped Luna."

My breath froze.

"One thousand silver bounty for the Wolfless traitor. Alive."

"Never understood why he married a Wolfless."

"Heard it's something special in her blood..."

My blood?

The question burned as they disappeared. What could possibly be special about my blood?

The terrain opened to scrubland. Distant lights flickered through the darkness, drawing me forward.

But what I saw froze my blood.

Around a roaring bonfire, rough werewolves drank and celebrated while emaciated Wolfless crawled on chains, begging for scraps.

The largest werewolf, clearly their Alpha, raised a crude goblet. "To the wilderness law! The strong rule, the weak serve!"

"Flesh for taking! Wolfless for slaves!" they roared back.

I watched them drag back a failed escapee for "entertainment."

As I backed away, a branch betrayed me with its sharp crack.

Every predator head snapped toward my hiding spot, eyes blazing in firelight.

"Fresh Wolfless," the Alpha breathed, nostrils flaring.

Two shifted instantly. My exhausted legs collapsed before I could run—they dragged me into the circle like a prize.

"Look what wandered in," one announced, throwing me at the Alpha's feet.

The massive Alpha roughly grabbed my chin, turning my face to the light. "A lost little Wolfless?" He sniffed. "She smells of... an Alpha."

He tore my shoulder, exposing my birthmark which gleamed silver in the firelight.

An old rogue leaned closer, studying the mark intently. His eyes suddenly widened. "Wait... I've seen this pattern before. In the ruins of an abandoned temple..."

The Alpha's eyes lit up with interest. "You're certain?"

"Star-bearers," the old man whispered. "Legend says their blood holds power from the first darkness."

Awed murmurs rippled through the group.

The Alpha grinned wickedly as he dragged me toward a stone cave. "Let's get better acquainted, little star-bearer."

As he shoved me roughly into the cave entrance, I knew what would happen next. I would rather die than become what those other Wolfless had become.

My trembling hand found the small wooden box in my boot—the metal disc Fidelis had given me. His words echoed in my memory: "If you're ever in mortal danger, crush the seal."

While the Alpha turned for liquor, I used my last strength to find the rune-marked disc and crushed its seal completely. It flared with blue light in my palm, projecting Northwind Pack's symbol into the air for several seconds before fading.

Fidelis, I hope your promise was real. I hope your blood can hear mine calling across whatever distance separates us.

Because if you can't...

The Alpha's massive hands closed around my throat, and darkness began to creep in.

But my birthmark pulsed on, silver light cutting through shadow—and somewhere in the darkness, winter wind carried the scent of frost and apples, growing stronger with each heartbeat.