The forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Ariana ran through the trees, branches whipping across her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her legs burned, her breath came in sharp gasps, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop. Not after what happened.
Not after Kael looked her in the eyes, called her his mate, and then rejected her like she was nothing. Not after the whole pack watched her collapse to the ground like a weak animal. Not after the way Lira smiled as if everything had gone exactly how she wanted.
Ariana didn't care where she went. She just needed to get away.
She held the bundle the old healer had given her tightly against her chest. Inside it was a little food, a coin pouch, and some dried herbs. Not much, but enough to survive for a little while. Hopefully enough to get to the next town or to find someone who didn't look at her like she was cursed.
The air was cold but she barely felt it. Her emotions were hotter than fire. Shame. Anger. Heartbreak. It all mixed together in her chest like a storm.
She pushed herself faster, deeper into the woods. Her thin shoes barely protected her from sharp rocks and thorns. Blood smeared across her ankles, but she didn't care. All she could think about was getting far, far away from Blackthorn Pack.
I'm not going back. Ever.
The sky above was dark. Stars peeked through the trees. A soft wind whispered in her ears like a warning.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Not her own. Heavier. Faster. Closer.
She turned just in time to see two patrol wolves step into the clearing. One was a tall man with broad shoulders and a grim face. The other was younger, but just as serious. Both wore Blackthorn symbols on their chests.
Ariana froze.
The older one raised a brow. "You really thought you could just run away?"
She took a step back, panic rising. "Please. Just let me go."
"Luna Marissa's orders," the younger one said. "Bring her in. She's causing problems."
"No," Ariana said, clutching her bundle. "I didn't do anything. I just want to leave."
But they didn't listen. The older one lunged, grabbing her by the arm. She kicked and screamed, hitting him with everything she had, but he was too strong. He twisted her wrist until she cried out in pain. Her bundle fell to the ground, spilling the contents across the dirt.
"Stop fighting," he growled.
"Let me go," she shouted.
He slammed something heavy against her neck. Everything went black.
When she woke up, she was cold.
Colder than she had ever felt.
She was lying on a stone floor, chained at the wrists. Her head throbbed and her back ached. She blinked slowly, trying to remember where she was.
The cell was small, damp, and smelled like mold. The walls were rough and cracked. A torch flickered just outside the bars, casting shadows that danced across the ceiling. Her throat was dry. Her stomach twisted with hunger.
The pain inside her hadn't gone away. It still spread through her chest like fire. It wasn't just from Kael's rejection anymore. Something else was wrong. Her skin felt too tight. Her bones itched. Her senses were sharper. Every sound felt too loud. Every smell too strong.
A loud metal clank made her look up.
Someone was coming.
Kael.
He stepped into the hallway, standing just outside the bars. His eyes were unreadable. Cold. His black cloak moved slightly as he walked closer, boots echoing across the stone.
Ariana sat up slowly, wincing.
"So," she said, her voice raspy, "now I'm a prisoner too?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He just stared at her like he was trying to figure something out.
"You ran," he finally said.
"You rejected me," she shot back. "What did you expect me to do? Smile and clap?"
His jaw clenched. "You caused a stir. The pack is talking."
"Oh no," Ariana said, her voice bitter. "Poor you. Your mate bond didn't come with a perfect Luna in a golden dress."
Kael looked away for a moment. Then back at her. His voice was lower when he spoke again.
"You shouldn't have tried to run away. It made things worse."
Ariana pushed herself up, her back straight even though her body screamed. "You already made things worse when you said those words in front of everyone. You knew what it would do to me."
He said nothing.
A moment passed between them. Heavy. Cold.
"Is this where you keep all the girls you reject?" she asked.
Still nothing.
Then, without a word, Kael turned and walked away, his footsteps growing fainter until she was alone again.
She stayed in that cell for what felt like forever. Her body kept reacting. Every few hours a new wave of pain rolled through her bones. Her hands shook. Her legs twitched. Her heart beat in strange patterns. Sometimes her vision went white. Sometimes she saw flashes of silver light or strange dreams of wolves whispering her name.
Moonfire.
That name again.
It came to her in dreams and in whispers of wind through the cracks in the stone.
Then one morning, the cell door opened again.
This time, it wasn't Kael.
It was Beta Ingrid and Luna Marissa.
The Luna was a tall woman with dark hair pulled into a tight bun and lips painted red like blood. She looked at Ariana with eyes full of disgust.
"This ends now," she said.
Ariana said nothing. She didn't have the energy to argue anymore.
"You are no longer welcome here," the Luna continued. "You've brought shame to our Alpha and disruption to the pack."
Ariana frowned. "Because I was born his mate?"
"Because you don't belong," the Luna said. "You're cursed. Your presence is poison."
Ingrid smirked beside her. "The guards are ready. You'll be escorted to the rogue borders. And then you're not our problem anymore."
Ariana stood on weak legs. "And what if I die out there?"
The Luna shrugged. "Then maybe the Moon Goddess will finally take back her mistake."
Ariana clenched her fists.
The guards came in again and pulled her forward. She didn't fight this time. There was no point.
They shoved her into a truck and drove for hours, deeper and deeper into the forest, until the air smelled wild and unfamiliar. The road got worse. Trees grew thicker. The land stopped feeling like home and started feeling like danger.
Eventually, the truck stopped.
The older guard opened the door. "Out."
Ariana stepped out, squinting at the setting sun. She could see nothing but trees for miles. The wind howled through the branches.
"This is rogue land now," the younger guard said. "If you survive the night, good for you."
Then they drove off.
She stood in the middle of the clearing, alone.
No pack.
No home.
No name.
Just pain.
She started walking.
The forest was alive with sounds. Crickets. Owls. Branches snapping in the distance. Her body still hurt with every step. Her heart felt heavy. Her thoughts twisted in every direction.
She found a stream and bent down to drink. The water was cold and clear. She looked at her reflection.
Her eyes were glowing again. Silver and blue. Brighter than ever before.
Her fingers were longer. Her nails sharp.
What am I becoming?
She didn't have time to think.
A sound behind her made her spin around.
Two figures stepped out from the shadows.
Rogues.
One had a long scar across his cheek. The other had missing teeth and wild eyes. They looked at her like she was a piece of meat.
"Look what wandered into our woods," one of them said.
"Pretty little thing," the other grinned. "And all alone."
Ariana backed up slowly. Her heart raced.
"I don't want trouble," she said.
"You already found it," the scarred one replied.
They moved closer.
She turned and ran.
But her legs were too tired. She stumbled and hit the ground hard. Dirt filled her mouth. She tried to crawl away but one of them grabbed her ankle and yanked her back.
She screamed.
The rogue hovered over her, raising his hand.
A growl cut through the air.
Loud. Deep. Dangerous.
A huge wolf burst from the trees and slammed into the rogue, sending him flying across the clearing. The second rogue shouted and tried to run, but the wolf was too fast. He tackled him too, knocking him unconscious.
Ariana coughed, trying to sit up.
The wolf stood in front of her protectively.
Then it turned.
And shifted.
The boy who stood there looked a little older than her. He had dark hair and green eyes, a few small scars on his arms, and a steady gaze.
He reached out a hand.
"Are you okay?"
Ariana stared at him, her heart still racing.
"I think so."
"My name is Lucien," he said.
She took his hand.
"I'm Ariana."
Lucien looked at her carefully.
"You're not like most wolves, are you?"
She shook her head.
"I don't even know what I am anymore."
He smiled slightly.
"Maybe I can help you find out."
"Yes, I suppose so…" Ariana said as she blacked out and fell into Lucien's arms.