Lila stood in the middle of the pack's main hall, her heart racing as Clyde announced her exile. She had packed her belongings and accepted that leaving was her only choice. The betrayal she had endured was unbearable, but she held onto the tiny flicker of hope within her-the life growing inside her.
As she turned to leave, a deep guttural voice cut through the tense silence.
"No!" the voice growled. "She can't just leave after what she's done. Thieves don't get to walk away unpunished."
Lila turned, her eyes widening as the pack's elder-an imposing man with sharp features and an unforgiving gaze-stepped forward.
She deserves to pay for her crime," the elder said, his voice filling the hall. "Let her be given to the Beast. Let him deal with her."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The Beast was a legend, a creature of nightmares said to live in the cursed forest beyond the pack's borders. No one who entered the Beast's domain ever returned.
Clyde's face clouded as he listened to the elder's words. Amelia, who was standing beside him, smug, reached out and laid a hand on his arm. "The pack needs closure," she whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "If she's truly innocent, let the Beast decide her fate."
The crowd roared in agreement, chanting, "To the Beast! To the Beast!
Panic surged through Lila. "You can't do this!" she shouted, her voice shaking. "I didn't take the treasure! I swear I'm innocent!"
Clyde's cold eyes met hers. "You've brought shame to this pack, Lila. This is the only way to restore honor.
Before she could utter another word in protest, the warriors had hold of her, hauling her toward the cage they had prepared. Lila struggled against them, but their grip was too strong. The iron bars closed around her, and she felt the crushing weight of despair.
As the pack started to make their way to the edge of the cursed forest, the crowd jeered and threw insults at her. Amelia walked beside Clyde, a triumphant smile on her face.
The procession reached the edge of the forest as the sun was setting, its last rays casting weird shadows on the ground among the trees. It was here that the cage had been placed, and the warriors opened it, dragging Lila out unceremoniously.
One of them strapped her hands and pushed her ahead. "This is now your rightful place," he said with a sneer.
The pack remained there, waiting for her to enter the forest, their eyes full of scorn. But just as Lila took a hesitant step toward the dark woods, a sudden rustling sound drew everybody's attention.
"Wait!" a voice called out, piercing the tension.
All eyes turned to the source of the sound, but in the confusion, Lila reacted instinctively. Using the distraction, she slipped the ropes from her wrists-loosened earlier by her frantic efforts-and bolted into the forest.
"Stop her!" someone shouted, but it was too late. Lila ran as fast as she could, the darkness of the cursed forest swallowing her whole.
Behind her, she could hear the pack's voices, which were getting weaker as she disappeared into the woods. She didn't know where she was going or what awaited her, but one thing was for sure-she was free, and she would do whatever it took to survive.
The forest was an uncompromising maze of shadows and whispers. Lila stumbled through the underbrush, her breaths ragged and her body aching from the strain of her escape. She had no direction, no plan—only the desperate urge to survive.
The darkness closed in around her, and every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves put her on edge. She knew the cursed forest was no safe haven, but it was better than the humiliation she had left behind.
Suddenly, a low growl broke the silence. Lila froze, her heart pounding as she turned to see glowing yellow eyes staring at her from the shadows. The rogues emerged one by one, their snarling faces twisted with malice.
"Well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with menace.
"A lost little Luna," another chuckled, stepping closer.
Lila's instincts screamed at her to run, but she knew there was no escape. These were rogues-feral wolves with no loyalty and no mercy. If she was going to survive, she would have to fight.
Her wolf stirred inside her, weak but determined. With a fierce growl of her own, Lila lunged at the nearest rogue, catching him off guard. Her claws raked across his chest, and he howled in pain.
The others snarled and attacked, but Lila fought back with everything she had. She dodged, clawed, and bit, fueled by a desperate will to live. But she was outnumbered, and her strength was waning.
One managed to pin her down, fangs bared and poised to strike. Lila struggled beneath him, her vision blurring as exhaustion threatened to overpower her.
In that moment, it seemed all was lost, but a loud roar rumbled through the forest, and the rogue on top of her was suddenly tossed aside, while a blur of movement swept through the clearing.
The fight was over in moments. The rogues fled, their snarls replaced by yelps of fear as they disappeared into the darkness.
Lila tried to sit up, but her body gave out. She collapsed to the ground, her vision fading as a figure loomed over her.
He was tall and imposing, his presence radiating authority and power. Through her haze, Lila could make out the faint scent of pine and rain—a soothing contrast to the metallic tang of blood.
"You're safe now," the man said, his voice deep and steady.
Lila tried to speak, but no words came. She felt strong arms lift her from the ground, and the world tilted as darkness claimed her.
The last thing she remembered seeing before blacking out was the man's face: shadowed, a mystery that would haunt her dreams.
Later, Lila awoke in an unfamiliar room, in which a lantern glowed bright, its shadows dancing against the walls. Her body ached, and there was a storm of thoughts in her head.
"Where am I?" she whispered as she struggled to sit.
You're in my care now," a voice said, and Lila turned to face him-a man standing in the doorway, attired in dark clothes, his face unreadable.
"I'm Alpha Jackson," he continued, stepping closer. "I found you in the forest. You were lucky I arrived when I did.
Lila stared at him, her heart pounding. The name was familiar—Alpha Jackson was known across the packs for his strength and his enigmatic reputation.
"Why did you save me?" she asked weakly.
Jackson's gaze softened, though his expression remained guarded. "Because no one deserves to be left to the rogues. Rest now. We'll talk more when you're stronger."
As Jackson turned to leave, Lila felt a strange sense of safety wash over her. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't alone.