The air was cold. The scent of damp wood and iron filled the room.
Mia's wrists ached from the ropes cutting into her skin. She blinked against the blindfold pressing on her face, her throat dry and her heartbeat loud in her ears. Somewhere close, water dripped in slow, steady drops, echoing through the quiet like the ticking of a clock.
"Where am I?" she whispered, but her voice came out weak and broken. As far as she can remember, the place where they are now is very far from where they took her. Her heart sank when she remembered how her mother was crying and calling her name. She just hoped nothing happened to her mother. She is the only person she can call hers.
The faint sound of boots scraping against the floor made her flinch. Shadows moved beyond her closed eyes. Then, a deep, steady voice cut through the silence — one she didn't recognize, yet it carried power that made her blood freeze.
"So… this is the girl."
The voice was calm. Too calm for a kidnapper.
Mia tensed. She felt a shift in the air as someone approached, the sound of leather brushing against the floor. Then, fingers gripped her chin firmly and tilted her face upward.
"Open your eyes," he ordered.
Rough hands pulled the blindfold away. Bright torchlight burned her eyes at first, but as her vision cleared, she saw him — a tall man in dark clothing, his aura sharp and heavy. His eyes glowed faintly gold, he was wearing a cloak, hiding his royal outfit, but one thing had already given her a clue. She had heard the guards discussing on their way, that the Alpha is very serious about her. He said she should be brought unharmed.
She had never seen him before, but from all indications, he can be described as — a ruthless Alpha who led one of the most feared packs. His presence filled the small room like smoke, and even the guards standing by the door seemed careful not to breathe too loud. But what does he want from her. Why is she being taken away from her mom. Are these the troubles that elder Rowan was talking about. And the worst thing is she tried using her powers but there was no response, as if it has never been there. And the baracelet given to her by elder Rowan is broken. Now she can be exposed easily. Her identity can be known.
Mia's voice trembled. "Why are you doing this? I've done nothing wrong." But Darius just stared at her, his gaze intensifying every second.
Behind Darius stood Yaqut. As the Alpha's most trusted guard, he couldn't help but feel more proud about himself. His stare was cold and unreadable, like he was carved from stone.
Darius walked around her slowly, hands clasped behind his back. "You remind me of someone," he said finally, his tone distant. "A family that used to think they were blessed. Divine. Do you know what happened to them?"
Mia frowned, not confused exactly but alarmed. Yet she stayed quiet.
He smiled — a cruel, knowing smile. "They were destroyed. Because of their arrogance. Because they thought their light was untouchable."
She looked away, her heart pounding. "What are you talking about? Is that why I'm here?"
"You don't know why you are here?" Darius leaned closer, lowering his voice until it brushed against her ear. "Then maybe you're just like your mother — pretending to be ordinary while carrying something extraordinary inside."
Mia froze. "My mother?"
He smirked. "Ah. So you do know."
The guards exchanged glances. Yaqut stepped closer and whispered something in Darius's ear. Darius nodded slightly, his eyes still on Mia.
"She's strong," Yaqut said quietly. "You can feel it. The power's there, hidden under her fear."
Darius turned away, walking toward the door. "Bring Rachel in."
The door creaked open, and footsteps echoed down the hallway. Mia's breath hitched when Rachel Voss stepped inside. So all this was Rachel's doing, and this Alpha his her father.
Rachel looked different — not like the confident girl from school. There was coldness in her eyes, but also bitterness twisting her expression. Not the usual arrogant girl that laughs uncontrollably.
"Rachel?" Mia breathed. "Why… why are you here?"
Rachel hesitated, glancing at her father. Darius motioned for Yaqut to leave them alone for a moment. Then he stepped back, watching silently.
Rachel crossed her arms. "I told you to stay away from him."
"From who?" Mia asked, her voice trembling.
"You know who," Rachel snapped. "Leon."
Mia's heart sank. "Rachel… I never—"
"Don't lie!" Rachel's voice cracked. "You think I didn't see the way he looks at you? You think I didn't notice how quiet he becomes when you're around?" She took a step closer, her anger barely holding together. "You came out of nowhere, and suddenly he's not himself anymore."
Mia blinked back tears. "I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I didn't ask for it!"
Rachel's lips trembled, but she hid it with a sharp laugh. "Then why did you kiss him?"
Mia shook her head, her voice breaking. "He kissed me! And he said it was a mistake."
The words hung heavy in the room.
Rachel's face softened for a moment, but then she forced herself to harden again. "You ruined everything. You took what was mine."
"I didn't take anything!" Mia's voice rose for the first time, shaking. "I never wanted to hurt you, Rachel. I just wanted to live quietly. You were the one who made my life miserable from the start."
Darius' deep voice cut through the tension. "Enough."
Both girls froze.
Darius turned to Rachel. "You've seen her. You've said what you wanted to say. Leave us."
Rachel hesitated, looking at Mia one last time before walking out with clenched fists. Yaqut followed her silently.
When the door shut, Darius turned back to Mia, his tone colder now. "Do you know what happens to those who carry a bloodline they shouldn't?"
Mia stared at him, her heart racing. "You think I'm afraid of you?"
He smiled faintly. " I love this courage, but you should be."
Laura paced the small cabin, her eyes red from crying. "Rowan, please, you have to help me. They've taken her — they've taken Mia!"
Elder Rowan stood by the window, his wrinkled face grave. "Are you sure of what you are saying, Laura?"
"We were on our way to Eclipse Prowess, they lifted her suspension," Laura said, her voice breaking. "On our way we got attacked and she was taken away. And the bracelet you gave her broke!"
Rowan turned slowly. "Does that mean the enemies have gotten to know about her. But that's not the problem. The prophecy is just manifesting."
"What prophecy?" she asked sharply. He didn't mention anything like that when he visited.
Rowan's eyes dimmed. "The one that speaks of the rebirth of the moon's blood.
I told you your daughter was never meant to be hidden forever."
Laura's chest tightened. "Then what do we do now, she doesn't even know how to use her power.
Before Rowan could answer, a sudden gust of wind blew through the open window. Far away, wolves howled.
Rowan's expression turned grim. "She's not far. But we are not the only ones who can sense her."
Leon froze mid-stride, his head snapping toward the forest. His eyes glowed faintly gold as Xavier, his wolf, growled deep inside him.
She's in danger.
Leon clenched his fists. "No…"
Don't deny it again, Leon, Xavier's voice echoed in his head. Her scent… it's fading. If we lose her now—
"Enough," Leon muttered under his breath, ignoring the stares of nearby students. His heart thumped painfully, like it was being pulled in two directions. Every instinct screamed for him to run — to find her.
Without thinking twice, he did.
He tore through the academy gates, following the faintest trace of her scent through the trees. The world blurred around him. His breath came out in sharp bursts, and the closer he got, the heavier the air felt — like something dark was waiting ahead.
Back in the firest hideout, Mia's wrists bled from the ropes. The torches flickered weakly, throwing trembling shadows across the room.
Suddenly, the door opened again — and Rachel was back, her expression colder now.
Darius smirked from behind. "I thought you might want to see what defiance looks like."
Mia stared at her. "What have I ever done to you, Rachel? Why do you hate me so much?"
Rachel's lips twisted. "Because you came in between me and my position, something that was supposed to be mine. You don't deserve him. You're just… a nobody."
Mia blinked away tears. "I don't love him."
Darius raised a brow. "You don't?"
Mia swallowed hard. "I don't. I hate him." Her voice shook, but she forced the words out. "He's arrogant and cold. I hate him."
Darius smiled faintly. "Good. Maybe you're not as foolish as I thought."
But outside, through the open cracks of the wooden walls, someone heard her words — every single one.
Leon stood there, hidden behind the trees, his eyes wide and his breath caught in his chest. His wolf's growl rumbled low and painful inside him.
She doesn't love us?
Leon didn't answer. He couldn't. The sound of her voice saying she hated him echoed again and again, cutting deeper each time.
He stepped back slowly, the weight in his chest unbearable. His body shook, not from anger but from something far worse — heartbreak.
The moonlight broke through the clouds above, falling on his face. For the first time, his control cracked.
And somewhere deep inside, Xavier howled.