Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Mira's POV

The night air stung my lungs as I ran, each step pounding against the earth with a desperate rhythm. My heart hammered louder than the howl of the wind tearing past me, but I didn’t stop.

I could feel HIM. Whatever kind of creature he was, I could feel HIM.

His presence was heavy in my chest. It was like invisible hands clawing at me, demanding I turn back. My wolf, Athena whimpered at the pull, the unbearable ache of distance, but I shoved it down.

No! I refuse to be killed or crucified for a crime I didn't commit, I said to myself.

Athena mumbled uneasily, not from disagreement but exhaustion. The shift earlier had drained me. Every bone ached, every muscle screamed, but adrenaline was the only fuel I had left.

I darted through the thick brush ahead, branches clawing at my arms and snagging my fur. The forest was vast, dark, and merciless. Out of nowhere, a huge figure slammed into me, knocking me off balance and sending me crashing to the ground. I winced in pain as I tried to quickly stand and keep running, but I couldn’t. It felt as though every bone in my body had been broken. I felt paralyzed.

“YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME, CHILD,” a deep, ominous voice thundered.

I looked up to see a huge shadow beast in the form of a Lycan mid-shift, half human form and half wolf form, from the waist upward, but with a longer claw. It didn't look like a beast, it looked like a god.

“WE ARE ON…”

I woke up abruptly, and the horror of the dream I had slept through seemed like a wet sheet clinging to me. I was breathing and sweating heavily. I quickly scanned through the room which was faintly illuminated by moonlight filtering through the curtains that were drawn all over the room. I could barely distinguish between dream and reality and I did not like what I was seeing.

This was the third time I've had this same dream in the space of two weeks. And it all started three weeks ago in the Moon Ball at Crescent Moon Pack where I was framed for killing the daughter of an allied Lycan Alpha. It felt ridiculous that people would think I killed the mate of my best friend Endrick out of jealousy. Did Endrick and I ever wish we were going to be mates and end up with each other, hell yes. We loved each other and everyone thought we were destined for each other, but when he told me Aisha, King Jasper's daughter was his fated mate I felt truly disappointed but I wished him well and went back to my room.

I cried myself to sleep and when I woke up in the morning, it was to the banging of my room door by guards. I was taken to my father's throne room where I was accused of stabbing Aisha with a Silver knife. Of course, my father didn't believe what they were saying so he ordered that my room be thoroughly searched. When the guards did, they found a silver knife with a substance along its edges that the pack Doctor later confirmed to be wolfsbane.

And just like that, I was sentenced to death by my father. My body was to be decapitated and burned to ashes—a fate befitting a traitor. I could see the pain in my father’s eyes as he passed judgment. It didn’t really matter whether I was guilty or not, but deep down, I knew he believed I wasn’t capable of committing the crime I was accused of. But what he believed didn't matter because trying to protect me would have likely caused a war between our pack and King Jasper’s pack—a full Lycan pack. And that was something that even I wouldn't want to happen.

I was locked in the dungeon, to be beheaded at sunrise the following day, as custom required. However, that night, I was broken out of the dungeon by my sister, Sophie.

Despite being three years older than her, Sophie is like my twin—we do almost everything together. We share and know each other’s secrets and never keep anything from one another. But never in my wildest dreams did I think she would take such a risk for me.

I can still remember the tears in her eyes at the pack borders, where she made me pinky swear that I would return home once everything was settled. And just like that, I left for the Borderlands without saying goodbye to my parents—all because I had been framed for a crime I didn’t commit.

Considering that I was now a fugitive and a rogue, I felt like the Borderlands—a vast territory occupied by rogues with no clear leader—would be the best place to hide for the time being. But ever since I arrived, I’ve been having strange dreams in which I’m being pursued by a beast. And today’s dream was actually the first time I caught a glimpse of it… Though I still couldn’t see its face.

I feel scared because if something were to happen, there is no one here to protect me. All I have right now is myself and my wolf, Athena, who I met a week ago. All I do now is follow my instinct and Athena’s advice because she's the only family I've got now, and I know she only wants what's best for me.

“Let’s go for a run and clear this bad energy. Release all your fears, anger, and frustration while running. Maybe that would free your mind.” Athena suggested.

“I don't think it's safe, Athena. It's still very early. Besides, you know the Borderlands is not safe and werewolves here don't play by the rules. We're basically living amongst lunatics and you and I both know we're not strong enough to defend ourselves.”

“No, no, no. No excuses, Mira. We are going out, and that's it. Besides, it's already dark enough, so our chances of being seen or caught are very low. I promise we won't go far and I'll be very careful,” she said.

I sighed, knowing that I didn't have a choice but to do her bidding. It's just been a couple of days since I met Athena, but one thing I've come to realise is that she's very persistent. And if you don't do her bidding, she can be very petty.

I got out of bed, opened the door, and walked for about two minutes until I reached a clearing that led into the forest. Then I carefully removed my dress and underwear, folding them neatly into a pile.

I took a deep breath and then let Athena take control of our mind and body. I started to feel my bones break. I let out a little scream and fell on my knees. The pain was unbearable. It was like breaking all of your bones at the same time. This is our second time shifting, and the pain still feels unbearable, like the first.

I fought the urge to throw up and focused on letting go of my control. Slowly, fur began sprouting from my skin, giving me a burning sensation as though my entire body was on fire. After a few minutes of what felt like a life-and-death situation, I was standing on all fours, my white and black fur shimmering under the bright moonlight.

Once Athena fully came forward, she stretched her legs and dug her claws into the grass and dirt. She shook her fur loose as if she hadn't seen the outside world in ages and trotted along the trees to get the blood flowing in her legs. Gradually Athena began to gain speed, and her trot turned into a full-on sprint in seconds.

After running for what seemed like an hour, we got tired. I stopped by a lake to have a drink, when it started drizzling and gradually it turned into a heavy rain. I shifted back to my human form and had a dip in the lake. Instead of running back in my wolf form, I began to jog in my human form.

“Mira! Stop!” Athena yelled in my head.

“What is it, Athen? Is there a problem? Are we in danger?" I asked, scanning my environment.

“Do you smell that?” She asked ignoring my questions.

“Smell what?” I asked, not sure of what she was talking about.

“Can't you smell it? The forest reeks of blood.,” She exclaimed.

Then it hit me, like an ice-cold bucket of water - blood.

Someone was in the forest with me and that person was close by. Or maybe someone has been killed and the body dumped here. Suddenly my heart started pounding like it wanted to escape my chest. I mean, this is the Borderlands, and all sorts of atrocities go on here. No one is literally safe here.

I stood behind a tree as I stared at nothing but the dark forest.

“Shit! I don't know where I am and I can barely see a thing in this rain,” I said. “And you know Athena, I told you it wasn't s…”

I froze at the place I was standing when I heard a twig snap.

“What should I do? Should I run?” I asked Athena but got no reply.