Chapter 2

The night air was crisp and biting as Evelyn pushed forward through the dense forest, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. Every step sent sharp jolts of pain through her chest, the mate bond's severance still raw, like an open wound that refused to close.

But she didn't stop.

She couldn't.

The further she got from Silvercrest, the freer she felt—though the pain didn't lessen. It twisted inside her like a dagger, a cruel reminder of what had been taken from her. What he had taken from her.

Damien.

The name alone made her stomach churn, a mix of rage and heartbreak pooling inside her. He had shattered her with just a few cold, careless words. You are weak. You are not fit to be my Luna.

A sob built in her throat, but she swallowed it down.

She refused to break.

The towering trees around her swayed gently in the breeze, their branches whispering secrets in the darkness. The moon above cast a pale glow over the landscape, guiding her steps as she ventured further from the only home she had ever known.

But was it ever really home?

Silvercrest had tolerated her. Nothing more.

The whispers behind her back, the way she was overlooked, never quite enough in the eyes of the pack. Even as the Beta's daughter, she had never truly belonged.

And now, she had nothing.

No pack.

No mate.

No purpose.

Her wolf whimpered in her mind, still aching from the loss of their bond. It felt unnatural, as if something inside her had been ripped away, leaving only a hollow space behind.

She clenched her fists.

No.

She would not let this destroy her.

She would find a new path, a new life.

And she would never be weak again.

A Dangerous Encounter

The snap of a branch in the distance made Evelyn freeze.

Her pulse quickened, instincts sharpening. She wasn't alone.

Slowly, she turned, scanning the shadows between the trees. The forest was vast and unfamiliar, stretching beyond Silvercrest's borders into rogue territory. Anything—or anyone—could be lurking out here.

A low growl rumbled in the darkness.

Evelyn's heart slammed against her ribs.

Wolves.

More than one.

Her wolf stirred, readying for a fight, but she was weak—too weak to shift. The rejection had drained her, leaving her body sluggish, her mind clouded with exhaustion.

The growl came again, closer this time.

Then, from the shadows, they emerged.

Three wolves, their glowing eyes locked onto her. Rogues.

Their fur was unkempt, their movements predatory as they stalked toward her.

"Look what we have here," a rough voice sneered. One of the wolves shifted into his human form—a tall, scarred man with a twisted smirk. His dark eyes roamed over her. "A little lost lamb, all alone."

Evelyn squared her shoulders, refusing to let fear show. "I'm just passing through."

The man chuckled, a cruel sound. "That so? And where exactly is a pretty thing like you heading in the middle of the night?"

She didn't answer.

Another rogue shifted, a shorter, wiry man with sharp features. "Smells like a pack wolf," he mused. Then, he grinned. "Smells like a rejected pack wolf."

Evelyn's stomach twisted.

The scent of rejection clung to her like a brand, marking her as vulnerable.

Easy prey.

The scarred man's smirk widened. "That makes things interesting."

He lunged.

Evelyn barely dodged, her body screaming in protest as she stumbled back. She wasn't at full strength, but she would not go down without a fight.

The second rogue struck next, swiping at her with sharp claws. She twisted, evading by a hair's breadth, but pain flared in her side as his claws grazed her skin, tearing through fabric and flesh.

She bit back a cry, staggering.

Blood seeped from the wound, warm and slick.

Her wolf snarled inside her, desperate to shift, but Evelyn knew she wouldn't last in a three-on-one fight—not like this.

She had to run.

Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she bolted, darting through the trees.

The rogues chased.

Branches whipped against her skin as she ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She could hear them behind her, closing the distance.

Panic clawed at her, but she pushed harder, forcing her legs to move faster.

Then—she saw it.

A break in the trees.

A road.

Safety.

She sprinted toward it, lungs burning. Just a few more feet—

A rogue lunged from the side, tackling her to the ground.

Pain exploded through her as she hit the dirt, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs.

The rogue pinned her down, his breath hot against her ear. "You put up a good chase," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.

Evelyn thrashed, kicking and clawing, but she was exhausted, her strength waning.

The others caught up, circling around her like vultures.

"Maybe we should keep her," the wiry one mused. "She's got fire."

The scarred man smirked. "Or maybe we just kill her and save ourselves the trouble."

Evelyn's heart pounded.

She was going to die here.

Alone.

A sharp snarl cut through the night.

A new presence—a powerful one.

The rogues stiffened, their amusement fading.

A dark blur moved fast, faster than any wolf Evelyn had ever seen.

Then, chaos.

A massive black wolf crashed into the rogue pinning her, ripping him away with terrifying force. Blood sprayed across the dirt as the rogue's body hit the ground, unmoving.

The others barely had time to react before the black wolf tore through them, a whirlwind of teeth and claws.

Within seconds, it was over.

The rogues lay dead, their bodies limp in the moonlight.

Evelyn lay on the ground, gasping for breath, her vision blurring at the edges.

The black wolf turned to her, golden eyes burning with intensity.

Then, he shifted.

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

He was tall, his presence commanding, his dark hair tousled from the fight. Scars lined his forearms, his bare chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.

His eyes—piercing amber—locked onto hers.

She knew instantly he wasn't from Silvercrest.

He was something else entirely.

He crouched beside her, his expression unreadable. "You're lucky I was passing through," he murmured. His voice was deep, edged with authority.

Evelyn blinked up at him, her body weak, her mind hazy.

"Who..." Her voice was barely a whisper.

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips.

"Ronan," he said simply.

Then—darkness swallowed her whole.