Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Sienna

I had hidden my powers for so long, only to foolishly be caught making a firewood burn from a distance.

A sharp gasp came just then from behind me, my eyes widened as I turned to look at them, the omegas had their judging gaze on me. 

Shit, I knew I wouldn't escape it the moment they saw that. 

First, having powers among werewolves were forbidden, it was seen as a threat to the packs. Even worse if an Omega has power and I fell in the latter.

An omega with powers.

“Did you see that? I knew she was strange from the very first time she was brought to the omega quarters.” One of them whispered loudly enough for me to hear from where I stood.

My hands curled into my dress, damn it…what have I done?

“We have to go tell the Alpha—”

“We can't cover her…what if the Alpha finds out we tried to protect such a threat?”

My heart dropped to my stomach.

They'd seen the firewood I had barely touched, bursting into flames. Shame twisted my insides.

How stupid was I to have been caught?

If I'd been a few feet closer, I might have told a lie to cover it up. But the distance between the firewood and myself had been significant. I'd been reaching for it, but I hadn't touched it yet.

And still, the flames had started.

I didn't need anyone to tell me I was no longer safe here, before they could take a step, I bolted to my room, I had grabbed what little I owned and ran. Only the mention of the Alpha, had brought me back to my senses. Because I knew how these stories ended. I knew what happened to wolves who were different. They were hunted and burned. 

If the Alpha found out? I had a good idea what would happen. He would have me beheaded. Or staked. Bottom line? 

He would have me killed one way or another. 

Werewolves with powers were treated worse than a plague. Deep down everyone was scared of what they could wield with their powers, but no one would ever admit it. They'd all somehow agreed we were cursed instead, and we needed to be wiped off the face of the earth like the many others that had come before us. 

I refused to be next.

It all depended on how far away I could get from my pack. The path I was on was familiar from all the times I’d been out hunting for food. My lungs burned in my chest as I ran for my dear life, the muscles of my arms itching as though they were on fire.

I winced as something pricked the under of my feet, but I didn't stop to inspect it. 

Fuck. 

The pain from underneath my feet spiked up my leg.

The trees blurred past as I tore through the forest with the last strength I had. My legs were screaming in protest, my body shaking from exhaustion. I was tired as hell, but fear drove me forward. I didn’t know how long I had been running, only that I had to put as much distance between me and the pack as possible before dawn. 

My eyes stung from where sweat rolled into them, but I didn't pay any attention to the sting.

Then I smelled it.  

The hairs at the back of my neck peeled away from my skin. I skidded to a stop, my pulse hammering against my ribs. The trees around were different around this part. They stood taller and much more thicker. The air here was heavier, thick with a scent that made my stomach twist. 

A scent everyone knew to stay away from. 

This wasn't just a werewolf pack scent. No, this territory had been cloaked with a different scent to warn outsiders of what species lived here.

Lycans.

Panic crashed into me. 

No, no, no. 

My frantic escape had led me straight into the one place even worse than my pack. My chest was rising and falling rapidly, and I forced myself to slow down my breathing. Fear wasn't going to take back the mess I'd gotten into. I had to retreat. Now. I turned sharply, my heart pounding as I prepared to run back.

“Bold of you to think you can outrun a Lycan.” One of them rumbled, his voice crushing every hope I had to escape.

Even so, I didn't want to be caught by them, it would be worse for me. I tried to run but it was too late.

A deep, guttural growl rolled through the night. 

Oh goodness. 

I stood there frozen in my tracks, my body trembling violently.

Shadows moved between the trees. Huge figures appeared in front of me, taller than any werewolf I had ever seen. They hadn’t fully shifted, and they were still monstrous with extremely sharp teeth and sharper claws. Three pairs of glowing eyes locked onto me, filled with cruel amusement. I took a step back. They stepped forward. 

No, no, no. “Please…I…I was just running from my pursers, I am not here to cause any trouble. I had no idea I had crossed through Lycan borders.” My voice shook, tears clouding my vision.

As if to let me know they didn't give a fuck what my reasons were, another growl rumbles closer.

“If you're lucky to meet the Alpha alive, just maybe he can understand why a stray omega dared to sneak into the pack in the middle of the night.”

Dear goddess, am I really going to die today? That Alpha was known to be ruthless, if I would be granted mercy these guys were my only chance.

My muscles coiled, every instinct screamed at me to run, but then the biggest of them lunged. The fight was over before it even began. They had me pinned to the ground as one of them shoved a coarse, musty bag over my head. A scent hit me instantly, thick and suffocating. 

My stomach twisted. 

I barely had time to struggle before my limbs betrayed me, heavy and useless as they gave out under me. A dizzying wave of exhaustion crashed into me.

And then...I was dragged against the rough ground of the woods. My consciousness fading into a thick darkness.