"Move, spy!" The largest Bloodfang wolf shoved Raven forward, making her stumble.
"I told you, I'm not a spy," Raven said through gritted teeth. Her wet clothes clung to her skin, and hunger made her dizzy. But she wouldn't show weakness. Not to these wolves.
The one who had found her first—a tall man with a scar across his cheek—yanked her arm when she slowed down. "Save your lies for Alpha Draven."
Raven's mind raced. She needed to escape before they reached their Alpha. The stories about Hunter Draven made her blood run cold—how he ripped out the throats of his enemies, how no prisoner ever returned from his territory.
The forest around them grew darker, the trees taller and closer together. Strange markings carved into the bark warned trespassers away. Bones hung from branches, clicking together in the breeze like awful wind chimes.
"What are those?" Raven whispered, unable to stop herself.
Scar-face grinned, showing sharp teeth. "Reminders of what happens to uninvited guests."
A shiver ran down Raven's spine. She had to get away—now.
Pretending to trip, she fell to her knees. The wolves laughed, but their grip loosened. It was her chance. Raven twisted suddenly, breaking free, and darted between two startled guards.
"Get her!" Scar-face roared.
Raven ran faster than she ever had before, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs. Her heart pounded in her ears. Behind her, angry shouts and crashing footsteps told her they were giving chase.
A small gap appeared in the trees ahead—a path! Raven sprinted toward it, hope flaring in her chest.
The path led downhill, winding through thick brush. Thorns scratched her arms and face, but she pushed through. The sounds of pursuit grew fainter.
"I'm losing them," she thought, a wild grin spreading across her face.
Then the ground disappeared beneath her feet.
Raven tumbled down a steep slope, rocks and sticks jabbing into her as she rolled. She landed hard at the bottom, the breath knocked from her lungs.
For a moment, she lay still, dazed. Then panic set in. She scrambled to her feet, looking around frantically.
She stood in a small clearing surrounded by unfamiliar trees. The path was gone. The wolves were gone. But so was any idea of which way to go.
"Great job, Raven," she muttered to herself. "Now you're really lost."
Her stomach growled fiercely, reminding her she hadn't eaten since yesterday morning. Hunger gnawed at her like a living thing, making it hard to think clearly.
Looking up, Raven tried to spot the sun to figure out which direction was which, but thick clouds covered the sky. A rumble of thunder warned of coming rain.
"Just what I need," she sighed.
With no better option, Raven picked a direction and started walking. Maybe she could find water, or berries, or something to quiet her angry stomach.
The first drops of rain fell as she trudged through the strange forest. Soon, it was pouring. Again, Raven found herself soaked to the skin, cold seeping into her bones.
"I have to find shelter," she thought, wrapping her arms around herself.
Through the curtain of rain, Raven spotted an enormous fallen tree. Its upturned roots created a small cave-like space. Not perfect, but it would keep the worst of the rain off.
Raven crawled inside, huddling in the cramped space. The earthy smell of soil and rotting wood filled her nose. At least it was dry.
Lightning flashed, followed by a boom of thunder that shook the ground. Raven pulled her knees to her chest, trying to get warm.
"What now?" she asked herself. "I can't go back to my pack. I can't stay in Bloodfang territory. Where am I supposed to go?"
For the first time since fleeing her home, Raven let herself truly feel the weight of what had happened. She was alone, hunted, blamed for a murder she didn't commit. Tears mixed with the rainwater on her face.
"I didn't kill him," she whispered. "I didn't."
The memory of Alpha Marcus's final moments flashed through her mind. The shock on his face as he looked down at the knife in his chest. The way he'd reached for her as he fell. The blood—so much blood—covering her hands as she tried to save him.
And that shadowy figure she'd glimpsed running from his cabin just before she entered. Who was it? Why had they killed the Alpha? And why was Raven being blamed?
A crack of lightning lit up the forest, and in that brief flash, Raven thought she saw a figure standing among the trees, watching her. Her breath caught in her throat.
When darkness returned, she strained her eyes, trying to see if someone was really there. Thunder rumbled again, but the sound of her pounding heart was louder.
"Hello?" she called, her voice small against the roar of the storm.
No answer came, but Raven couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching her. Wolf eyes. Predator eyes.
The rain eventually slowed to a drizzle, then stopped. Hungry and exhausted, Raven knew she couldn't stay in her hiding place forever.
Cautiously, she crawled out from under the roots. The forest was quiet now, the storm having passed. Puddles dotted the ground, reflecting the cloudy sky.
A rustling sound came from nearby bushes. Raven froze, every sense on high alert.
Slowly, a rabbit hopped into view. Relief washed over her, followed quickly by a new thought—food.
In one quick movement, Raven shifted partially—just enough for her nails to sharpen into claws, her teeth to lengthen slightly. Not a full wolf form, but enough of her wolf nature to make her faster, stronger.
The rabbit noticed her too late. Raven pounced, catching it easily. A swift, merciful end, and she had her first meal since fleeing her pack.
Later, her hunger satisfied, Raven felt stronger. Her mind cleared. She needed a plan. Somewhere to go. Somewhere safe.
"The human town," she decided. Wolves rarely went there, which meant the Bloodfang Pack probably wouldn't follow her. She could hide among humans for a while, figure out her next move.
As Raven walked, she felt that prickly sensation again—like she was being watched. She stopped, turning in a slow circle, scanning the trees.
"I know you're there," she called out, trying to sound braver than she felt. "Show yourself!"
Only the whisper of leaves answered her.
Shaking off her paranoia, Raven continued walking. The forest grew lighter as the clouds parted, allowing weak sunlight to filter through the canopy.
She found a stream and followed it, knowing water often led to towns. The cool water soothed her parched throat and washed away the last traces of rabbit blood from her hands.
As the day wore on, Raven's spirits lifted slightly. She would find the town, get some proper clothes, maybe even a job. She could pass for human easily enough—as long as she kept her emotions in check and didn't accidentally shift.
A new scent in the air made her pause—smoke. Not forest fire smoke, but cooking fires. Civilization.
Hope surged through her as Raven quickened her pace, following the scent. Soon, she could see the trees thinning ahead.
Just as she was about to step out of the forest, a low growl stopped her cold.
Raven turned slowly, her heart in her throat.
A massive black wolf stood just ten feet away, its yellow eyes fixed on her. Not a normal wolf—a werewolf in full animal form. And judging by its size, an Alpha or at least a high-ranking Beta.
"Please," Raven whispered, backing away slowly. "I'm leaving. I'm going to the human town. I won't come back."
The wolf snarled, taking a step toward her. Its message was clear: too late.
Raven weighed her options. She could run, but this wolf would easily catch her. She could fight, but against an Alpha? She'd be dead in seconds.
So she did the only thing she could think of—she dropped to her knees, head bowed, exposing her neck in the traditional werewolf sign of submission.
"I mean no harm," she said, voice trembling. "I was lost. Please."
For a long moment, nothing happened. Raven stayed perfectly still, eyes on the ground, heart hammering.
Then she heard it—the sound of shifting bones, the rustle of fur receding. The wolf was changing to human form.
Footsteps approached, then stopped right in front of her. A pair of boots entered her downcast vision.
"Look at me," commanded a deep voice.
Slowly, Raven raised her head.
The man standing before her was not what she expected. Young—maybe only a few years older than her twenty years. Tall and powerful, yes, but with a face that could almost be called handsome if not for the coldness in his eyes. Those eyes—piercing blue, like chips of ice—studied her with predatory intensity.
He wore all black, the clothes of a hunter, and his dark hair fell across his forehead in a way that would seem casual if not for the tension in his body.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "Why are you in my territory?"
"I—I'm Raven. Raven Silversong," she stammered. "I was just passing through. I didn't know this was claimed land."
His eyebrow raised slightly. "Silversong? From the Mooncrest Pack?"
Raven's blood turned cold. He knew of her pack. Did he know about Alpha Marcus's death? About the accusations against her?
"I have no pack now," she said carefully.
"An Omega," he mused, circling her like the predator he was. "And why would a she-wolf from Mooncrest become an Omega? That pack is notoriously loyal to their own."
Raven swallowed hard. "It's... complicated."
"I'm sure it is." His voice held no warmth. "Stand up."
On shaky legs, Raven rose to her feet. Up close, he was even more intimidating. Power radiated from him like heat from a fire.
"My patrol reported an intruder earlier. A female from Mooncrest. Would that be you, Raven Silversong?" he asked, her name rolling off his tongue like a threat.
"Yes," she admitted. "But I got away. I was heading to the human town. I won't bother your pack."
A cold smile touched his lips. "No one escapes my pack. They simply weren't supposed to catch you. That was my job."
Understanding dawned on Raven. The feeling of being watched all day—it had been him. He'd been tracking her, observing her.
"Who are you?" she whispered, though deep down, she already knew the answer.
"I think you've guessed," he said, stepping closer until she could feel his breath on her face. "I am Hunter Draven, Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack. And you, little raven, have flown right into my jaws."