Chapter One: Into the Shadows

The forest was alive with whispers.

Seraphina Grey pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders, the chill of the night seeping into her bones. Twisted branches clawed at the moonlit sky above, casting eerie shadows on the frost-covered ground. The air was heavy with an unshakable sense of being watched, and every step she took felt like a dare.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.

Her heart skipped, and she gripped the knife hidden in her jacket pocket. It wasn’t much—not against what lived out here—but it made her feel less defenseless. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Blackthorn Hollow wasn’t just off-limits; it was a place whispered about in warnings and folklore. But Sera had passed the point of caring weeks ago.

Ever since her family had been ripped apart, vengeance had been the only thing keeping her moving.

She came to a stop in the middle of a clearing, her breath misting in the icy air. The silence pressed down on her like a weight. Somewhere above, the moon hung heavy and full, its silver light illuminating the paper she unfolded with trembling fingers.

Kael Blackthorn, Rogue Alpha.

The name carried power, enough to send a shiver down her spine. Everyone in the supernatural world had heard of Kael. Exiled from his pack, he’d become a legend—a predator who thrived on the fringes of their world, untethered by laws or alliances. Some said he was dangerous beyond reason. Others claimed he was the only alpha who truly understood freedom.

Sera wasn’t here for freedom.

She folded the paper and stuffed it into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the blade’s hilt. The knife wouldn’t stop an alpha, but it might buy her a second or two if this went wrong.

If. Who was she kidding? It already felt wrong.

A branch cracked behind her, and she froze.

“Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she felt. Her eyes darted toward the shadows, her grip tightening on the knife.

Another sound—closer this time.

Her pulse pounded as she turned, her back to the clearing’s edge. Her gaze scanned the tree line, but there was no sign of movement. No sound but her own breathing.

Then, glowing eyes pierced the darkness.

Her breath caught in her throat as the massive wolf emerged from the shadows. Its fur was black as ink, its hulking form rippling with power. Sera’s instincts screamed at her to run, but she forced herself to stay rooted, her voice rising above the fear clawing at her chest.

“I need to speak to Kael Blackthorn!”

The wolf’s golden eyes narrowed, its growl low and menacing. It took a step closer, its claws clicking against the frozen ground.

“Please,” she said, her voice trembling. “I don’t mean any harm. I just need to talk to him.”

The wolf tilted its head, studying her. For a moment, she thought it might attack, but then the air around it shimmered.

The transformation was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

Bones cracked, muscles shifted, and fur receded, leaving behind a man whose presence felt even more imposing than the wolf’s. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and impossibly strong-looking, with dark hair that framed a face chiseled from shadows. His piercing gray eyes locked onto hers, intense and unyielding.

“You’ve found him,” the man said, his voice low and gravelly.

Sera’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at him. This was Kael Blackthorn, the rogue alpha. The predator. The man she was risking everything to face.

“I need your help,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

Kael’s lips curved into a humorless smile. “And why would I help you, little human?”

A Dangerous Proposition

Sera squared her shoulders, refusing to let his words—or his presence—intimidate her. “Because I can give you something you want.”

Kael raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “You think you know what I want?”

“I know what everyone wants,” she shot back. “Power. Revenge. Freedom.”

His smile widened, though it was far from friendly. “Bold. But you’re out of your depth, sweetheart. You don’t belong here.”

“Maybe not,” she admitted. “But I don’t have a choice.”

Kael stepped closer, his movements predatory. The air around him crackled with dominance, a primal energy that seemed to pull at her very soul. “Everyone has a choice. You chose to walk into my territory, unarmed and uninvited. So tell me, Seraphina Grey, why shouldn’t I tear you apart right now?”

Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to hold his gaze. “Because I can help you destroy the people who exiled you.”

His expression faltered, just for a moment. It was enough to see the flicker of emotion—surprise, anger, curiosity—that crossed his face.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice quieter but no less dangerous.

“I know more than you think,” she said, stepping forward despite the fear threatening to consume her. “I know who betrayed you. I know where they are. And I know how to make them pay.”

Kael studied her, his piercing gaze searching hers as if peeling back her layers one by one. The seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said finally, his tone sharp.

“I don’t care,” Sera replied, her voice resolute. “I’ve already lost everything. The only thing left is to make them pay.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Then, Kael let out a low chuckle, though there was no humor in it.

“You have five minutes,” he said, his gray eyes gleaming with something dark and unreadable. “Convince me.”