Chapter 3: Into the Wild

Calla’s POV

As I trekked further into the forest, the bitter wind howled between the trees and bit at my skin. My heart—my heart was broken beyond repair, my legs pounded, and my wrists burned from the iron restraints that had been removed moments ago.

I was banished.

Betrayed.

By my partner.

It made my chest ache to think of Raiden's voice, distant and frigid. "Calla, you made your decision. Live with it now.

Put up with it?

He had given me a death sentence.

For a wolf without a pack, exile meant just that.

Now, I was a rogue. Everyone is hunting. Nowhere is welcome.

But I continued to move. I had no time for tears, no time to break down and lament my loss. Even for a wolf like me, the night was dangerous. Like new blood in the water, the aroma of exile attracted those who hid in the shadows.

Rogues.

The lost. The desperate. Those without mercy.

I was also bleeding.

The punishment Raiden had permitted before my exile left a new cut across my shoulder. My wolf was too exhausted to recover as quickly as she should have, and my body was weak from starvation.

I wouldn't stop, though.

I was unable to stop.

Because I wouldn't be around to witness another sunrise if I did.

There was a rustle in the shrubs.

My body became immediately tense as I froze.

Low, predatory movement again.

I took a deep breath.

Then I caught a whiff.

Blood, decay, and rot.

The smell of outlaws.

Before I could react, a snarl tore across the night. With its yellowed teeth glinting in the moonlight, a shadow sprang from the trees. As claws cut the air where my throat would have been, I just managed to dodge in time and landed on the ground.

I gasped as my shoulder began to throb, and I rolled. My vision was blurry for a moment, but I willed myself to stand. Weakness was not an option.

I caught a glimpse of my attacker, a huge outlaw with prominent ribs down his side and matted fur. He had hungry glints in his red eyes.

And he was not alone.

Lean and scarred, two more figures stepped out of the shadows.

It's three to one.

I pushed down a new wave of panic that surged up in my chest. Having fear wouldn't help me.

I didn't have a pack. Nobody is coming to save me.

All I had was myself.

First to lunge, the lead rogue aimed his claws at my throat. Instinctively, I lowered myself and then swept my leg beneath him. Another one was already behind me when he stumbled.

Claws raked against my ribs, causing a sharp pain to explode in my side.

Whirling around just in time to avoid another swipe, I suppressed a scream.

They were playing tricks on me.

Slowly tearing me to pieces.

I wouldn't allow it.

As I launched myself at the closest rogue, surprising him, a low growl formed in my throat. My fist struck his jaw, knocking him to the ground.

I then activated the second one and pushed my elbow into his stomach with all of my strength.

Wheezing, he doubled over.

I thought I had a chance for a moment.

The leader then struck.

Even before I saw him move, I felt the blow. I thudded onto the floor; the wind knocked out of my lungs as a heavy body came down on me.

A knee pinned me, its pressure flattening against my chest. The rogue's lips curled into a mean smile as his face appeared over me.

He rasped, "Not bad, little wolf," He had foul breath. "However, you're out of tricks."

He pressed harder, cutting off my air as I struggled.

So I croaked, "Please." I detested my sounding weakness.

His smile got bigger. "Are you starting already? And here I thought you would fight harder."

The other two laughed and circled behind him.

They believed I was finished.

They believed me to be weak.

I wasn't.

I did not want to be.

I threw my head forward, smashing my forehead into his nose with the last of my strength.

The air rang with a greasy crack as the rogue reeled back, wailing in agony.

I rolled out from under him, gasping and taking a final, desperate breath. My body protested, but I went on.

I couldn't help myself.

When the second attacked, I was quicker. I hit his ribs with my elbow and dropped low, allowing him to carry me over. He groaned and folded.

And then the third cut at my face. His claws left a thin stripe across my cheek as I just ducked out of the way.

I ignored the flare of pain.

The only thing keeping me upright was adrenaline.

The leader recovered, shaking off the blood dripping from his nose. Snarling, "Enough of this," "kill her."

They launched an all-at-once attack.

I put up a fierce fight.

All my instincts and all the training I had ever received came to life.

However, I was worn out. Feeble.

And I was aware that I couldn't win.

One of the rogues took hold of my arm and twisted it behind my back. With pain shooting through my shoulder, I screamed. One more seized my leg and pulled me to the ground.

It was this.

I was going to die like this.

Not at the hands of Raiden. Not in the pack where I used to live.

But in the middle of nowhere, here.

Left behind.

Ignored.

A strangled sob built in my throat. I had put up a fierce fight. Survived so much.

And yet—

A howl ripped through the night.

The outlaws stopped.

My vision was swimming as I blinked.

Once more, the howl was loud, authoritative, and strong.

They weren't rogues.

It was an Alpha.

And it was close.

The outlaws paused, looking at each other uneasily.

Then, silver eyes glowed out of the shadows.

I gasped.

A wolf, massive, dark-furred, and radiating authority, entered the clearing.

Strength.

Before the beast charged, my mind had hardly had time to process what was happening.

Before the leader could stop himself, a set of enormous jaws clamped down on his throat. As the rogue's body jerked violently before going limp, a wet, choking sound filled the air.

The other two took off running.

They didn't arrive.

Moving like a shadow, the dark wolf ripped through them with terrifying precision. Claws slashed. Bones cracked. The blood sprayed.

Less than a second later, they were just dead bodies on the ground.

There was silence.

My body shook as I gazed at the carnage, my chest heaving.

Then the wolf turned to me.

The silver eyes locked onto mine.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Next, the wolf moved.

And I let out a gasp.

The man in front of me, with his wild dark hair, blood-stained bare chest, and commanding presence—wasn't your average Alpha.

A legend he was.

Stories whispered about a ghost.

Shadows' Alpha.

Vale Kiernan.

He was staring at me, too.

Kiernan moved forward slowly while maintaining eye contact with me.

"You're far from home, little wolf," he whispered, his voice deep and tinged with an unintelligible word.

I took a deep breath. My body screamed at me to move, to run, but I couldn’t.

His eyes held me captive.

Within his authority.

Then he reached out and knelt in front of me.

I winced.

I tilted my face up as his fingers hardly touched my chin.

He darkened his silver eyes.

He whispered, "You smell like exile." "And something else."

His nose wrinkled a little.

Suddenly, a slow, knowing smirk formed on his lips.

"Interesting."