The path ahead was eerily quiet, and she encountered no one as she pressed forward. Hours passed, the silence broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant howl of some unseen creature. Then, just as she was beginning to think she might make it through unnoticed, a sudden shift in the air sent a shiver down her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck rose, and an unmistakable scent reached her nose, one that was distinctly different from the human territory she had just left behind.
Werewolves.
Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to remain calm. Instinctively, she buried the bundle of herbs deeper into the folds of her shirt, shielding the wolfsbane among them. It might come in handy later. Lowering her gaze, she tried to make herself appear as small and non-threatening as possible. The last thing she needed was to provoke a confrontation before she even had the chance to plead her case.
She had barely taken three steps into the new territory when a sharp voice cut through the darkness.
"Halt!"
She froze instantly.
"Who is that?" The voice barked, authority laced in every syllable. "Step forward with both hands in the air. No sudden movements, or I will shoot!"
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she slowly raised her hands, stepping forward into the glare of a powerful flashlight. The beam was nearly blinding, but she forced herself to keep her composure.
"I am Lauretta Olgen," she said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest. "I am an omega of the Red Moon Pack from the south. My pack was decimated by rogues, and I have come to the Golden Moon Pack to seek refuge. I mean no harm."
For a moment, there was only silence, the light still shining directly in her face. Then, the beam slowly lowered, and from the shadows, two figures emerged. Armed guards. Their uniforms bore the insignia of the Golden Moon Pack.
"Search her," one of them ordered.
Lauretta held her breath as the two men closed in, their hands rough as they patted her down, checking for weapons or any signs of a threat. She clenched her jaw, praying they wouldn't notice the faint scent of wolfsbane hidden among the other plants. Thankfully, the mixture of different herbs masked its presence, and after a tense moment, the guards stepped back.
"She's clean," one of them confirmed, though his tone held skepticism. "But that doesn't mean she's telling the truth."
The other guard studied her carefully before giving a sharp nod. "She'll have to be taken to the Alpha. If she's lying, she won't live to see another sunrise."
Lauretta swallowed hard but didn't protest as they gestured for her to follow. She had no other choice. If she wanted to survive, she would have to convince the Alpha that she was no threat.
And that was easier said than done.
The guards wasted no time in leading her away from the border. Their grip on her arms was firm, but they didn't drag her or rough her up yet. The Golden Moon Pack was known for its discipline, and even its enforcers followed strict protocol. Still, Lauretta didn't let herself relax. She was an outsider, a potential threat, and the outcome of this encounter was far from certain.
They led her through a winding path, deeper into the heart of the territory. The air was thick with the scent of wolves, the powerful essence of a pack that had lived and thrived here for generations. It was overwhelming.
Then, she saw it: the looming structure built into the side of a rocky outcrop. The dungeon.
One of the guards stepped forward, pulling a heavy iron key from his belt and unlocking a thick wooden door reinforced with steel. The hinges groaned as it swung open, revealing the dimly lit corridor beyond. The scent of damp stone and old blood filled her nostrils, making her stomach churn.
"This is where you'll wait," one of the guards said flatly. "Until the Alpha decides what to do with you."
Without another word, they shoved her inside. Lauretta stumbled forward, catching herself just before hitting the stone floor. Behind her, the door slammed shut with a resounding clang, and the lock clicked into place.
Silence.
She blinked in the dim light, taking in her surroundings. The cell was small but surprisingly dry and free of the overwhelming stench of decay she had expected. More importantly, she was alone. That, at least, was a small mercy.
With a heavy sigh, she curled into a ball in the corner of the cell, drawing her knees to her chest. The exhaustion that had been weighing on her since the moment she fled her fallen pack crashed down on her like a tidal wave. Her muscles ached, her body was sore from days of running, and her mind was frayed from the emotional torment of everything she had lost.
This is what I've been reduced to, she thought bitterly as she unscrewed the cap of the alcohol bottle she had clung to so desperately. She raised it to her lips, tilting her head back to let the last burning drops slide down her throat.
A prisoner. A lone wolf at the mercy of strangers.
But not just any prisoner. Not just any lone wolf.
No.
She was an Alpha.
Not merely an Alpha's daughter, but the rightful leader of the SilverMoon Pack. Or at least, she had been before it all crumbled beneath the weight of betrayal and war. Before she was forced to flee, leaving everything she had ever known behind.
Now, her fate lay in the hands of another Alpha.
Would he grant her sanctuary? Throw her back to the wilderness? Or would he see her as a spy and end her life before she had a chance to fight for it?
Lauretta had no answers, and at that moment, she didn't care.
With the alcohol dulling the sharp edges of her grief and exhaustion, she let sleep take her knowing that when she woke, she would have to fight for her life, with nothing but her wit and whatever else it took to survive.