Lyra's POV
My heart jumped to my throat, and I turned, but saw only dark shapes between the trees.
"Who's there?" My voice shook. "Show yourself."
No answer came, with only the wind moving the leaves slowly.
Another sound came, and closer this time, and my body trembled. I had never been brave, and now I was alone beyond the walls with something out there. I backed away in fear and felt rough bark scrape my palm.
I couldn't stay human anymore. I had to change if I wanted to survive, so I closed my eyes and pulled at the thin thread that connected me to my wolf.
The pain from the shift spread through me like fire, and my bones ached, skin stretched, and fur broke out, and I bit back a scream. Being an omega meant every change felt like breaking glass inside me.
When it was over, I stood on shaky four limbs as a small brown wolf. My ears pricked, and my nose caught scents sharper than before but still dull compared to others.
I saw a figure standing among the trees with the outline of a man, and beside him a bigger wolf crouched low with eyes glowing pale yellow.
Fear washed over me, and so I turned and ran with my paws barely touching the ground, but I knew I was slow. Omegas were always slow! Branches whipped my sides, and my breath came in gasps.
They were faster and I felt them behind me, closing in. All of a sudden, something slammed into me from the side, and I tumbled and hit the ground hard.
The pain shot through my ribs, and hands grabbed me and forced me back to my feet, and I managed a weak transformation back to my human form, and I cried out as the shift tore me again.
When I blinked the spots from my eyes, I saw two men standing over me with their clothes ragged and eyes wild. I recognized them at once as rogue lycans.
"Well, look at what we caught," the taller one said with a crooked grin. "A pretty little thing all alone."
The other laughed.
"Smells fresh. Bet she tastes even better."
I scrambled back on the dirt.
"Please don't," I whispered. "I don't want trouble."
They moved closer, circling me.
"She's scared," the first one said. "I like them scared."
The shorter man crouched near me.
"Don't cry, darling. We'll make you feel good."
I shook my head.
"Please, let me go. I'll leave right now."
He reached out with fingers brushing my arm, and I jerked away.
"Feisty," he said, laughing. "I'm first."
He leaned forward, but before he could touch me, a howl ripped through the night and shapes burst from the trees.
Wolves slammed into the rogues with teeth flashing, and the two men cursed and tried to fight, but they were outnumbered. They quickly shifted to wolf form and fled into the forest, whining.
One wolf stayed behind with thick dark fur and golden eyes, staring at me, and then he changed to his human form too. He was a tall man with black hair and broad shoulders. He stepped closer and lifted me easily into his arms.
"You're safe," he said deeply.
I wanted to ask who he was, but the pain, the fear and everything fused together. My body went limp and the dark closed in…
***
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a bed with soft sheets covering me, and for a moment I didn't know where I was. Then the memories came flooding back with the rejection, the rogues and the attack.
I abruptly sat up quickly and saw a woman sitting beside the bed, stirring something in a bowl, and she looked up and smiled kindly.
"Easy now," she said. "You've been through a lot."
"Where am I?" My voice was hoarse.
"You're safe," she said. "My name is Camile Storm. You're in the rogue settlement, deep in the forest. Our patrol found you."
I swallowed.
"Who led them?"
"Lucius Stone," she answered. "Our leader."
I shuddered at the name. I had heard stories about him, how ruthless he was and how no one crossed him and lived.
"I need to go," I said, swinging my legs off the bed.
Camile stopped me with one hand. She didn't even have to try hard. I was too weak to fight her.
"No," she said firmly. "You're not leaving in that state. It's dangerous out there, and you'd never make it alone."
"I can't stay here," I said.
"You must, at least until you recover," she replied. "Lucius ordered that you rest before making any choices. He wanted to be told as soon as you woke."
She set the bowl aside.
"What's your name?"
"Lyra," I said after a moment. "Lyra Darkfur. From DarkHowl Pack."
Camile's brows lifted slightly, as if she already guessed.
The door opened then, and a man walked in, a man with the same features as the one who had saved me. His dark hair framed a sharp face, and his eyes were cold.
Lucius Stone…
He crossed the room and stopped beside the bed, and looked down at me.
He leaned in slightly and sniffed the air around me, and his frown deepened.
"You carry a fresh mark," he said slowly. "Mateship. But also rejection."
My hands tightened in the blanket.
His gaze hardened suddenly.
"You were sent here," he said. "Are you a spy?"
I shook my head fast.
"I'm not!"
He stepped closer.
"You reek of an Alpha's bond. Why are you here, little spy?" His voice sounded dangerous.
"I told you, I'm not a spy," I said with anger starting to burn through my fear.
He reached out and gripped my wrist suddenly with his hold, strong and almost crushing.
"Do not lie to me," he growled. "I can smell his claim on you."
Something snapped inside me, and the heat of frustration rushed through my body, fierce and strange, and I pushed at him without thinking.
Lucius flew suddenly backward, slamming into the far wall, and Camile gasped….