Chapter 105

"Don't do anything reckless while I'm gone."

She laughed.

"I promise I'll behave."

I arched an eyebrow.

"The last time you said that, Selena, you threw a beer glass at a man's head."

She pursed her lips, looking offended.

"He said I had a nice ass, Savannah. I thought it was incredibly disrespectful," she retorted. "And, besides, the glass kind of... slipped from my hand."

"And flew straight to his head?"

"Exactly," she agreed shamelessly.

She hadn't undergone her first transformation yet, but she was approaching the age, and her body was already showing signs of it—unnatural strength for a girl her size, a fiery temper, and a heightened sense of smell.

"Just... keep the glasses away from the heads of sleazy old men, please," I pleaded.

She had knocked the man out cold last time. It was so swift and strong that no one even saw where the glass came from, let alone who threw it, which was the only reason she hadn't been caught.

"I promise I'll try."

I let out a low growl.

"Please, Selena. I can't focus on hiding from Hunter's men and worry about you at the same time."

She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.

"Fine. I promise."

I exhaled a sigh.

"I love you, Sel. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too, Sava."

Smiling, I turned toward the forest and walked away from the cabin, leaving my sister behind.

The backpack felt light on my shoulders. I carried a few changes of clothes, some food I had taken from the bakery I worked at, and a single book I had stolen from a bookstore in one of the towns we had passed through over the months. It was my only form of entertainment, and I had lost count of how many times I had read it.

I quickened my pace, moving deeper into the forest.

I needed to find a safe spot to spend the night while my heat advanced, my body releasing pheromones. The farther I went, the harder it would be for them to track my scent.

I could hear the rustling of small animals moving around and the chirping of birds. The forest was cloaked in shadows and silver as the moon shone brightly above.

Gripping the strap of my worn-out backpack tighter, I kept moving as a gust of wind swept past, tossing my hair to the side.

A shiver ran down my spine as my footsteps crushed the dry twigs beneath.

If things got too bad, I would shift and remain in wolf form for the next few days. It wouldn’t lessen the intensity of the heat, but it would make survival easier alone in the woods.

I hadn't shifted since we fled. I didn't trust the area enough to risk it. It would make me an easy target for hunters. And the cabin we lived in, which once belonged to one of them, was proof enough that they were nearby.

That was another thing to add to my growing list of concerns—Selena's first transformation.

I glanced around, observing the long tree trunks. The forest felt ancient—I could sense it deep in my bones. It radiated a kind of power, an old energy pulsing around me.

I suspected there might be packs nearby since the herb originated from this region, but I wasn't certain. Since we arrived, we hadn’t encountered any other wolves.

A wave of heat struck me so hard that it knocked the air out of my lungs. I stumbled, my next step faltering. Holding my breath, I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, repeating the action several times before continuing.

My body was nearing its limit. But I was still too close to my sister. It would be all too easy for them to pick up my scent and find her.

I started running, directionless. I just... ran, letting my instincts guide me. Strangely, it felt as though they were leading me somewhere—or to someone.

I had no idea how long I ran, following this odd pull without deviation. I didn’t stop, not when my throat went dry, nor when beads of sweat formed on my forehead despite the frigid air.

After what felt like hours, I finally stopped, having gone deep enough into the forest that no other wolf could catch Selena's scent.

Another powerful wave of heat overwhelmed me, my pupils dilating as I let out a faint moan, mixed with a low purr.

God, this was worse than I had imagined.

Raising my face, I parted my lips, panting. My eyes glowed a vibrant emerald green.

Every bone in my body ached as if I were melting from the inside out. I exhaled more pheromones.

I tried to stand but failed. I needed to find a river nearby, something to cool down the unbearable heat coursing through me.

Focusing my hearing, I strained to pick up the sound I sought. As Hunter had taught me once, long ago when I first shifted, I honed in on the faint gurgle of running water.

To my left—farther than I’d hoped but close enough to reach with effort.

I pushed myself up again, using every ounce of strength I had left. My knees trembled, my leg muscles weak and unsteady.

Step by step, I moved forward, though it felt like dragging a thousand pounds with each motion.

So focused was I on the river that I didn’t notice the presence of someone else. I didn’t realize I was no longer alone.

The first thing that hit me was his scent—a mix of fresh pine and damp earth, evoking the very essence of the forest around me.

I scanned the area, my heart thundering in my chest so violently it felt as if it might burst.

Inhaling deeply, I caught the scent again—familiar?!

But I didn’t know him, I was sure of that. He didn’t have, not even remotely, a scent similar to any of the alphas I had encountered before. It was different, unique, ancient.

Even though I couldn’t see him, I felt deep in my bones the absolute certainty that he was an alpha.

A branch snapped to my right. I quickly turned, assuming a predatory stance, letting my wolf instincts take over.

A deep, husky laugh cut through the air, carried by the rhythm of the wind. He seemed to mock me, laughing at the defensive stance I had taken. And that irritated me slightly.

But at the moment, more than irritated, I was aroused and on the verge of dying from sheer desire.

I gasped, arching my back as another strong wave of heat surged through me. He let out a growl, still hidden behind the thick trunk of one of the trees surrounding us.

"Who... who are you?" I panted, struggling even to breathe.

Silence.

I rested my hands on my knees and let out a loud purr. My body was calling to him, forcing him to come to me. I exhaled an even stronger scent, as sweet as the smell of red roses.

He let out a grunt mixed with a groan.

And then, he stepped out from behind the tree.

His scent hit me even harder. He was an alpha. And not just any alpha but a powerful one.

As if my wolf approved of him, my core pulsed, and my panties were drenched.

My eyes scanned him, taking in his bare feet, his long, toned legs covered by worn jeans that clung to his muscles as he circled me with silent, predatory steps. He wore a white linen shirt that clung to his sculpted chest and well-defined arms. His hands were firm and strong, veins marking his wrists and running down to his forearms.

"I’m the one asking, who are you?" he hissed, his voice firm, strong, and authoritative, making me shudder.

I lifted my gaze.

He was... breathtaking.

The faint moonlight highlighted the unruly waves of light brown hair framing a face with strong features, a defined jawline, and slightly tanned skin sprinkled with almost imperceptible freckles. His eyes, a deep blue at the edges and stormy gray in the center, blended the colors, making them piercing.

Thick, well-shaped eyebrows. A straight nose and a well-defined mouth. The grown stubble along his jaw and around his lips made him even sexier.

He was tall, much taller and broader than me. And he exuded such power. And his scent... heavens, divine.

My core pulsed even harder, reacting on its own to the dominant presence of the powerful alpha. I let my backpack slide down my arms, dropping it to the ground.

He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring.

"What are you doing on my territory?" he growled, as if trying to restrain himself.

My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground again, crushing the leaves beneath me.

"Your... your territory?" I panted, licking my dry lips. The movement was closely followed by his sharp gaze.

His pupils dilated, blending with the silver in his eyes.

He stepped closer, as if his body was being drawn to me against his will.

"Who are you?" he growled, repeating the question so loudly that I felt the rumble of his voice through my bones.

I was hit by such a strong wave of desire that I couldn’t control myself. I let out a low howl, filled with pain and suffering. The alpha reacted, moving closer.

I was dying. It was the only explanation for what I was feeling. Every fiber, every bone, every muscle in my body throbbed.

"Who are you?" I gritted out, unable to think of anything more coherent to ask.

My body released a scent so intense that his disappeared in comparison, filling the air, dominating it as if it were part of the forest.

In the blink of an eye, moving so fast I could barely register it, he knelt before me.

"Fenrir," he answered, roaring.

I lifted my sweaty face, a few strands of hair sticking to my forehead and neck, and then our eyes met.

And I could feel, in that instant, that he wasn’t just looking at me, but he was seeing everything I was.