o the Alpha’s Den
Keep goingthere’s nothing for you back there.
As she crossed into the forbidden territory of Crimson Fang, a ripple of dread passed over her. Everyone knew about Draven, the ruthless Alpha with a taste for brutality. She had heard enough stories to know his reputation, how he showed mercy to no one, least of all rogues. The risks weighed heavily on her, but so did the dark certainty that she had nowhere else to go.
Mask our scent
A sudden rustle broke the silence, and before Isla could react, a heavy arm caught her from behind.
“Look what we have here,” a low voice sneered, the scent of iron and wild earth hitting her senses as she was shoved roughly to the ground. Three wolves, their faces hidden in shadow, stood over her, eyes flashing with predatory intent.
“Midnight Crest? You lost, sweetheart?” one of them taunted, his grip bruising as he pulled her up, his face close enough that she could see his razor-sharp grin. Isla forced herself to keep calm, focusing on Lira’s strength. Hide. Conceal everything.
“I’m just a rogue,” she said, voice low but steady. “I have nowhere else to go.”
The lead wolf snorted, his eyes raking over her. “A rogue, huh? What kind of rogue comes sneaking into Crimson Fang territory?”
Without waiting for an answer, he jerked her forward, the others flanking her as they marched deeper into the trees. She struggled, but they were too strong, dragging her toward what looked like the heart of the pack’s territory. The forest grew denser, darker, and colder, until they stopped abruptly in a clearing dominated by a massive figure.
Alpha Draven stood there, broad and intimidating, his piercing gaze catching on her the moment she entered his line of sight. He was everything the stories said—a towering presence, his dark eyes sharp and deadly as they flickered over her, sizing her up in an instant. Isla’s pulse raced as she fought to keep her scent masked, praying he wouldn’t see through her lie.
“What’s this?” Draven’s voice was cold, his lips twisting in faint disgust. “A rogue?”
One of the patrol wolves shoved her forward. “Caught her sneaking in. Claims she’s got nowhere else to go.”
Draven’s gaze pinned her down, as if stripping away each layer of her defenses. She forced herself to hold his stare, every muscle in her body coiled, ready to bolt if he decided to strike.
“A rogue… in my territory.” He took a slow step forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face, his expression darkening. “You have one minute to convince me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”
