CHAPTER 3

As the bell cut through the night, loud and repeatedly, I froze for a moment, the sound reverberating in my chest. It was the attack bell, the signal for danger. Clara’s grip on my arm tightened. “Alice, we need to go. Now!”My heart raced, my pulse pounding like a war drum in my ears. “The rogues,” I murmured, more to myself than to her. “They chose tonight—of all nights?”

“Of course, they did,” Clara snapped, pulling me closer to her as she scanned the forest around us. “The Lunar Eclipse is sacred. It’s the perfect time for them to strike.”The pack was vulnerable tonight. The Lunar Eclipse weakened us, temporarily dampening the strength we drew from the moon. The rogues had picked their moment with calculated precision. As the bell rang again, distant howls filled the air, chilling and savage. The pack was already in battle. I could feel it—the clash of power, the fear rippling through the air.“I have to go,” I said, pulling my arm free from Clara’s hold.“Alice, no!” Clara’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with worry. “You’re not fully healed. You can’t fight like this!”“I’m fine,” I insisted, though the dull ache in my ribs told a different story. There was no time for weakness.“You’re not fine,” she said, stepping in front of me to block my path. “Let the guards handle it.”“I am a guard,” I shot back, my voice fierce. “And I’m not going to stand here while my pack is under attack.”“Alice—”

“I’ll be careful,” I promised, cutting her off. “But I can’t sit this out. You know I can’t.”Her shoulders sagged slightly, but the determination in her eyes didn’t waver. “At least wait for me.”“There’s no time.” I gave her a quick, almost apologetic glance before darting past her, my feet pounding against the forest floor.“Damn it, Alice!” Clara called after me, but I didn’t stop.

The closer I got to the heart of the pack lands, the louder the sounds of battle became. Growls, snarls, the clash of claws against claws. The air was thick with the scent of blood and rage. When I broke through the treeline, there was commotion everywhere. Wolves in their shifted forms tore into one another, the ground slick with mud and blood. Some of the pack’s best fighters were already injured, struggling to hold their ground against the rogue wolves.

I didn't hesitate

The first rogue I encountered was distracted, his focus on a fallen guard. I lunged at him, my fists connecting with his side. He snarled, whipping around to face me. His eyes were wild, filled with fury, and something darker—something primal. He slashed at me with his claws, and I barely dodged in time, the tip of his talons grazing my arm. Pain flared, but I didn’t stop. I ducked under his next swing, grabbing a rock from the ground and smashing it against his temple. He staggered, and I drove my knee into his stomach, sending him crashing to the ground. One down.

But there were too many. Everywhere I turned, there were more rogues. They moved with a ruthless coordination that made my stomach churn. This wasn’t just a random attack—it was coordinated, a full-scale assault. As I fought my way through the chaos, my eyes landed on a familiar figure. Liam, one of the guards I trained with, was on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. A rogue loomed over him, his claws raised for the killing blow.“Liam!” I shouted, my voice raw with panic.

I sprinted toward him, adrenaline surging through me. The rogue turned at the sound of my voice, his lips pulling back in a snarl.“Get away from him!” I yelled, throwing myself between them. The rogue’s claws slashed toward me, and I barely managed to block with my arm. Pain ripped through me, but I didn’t back down. Liam groaned behind me, his breaths shallow and labored. The rogue growled, his strength far greater than mine. He pushed me back, his claws raking against my skin. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the pain. With every ounce of anger I could muster, I shoved him back, grabbing his arm and twisting it hard. He yelped, but it wasn’t enough. He lashed out with his other hand, his claws aimed for my throat. I ducked, grabbing a fallen branch and swinging it with all my strength. The makeshift weapon connected with his head, and he crumpled to the ground, unmoving. My chest heaved as I stared at him, my hands trembling. Around me, the battle seemed to slow. The pack fighters had stopped, their eyes fixed on me. I didn’t understand why until I turned to Liam. He was still on the ground, his wounds deep and gruesome. Blood soaked his fur, his breathing ragged. I knelt beside him, panic clawing at my chest.“Liam, stay with me,” I said, pressing my hands against his wounds in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy.“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m not a healer, Liam. I can’t—” A single drop of blood fell from my hand, landing on his wound.

The moment it touched him, a strange, golden light spread from the spot. His wounds began to close, the torn flesh knitting itself together as if by magic. I stared in shock, my hands hovering above him. He shifted back to his human form.“What...?” Liam’s voice was weak, but he was alive.The pack fighters around us had gone silent, their eyes wide with disbelief.The rogues, sensing the shift of victory in the fight, began to retreat. One by one, they disappeared into the shadows, their snarls fading into the distance.But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t take my eyes off Liam, who was now sitting up, his wounds completely healed.“What just happened?” he asked, his voice trembling.“I don’t know,” I admitted, my own voice barely above a whisper.Before I could process it, a deep, commanding voice cut through the silence.

"Selene"

The single word sent a shiver down my spine.I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat.Standing at the edge of the clearing was a man unlike any I had ever seen. He was tall, his presence imposing yet magnetic. His dark hair caught the faint light, and his eyes—glowing with an otherworldly brilliance—were fixed on me.

Kael Black.

The Alpha.

I had heard stories about him, whispered tales of his strength, his power, his elusiveness. But none of those stories had prepared me for the real deal.He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and graceful, his gaze never leaving mine.“Selene,” he said again, his voice deep. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Who is Selene?