Chapter 2
Cole's horse carried us into Thunder Pack territory. I held tight to his waist, watching dozens of hide tents form perfect circles around a central fire. Warriors stopped to stare.
They all knew I didn't belong.
An elderly man emerged from the largest tent. Silver hair braided with bone. Eyes like winter Sylvias.
"Cole," he said. "What have you brought into our sacred lands?"
Cole dismounted and helped me down. "Rowan, she saved my life. She deserves our respect."
Rowan's nostrils flared. His face twisted with disgust. "Strange scents cling to her, Cole. Fear. Desperation. And something else—the stench of human contamination."
Heat crawled up my neck.
"She's under my protection," Cole said. "By pack law, anyone who saves an alpha's life becomes a friend of Thunder Pack."
"Pack law applies to wolves," Rowan spat. "What is she?"
They sized me up, evaluating every bit of who I was, and ultimately concluded I wasn't up to par.
"I don't belong here," I whispered to Cole.
His hand found mine. "You belong wherever I say you belong."
They dragged me to Thunder Chief's tent. Bear skins covered the ground. Ancient weapons hung on the walls. The air reeked of burning sage and old power.
Thunder Chief sat cross-legged on a massive wolf pelt. Broad shoulders. Scarred hands. Eyes that had seen too much betrayal.
"Speak," he commanded. "Tell me your true origins, girl."
My mouth went dry.
But I had to tell the truth.
"I was born of mixed blood. Wolf and human. When I was eight, I was sold to Hell's Entertainment."
Silence. Deafening silence.
I continued, "They used us for entertainment. For men who paid to hurt creatures like me. I lived there for twelve years."
Rowan's voice cut through the quiet like a blade. "Contaminated blood! She's been defiled by humans!"
Other voices joined from outside. "Polluted!" "Dangerous!" "Cast her out!"
Cole shot to his feet. "Enough! Anyone who insults her insults me!"
"You forget yourself, boy!" Rowan snarled. "Your father hasn't passed leadership to you yet!"
Thunder Chief raised one hand. Silence fell instantly.
"The girl may stay," he said finally. "But she will earn her place according to our laws."
They assigned me a small, patched tent at the far end of the camp, reeking of mildew. A place for outsiders like me.
I sat on the threadbare blanket and tried not to cry. Cole appeared at my tent flap, carrying warm furs and food.
"You shouldn't be here," I said. "They already hate me."
"Let them hate," he said, settling furs around my shoulders. "I don't care what they think."
I replied, "You should care. You're their future alpha leader."
"You awakened something in me, Willow. Something I thought was dead." His fingers traced my jaw. "Don't ask me to bury it again."
A flicker of hope ignited within my heart—reckless, unwise, and perilous.
Dawn brought Moon Shadow to my tent—a stern-faced woman carrying a leather strap.
"On your feet, half-breed," she commanded. "If you're going to pollute our camp, you'll learn proper pack behavior."
The training ground was a circle of red dirt in the center of camp, where the merciless sun beat down and other pack women gathered to watch my humiliation. Moon Shadow cracked her strap against the ground.
"To survive in the wolf pack, you must wash away all traces of human filth," she said coldly. "Posture straight. Eyes down. Speak only when spoken to."
I tried to follow her commands.
When I lifted my eyes to gauge threats, the strap caught my shoulders. "Down!"
Pain exploded across my back, bringing memories of Hell's Entertainment flooding back.
When I flinched at sudden movements, the strap found my arms again. "Stillness!"
Each strike reminded me of Lyra's torture.
Different masters, same cruelty.
"I'll try harder to learn," I gasped after the tenth strike. "Please don't make Cole suffer because of my mistakes."
Moon Shadow's eyes glittered with malice. "Cole suffers because he protects damaged goods. Leave, and spare him the humiliation."
The strap fell again. I couldn't hold back a cry.
"What the hell is going on here?" Cole's voice cut across the training ground like thunder. The watching crowd scattered as he strode toward us, fury masking his face.
"This is how you teach guests?" he demanded, his gaze falling on the welts forming on my skin. "She's my life-saver!"
Moon Shadow stood unrepentant. "Teaching proper behavior to your pet, young alpha."
Cole's hand shot out, catching her wrist before the strap could fall again. "Touch her again, and you'll have problems."
The full moon rose like a silver coin over the desert, calling every wolf in the territory with an ancient song. The pack gathered on a high plateau overlooking the valley, excited whispers carrying on the night wind.
One by one, they began their transformation.
Bones cracking, muscles rippling, until magnificent creatures filled the space.
All except me.
I huddled at the edge, trembling as memories crashed over me. Silver chains burning my wrists. Lyra's screams as they forced the change upon her again and again.
I curled into a ball, shaking.
Cole knelt beside me. "Don't be afraid," he said gently. "Follow my rhythm."
I closed my eyes, trying to find that place Lyra had shown me.
Deep inside, where no one could touch my true self.
Gradually, Lyra's voice echoed across the years: "You are wild and free, little Willow."
The change began slowly—tingling in my fingertips, spreading like warm honey.
My bones stretched, muscles flowed like water.
When complete, I stood on four legs, my silver coat gleaming in the moonlight. Cole transformed beside me—a massive wolf with amber eyes.
We ran together across the desert, leaping cacti and racing through arroyos beneath blazing stars.
Cole's voice touched my mind: "You're beautiful, Willow. More beautiful than any purebred wolf."
For the first time since Lyra's death, I felt truly alive.
In the quiet cave where we sheltered after our run, Cole held me close by the dying fire. His human form was warm against mine as I rested my head on his chest.
"Willow," he said softly, his fingers tracing through my hair, "when I become tribal leader, you'll be my only mate. No one will ever hurt you again."
The words should have filled me with joy, but they terrified me.
"Do I deserve such a promise?" I whispered, voice breaking. "I'm just someone who's been defiled..."
"No!" Cole interrupted fiercely. "You're the bravest, purest soul I know. Bloodline means nothing compared to spirit."
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from the cave entrance. One of Thunder Chief's advisors emerged from the shadows, his face grim in the firelight.
"Your Highness," he said coldly, "messengers from the three great wolf packs arrive tomorrow. You should consider the tribe's future."
Why were they here now, in the dead of night?
