"Get out of our territory before we make you."
The voice came from behind me—low, threatening.
I didn't turn.
I already knew who it was.
The border guards.
Of course Kael hadn't trusted me to leave on my own.
A bitter laugh rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down.
"I'm going," I said, my voice hoarse.
"Faster."
My hands clenched at my sides.
I took another step forward.
Then another.
Each step away from the Blackthorn Pack felt like something inside me was being torn apart all over again.
My wolf was silent now.
Too silent.
That scared me more than the pain.
The forest grew darker the farther I walked, the familiar paths slowly fading into shadows I didn't recognize. The sounds of the pack—voices, movement, life—disappeared behind me, replaced by the distant howl of something wild.
Something dangerous.
Good.
Maybe it would kill me and save me from feeling like this.
"Keep moving," one of the guards snapped.
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned to face them.
Three of them.
Armed.
Watching me like I was a threat.
Like I didn't grow up beside them.
Like I didn't trusted them.
"You don't have to follow me anymore," I said quietly. "I'm leaving."
"Orders," one of them replied flatly. "We make sure you cross the border."
Of course.
Kael's orders.
The thought burned.
I held his gaze for a second longer, then turned away again.
I didn't want them to see the tears gathering in my eyes.
Not them.
Not anyone.
I walked until my legs ached, until my chest felt like it might collapse under the weight of everything I was holding in.
Finally—
"Stop," the lead guard said.
I froze.
"This is the edge of Blackthorn territory."
The words hit harder than I expected.
The edge.
The end.
I stared ahead.
The forest beyond looked different.
Darker.
Colder.
Unfamiliar.
No scent markers.
No protection.
No home.
"Once you step past that line," he continued, "you're on your own."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
"I've been on my own since he rejected me."
None of them responded.
Of course they didn't.
I took a step forward.
Then another.
And just like that—
I crossed the border.
A strange feeling rushed through me, like something invisible had snapped completely.
The last connection I had to the pack… gone.
I waited.
For pain.
For regret.
For something.
But all I felt was emptiness.
Behind me, the guards turned without another word.
They didn't look back.
Neither did I.
I kept walking.
Deeper into the forest.
Deeper into nothing.
I don't know how long I walked.
Hours.
Maybe longer.
The sky darkened as night settled in, the moon now pale instead of red.
My legs trembled with every step.
My throat burned with thirst.
But I didn't stop.
If I stopped, I would think.
And if I thought—
I would break.
A branch snapped somewhere to my left.
I froze.
My senses sharpened instantly.
My wolf stirred weakly, alert despite her silence.
I wasn't alone.
Another sound.
Closer this time.
My heart began to race.
"Who's there?" I called out, my voice steady despite the fear creeping into my chest.
No answer.
Just silence.
Then—
Movement.
Fast.
A shadow lunged from the trees.
I barely had time to react before something slammed into me, knocking me to the ground.
A growl tore through the air.
Not human.
Wolf.
My body reacted on instinct. I twisted, shoving against the weight pinning me down, but whoever—or whatever—it was, they were stronger.
A second figure emerged from the darkness.
Then a third.
Rogues.
My breath hitched.
Of course.
I had crossed into unclaimed land.
And rogues didn't ask questions.
They killed.
"Well, well," one of them said, shifting partially into human form. "Looks like we caught ourselves a stray."
Laughter followed.
Rough.
Cruel.
I forced myself to stay calm, even as fear clawed its way up my spine.
"I'm just passing through," I said. "I don't want trouble."
Another laugh.
"You're in the wrong place for that."
The one pinning me down leaned closer, his breath hot against my skin.
"You smell like pack," he muttered. "Freshly kicked out, huh?"
My jaw tightened.
I said nothing.
"Pathetic," another one added.
Something inside me snapped.
I shoved upward with everything I had, catching them off guard just enough to break free.
I scrambled to my feet, my chest heaving.
"I said I don't want trouble," I warned.
They circled me slowly.
Predators.
"Too late for that," the leader said.
He lunged.
This time, I was ready.
I moved before he could reach me, sidestepping and striking out instinctively. My fist connected with his jaw, the impact sending a sharp jolt up my arm.
He stumbled back.
Surprised.
So was I.
For a second, none of us moved.
Then his expression darkened.
"Wrong move."
They attacked all at once.
Pain exploded through me as one of them struck my side. I gasped, barely managing to stay on my feet as another came from behind.
I fought back.
I had to.
But there were too many.
Too strong.
A blow to my shoulder sent me crashing to the ground again.
My vision blurred.
My body screamed.
This was it.
This was how it ended.
Rejected.
Banished.
Killed like nothing.
A broken sound tore from my throat.
Not again.
Not like this.
Not when I had lost everything.
Not when—
A sharp, sudden pain twisted deep in my stomach.
I froze.
My breath hitched.
The world seemed to tilt.
What…?
The rogues paused, noticing the change.
"What's wrong with her?" one of them muttered.
I clutched my stomach, panic rising.
The sensation grew stronger.
Stronger.
Until it felt like something inside me was… reacting.
Awakening.
My wolf stirred violently.
For the first time since the rejection, she didn't feel weak.
She felt—
Furious.
A low growl escaped my lips.
Not human.
Not entirely.
The rogues hesitated.
Something in the air shifted.
"You feel that?" one of them whispered.
I did.
Power.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
It surged through my veins, burning, demanding release.
My vision sharpened.
My pain faded beneath something darker.
Stronger.
I slowly lifted my head.
And when I looked at them—
They stepped back.
Fear flickered in their eyes.
"What the hell are you…?" the leader breathed.
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
But whatever it was…
It wasn't weak.
And as the power inside me continued to rise, wild and unstoppable—
I realized one terrifying thing.
The girl they had just attacked…
Was gone.