Chapter 1 - Anastasia
The summer breeze whispered through the towering pines, carrying the crisp scent of cedar and damp earth. I carefully walked through the forest, my steps light as I snuck through the Canadian wilderness. The dense forest was alive with the quiet hum of nature – a woodpecker tapping rhythmically in the distance, the rustle of unseen creatures scurrying through the underbush, and the soft murmur of a hidden brook winding its way through the trees.
Pausing on the edge of a small clearing I caught my breath, scanning my surroundings. I was close to the pack borders. The Northern Hollow pack if I remembered correctly. Before I left, I took the time to familiarize myself with the local packs. During my research I found some packs to be friendly, others were neutral and some were... hostile. The Northern Hollow pack was known for its ruthless alpha. His parents were both brutally killed in an attack which left the pack unstable to say the least. It also meant that they weren’t exactly welcoming to outsiders.
I weighed my options. My plan was to get to a friendly pack settled in the east of Canada, the Everglow pack. To do that I needed to go through this pack, or around. Going around would be the safest option but would take 2 weeks longer. Going through was quicker but had higher risks. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. I took a moment to bask in the sunlight. Growing up in the cold environment that housed my old pack has made me used to the cold northern winds. After what happened I knew I needed to leave Russia. Staying would mean I would live a life being pitied. The rejected luna, replaced by another she-wolf. I didn’t need their pity. What I needed was a pack where I could live my life like I wanted, peacefully and alone. The Everglow pack offered me that, making it the destination of my trip.
Fuck it, I’ve never been one to take the easy route. I picked up my small bag, containing two sets of clothes, a knife and some other necessities for survival. Swinging the bag over my shoulder I approached the border cautiously, each step bringing with it the undeniable scent of wolves—fresh, sharp, and territorial. Alina stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, her instincts warning against crossing the invisible line marked by the Northern Hollow’s scent markers. But hesitation wasn’t going to get me to Everglow any faster, and I wasn’t about to spend two extra weeks trudging through frozen wilderness when my goal was so tantalizingly close.
We should go around, Alina said, her voice calm but firm. She didn’t like unnecessary risk, even if I thrived on it. “Two weeks in the wild versus four days of potential hostility? I’ll take the shorter option,” I muttered under my breath. The wind shifted slightly, and I caught a hint of something distinct in the pack’s scent—a mixture of pine resin, musk, and something faintly metallic, like iron. A hunting patrol, perhaps? It was possible I could slip through undetected if I moved fast enough, avoiding any encounters entirely.
Steeling myself, I stepped over the border.
The air seemed to change immediately, becoming thicker, more oppressive, as though the forest itself was warning me to turn back. The Northern Hollow territory was dense and wild, the trees closing in tightly around me. My boots crunched over brittle pine needles and dry earth; each sound amplified in the eerie quiet. Alina remained on high alert, her senses stretching out to catch any hint of movement or sound. I didn’t have to wait long. A low growl rippled through the forest, coming from somewhere to my left. I froze, scanning the shadows between the trees, my heart pounding. The growl wasn’t a threat—yet. It was a warning, one that said, we know you’re here. “Great,” I whispered. “Not even five minutes in.” Run? Alina suggested, her energy spiking with the suggestion of a fight. “No,” I replied softly. “Not yet.” I slowly raised my hands to show I wasn’t armed, though my small bag still hung over one shoulder. “I’m not here to cause trouble,” I said, pitching my voice loud enough to carry but keeping it even. “I’m just passing through.”
Silence.
Then, a figure stepped out of the shadows—a man in his early twenties with sharp features and piercing amber eyes that practically glowed. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his stance radiating power. His dark hair was tied back, and his arms were crossed over a thick sweater that looked both practical and intimidating.
“You’re trespassing,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “I’m aware,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “I just need to pass through your territory to get to the Everglow pack. I won’t linger or cause any problems.” The man—likely a high-ranking pack member, if not the alpha himself—tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Rogues who trespass are either desperate or foolish. Which are you?” I held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “Neither. Just trying to save time.”
He huffed a laugh, though there was no humor in it. “You’re bold for someone alone in unfamiliar territory.” “I prefer to think of it as practical,” I said, my grip tightening on the strap of my bag. For a moment, we stared each other down, the tension crackling between us like static electricity. My pulse thudded in my ears, but I refused to let it show. Alina growled softly in my mind, ready for anything. Finally, he spoke again. “The alpha will want to meet you. If you’re lying about your intentions, I’ll make sure you regret stepping foot here.” I nodded, knowing I didn’t have much choice. If I wanted to get through this territory alive, I had to play by their rules—for now.
