Chapter 1 trespassed into the territory
Rachael POV
Hunger gnawed at my belly like jagged knives. I hadn’t eaten in days and each step made my ribs ache, but I couldn’t stop, not now. My paws tore through the dirt, ears pinned forward, eyes locked on the blur of white ahead. The rabbit zigzagged frantically between the trees, and I pushed harder, lungs burning, claws scraping against roots and stones.
Don’t lose it. Don’t you dare lose it.
If I failed, it would be another night with an empty stomach. Another night of weakness. Another night feeling the cold gnaw at my bones while my body screamed for sustenance. My wolf surged within me, every muscle coiled and tense, claws digging into the earth as I raced after the prey. My heart thundered in my chest, every beat echoing the urgency of survival.
A fallen log blocked my path but I didn’t hesitate. I leapt, claws scraping dirt, fur brushing against branches and leaves. Dirt sprayed up around me as I landed, my chest heaving. The rabbit darted right, straight toward the shadows of the treeline. My chest tightened. The scent there was wrong, too sharp, too heavy. Danger clung to the air like smoke, thick and suffocating.
Border.
I slowed for a split second, every instinct screaming at me to turn back. My paws itched to stop, to retreat, to survive another day. I had just trespassed into a territory. But my stomach growled, hollow and insistent, reminding me that if I missed this meal, I might collapse before dawn. The rabbit was already slipping into the brush. One step across. One step. No one would notice.
I lunged.
Branches tore at my fur as I crossed the invisible line, chasing the prey deeper into the forbidden woods. The scent grew heavier, more overwhelming, saturated with male dominance and power. My lungs burned, but I didn’t stop. I leapt again just as the rabbit darted to the side. My jaws snapped, teeth piercing fur and bone. Relief flooded through me. I shook it hard, feeling it go limp in my mouth. Dinner. Finally.
I dropped to my paws, panting, blood warm on my tongue, tasting victory and survival at the same time. But then—a howl ripped through the night.
Wolves. Those were wolves, unmistakably. The sound tore through my nerves, sharp and urgent. My ears flattened, hackles rising. They mustn’t find me.
I pressed myself against the rough bark of a tree, trying to make myself small, hidden. My heart hammered in my chest as I quickly devoured what was left of my meal, swallowing greedily before I could be discovered. Who knew when I would eat again? The thought made me swallow another lump of adrenaline along with the meat. Full at last, I let myself sink slightly, muscles relaxing for a fleeting moment.
At last… something refreshing, I whispered to myself, taking in the cool night air. But I couldn’t linger. My body screamed for water and I needed it before weakness overtook me entirely. My paws carried me through the underbrush, sniffing for a stream or river, ears straining for any hint of movement.
Soon, I found a bank of water, glimmering in the moonlight. Relief surged through me. I ran, claws sinking into the soft earth, tail lashing in excitement. I could even shift into human form here and bathe if no one was around. The thought made my pulse race, a dangerous thrill mixing with the fear coiling in my chest.
I dove into the water, drinking greedily, letting it chase away the ache in my body. Every sip, every splash, felt like life returning to my bones. For the first time in days, I could almost breathe without the constant gnaw of hunger and exhaustion clawing at me. My claws scrabbled against the muddy bank as I sank into the cool embrace of the river, closing my eyes for the briefest moment, imagining I was safe.
Then the howl came again. Closer this time. Fierce. Dominant. A warning, or a claim.
Oh no.
I bolted, paws pounding against wet earth and scattered leaves, muscles coiling and stretching with every leap. My wolf snarled, teeth flashing, claws tearing into the ground. Shadows shifted around me, moving faster than I could anticipate.
Four… five… no, more. Wolves. Their scents slammed into me, thick with strength, dominance, and power. My heart kicked against my ribs as panic surged. I spun, lips curling, growl ripping from my throat, searching desperately for an escape.
Too late.
They burst from the brush like a predator, teeth bared, fur bristling, snarls cutting through the night. My wolf screamed to run, to fight, to survive but the circle was tight. Every path was blocked. Every tree and every open space was claimed by them.
One lunged first, massive body slamming into me, jaws snapping inches from my throat. I thrashed, claws tearing at fur and bark but another pinned my hind legs and a third clamped onto my scruff. The forest floor scraped my fur and skin as I struggled, every ounce of strength burning in my muscles.
Trapped.
“Got the rogue!” a voice barked through the mind link, thick with triumph.
My ears flattened, muscles tensing, heart hammering. Rogue? Dread sliced through me like ice.
“What is a rogue doing here in the pack?” one asked, sniffing me sharply.
“No scent… but male, undoubtedly,” another sneered, disgust coating every word.
“Let’s take you to the alpha and see what punishment awaits,” the last said, cruel and sharp, like knives scraping against my spine.
Oh no.
