I was supposed to be invisible-a shadow in a pack that barely noticed me. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. One bite, one bond, and suddenly, I'm tied to the Alpha who hates me as much as I loathe him. He's ruthless, untouchable, and everything I should fear. Yet, every glance, every brush of his hand, sets my heart ablaze. But I can't forget: he's the reason my life shattered, the reason I'll never trust again. Our pack is on the brink of war, secrets coil like vipers, and the past I buried refuses to stay dead. As I uncover the truth, I'm forced to ask: who's the real enemy? Him, or the darkness lurking within me? When betrayal strikes and alliances crumble, will the bond between us save us-or destroy everything we've ever known? What will he uncover when he learns the truth about me? And will I survive the price of his love?
Chapter 1 Footprints in the Darkness
A torrential rain poured down upon the night, drenching the dense forest as I ran, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My soaked hair clung to my face, mixing with the blood seeping from the wound on my arm. Every step felt heavier, exhaustion clawing at me, but I couldn't stop-not when everything depended on me getting away.
"Don't let her escape!" a harsh voice barked behind me, the sound slicing through the storm like a blade.
Panic surged through me as I forced myself forward, my golden eyes scanning the dark wilderness for any chance of escape. The pounding footsteps of my pursuers grew louder, closer. My heart hammered against my ribs. I knew what would happen if they caught me. I knew what was at stake.
Lightning split the sky, illuminating the path ahead just long enough for me to see what lay before me-a steep cliff, its edge crumbling into the abyss below. The waterfall roared, an untamed force crashing against the jagged rocks beneath it. I skidded to a halt, my chest rising and falling in quick, shallow breaths. The rain blurred my vision, but I didn't need to see clearly to understand the choice before me: jump or surrender.
Surrender was not an option.
"It's over, Montgomery."
The voice sent ice crawling through my veins. Slowly, I turned to face the one man I had once trusted beyond all others. Lucas Blackwood stood just beyond the tree line, his silhouette framed by the darkness. His sharp features were partially obscured by the downpour, but his piercing blue eyes burned through the night with chilling intensity. Even now, even as my enemy, he looked the same-calm, calculated, untouchable.
"I know your secret." His voice was steady, quiet, yet it carried over the storm as if the elements themselves bowed to his will. "And I'll make sure the world knows too."
My breath hitched, and for the briefest moment, my resolve wavered. He knew. He knew everything. But he didn't understand-he never had. If the truth got out, it wouldn't just destroy me; it would destroy everyone I had ever fought to protect.
"That secret won't save you, Lucas," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the roar of the falls.
"But it will destroy you," he countered, the corner of his lips curving into a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.
I took a step back, feeling the wet earth shift beneath my bare foot. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely think, barely breathe. There was no way out of this, no miracle that would change the inevitable. I had always known this moment would come.
Lucas took a step closer. "You don't have to do this, Emily."
I met his gaze, searching for the friend I had once known, but he was gone. Whatever softness had once existed in his eyes had been replaced by something cruel, something final.
With one last deep breath, I let my lips curl into a sad smile.
"Then destroy me."
I jumped.
Chapter 1 Footprints in the Darkness
13/02/2025
Chapter 2 Shadows of Betrayal
13/02/2025
Chapter 3 Bound by Chains
13/02/2025
Chapter 4 Shattered Truths
13/02/2025
Chapter 5 Cracks in the Armor
13/02/2025
Chapter 6 Into the Lion's Den
13/02/2025
Chapter 7 Bonds Under Pressure
13/02/2025
Chapter 8 Shadows of Deception
13/02/2025
Chapter 9 Fractured Alliances
13/02/2025
Chapter 10 Bound by Fire
13/02/2025
Chapter 11 The Dance of Betrayal
13/02/2025
Chapter 12 Betrayal Within the Pack: The War, the Prophecy, and the Enemy Inside
13/02/2025