At the age of eighteen, walking through the woods with her pack, they don't expect to stumble upon the most feared pack of all, terrorizing another. The screams, growls, the scent of blood... everything is chaotic, brutal, violent. Their steps stop dead when they recognize the emblem on the dark jackets of the dominant wolves: the broken claw. No doubt about it. The Shadow Pack. And at its head, the alpha that everyone fears. As they prepare to intervene and help the attacked pack, ready to break the rules to defend the innocent, the alpha of the infamous pack approaches them. Slowly. With a confident, almost lazy stride, as if he had all the time in the world. The other wolves part to let him through. Theo Lupine is not known for his mercy, so when he walks straight past his own alpha to approach her, Josephine doesn't know what to do anymore. She feels her pack's eyes on her, questioning, even panicked. Why is he coming toward her? Why her? But Theo knows exactly what to do with Josephine. He stops so close that she can feel his breath on her skin, and his words fall like chains. "You don't have the right to run away," he growls, and I shoot him a glare. I want to slap him, scream, push him away. But I stay frozen. "Remember, you belong to me. You may hate me, but you can't leave." Around them, everything seems to fade away. No more forest. No more screams. Just this brutal truth that she still refuses to accept. But deep inside, part of her has known it all along. Theo Lupine is her fate. And the chains of fate are sometimes impossible to break.
Chapter 1 01
01
Josephine
"Did you hear that?" Kaiden whispers harshly, his voice tight with urgency. I tilt my head to the side, listening intently. For a moment, there's only silence, the kind of stillness that comes with the dead of night. But then-there it is. A woman's scream slices through the air, raw and full of terror.
I'm on my feet in a heartbeat, panic setting in as my thoughts race. That scream-no. Not again.
"Alpha Michael!" I call out, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady. I move quickly, my heart pounding in my chest as I hurry to his quarters. He has to know. We can't let this happen again.
I push open the door to his room, my breath coming faster now. Alpha Michael's head lifts from where he rests beside Luna Hilary, her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow, oblivious to the danger that lurks outside.
"What, Josephine?" Michael snaps, his voice thick with irritation, but I see the tension in his eyes. He's never been kind to me, always cold and commanding, but now, there's a shift-a subtle awareness that tells me he knows something's wrong.
I swallow hard, trying to steady my nerves. "There's a situation."
Michael's eyes narrow, and he pushes the covers off of him, sitting up, his muscles rippling as he moves. His voice is low and commanding as he listens. "What is it?"
"There's screaming. A woman's scream. It's coming from the direction of the border, and it's getting louder. It sounds like a pack raid, Alpha Michael. Alpha Lupine's pack."
His jaw tightens, and I can see the anger rising in his eyes. "That bastard," he mutters under his breath. "He's been testing us for too long. This ends tonight."
His words are like a flame, igniting something deep inside me. I've been waiting for this. The terror that Alpha Lupine's pack has caused has gone on long enough. They've attacked before, and each time they come closer. Each time, we've been able to push them back-but how long before they break through?
"I'm up." Michael stands quickly, his movements graceful and lethal, as he pulls on his clothes. "Get Kaiden. And wake the soldiers. I want every last one of them ready. We'll shift and take them head-on." His gaze meets mine, his expression hard. "Let's end this."
I nod, my stomach twisting as I turn to leave the room, my feet carrying me quickly down the hallway. It's strange how quickly everything changes. Just a few minutes ago, it was still night, calm and quiet, with the pack asleep. Now, there's a sense of urgency in the air, a heavy weight that presses down on my shoulders.
I find Kaiden standing near the front of the building, his back stiff, his eyes alert. He's already in position, watching for any signs of movement.
"What's the status, Kaiden?" Michael's voice comes from behind me, surprisingly gentle as he speaks to Kaiden. There's no harshness in his tone, no bite. Just command.
"Alpha Lupine's pack, Alpha Michael. They've crossed the border," Kaiden confirms, his voice low and serious. He nods towards me, and I take a step forward, standing beside him. I can feel the tension in the air, thick and oppressive. It's not just the threat of the raid, though. Something else is bothering me, a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can't shake.
"Alright," Michael says, his voice firm and cold. "Get the soldiers ready. We shift, and we end this tonight."
I look at Kaiden as we move to wake the others, but our eyes linger for a moment longer than necessary. We've been through this before-together, apart, together again-but right now, nothing matters but the mission.
"I'll take care of the west gate," Kaiden says, his voice low. He starts heading towards the back of the building, where the soldiers usually assemble. I nod in agreement, watching him go. Our history is complicated-one that neither of us talks about much-but I know he's reliable, and I trust him with my life. He always has my back, just as I have his.
The rest of the soldiers are stirring now, sleepily pulling on their gear, their faces hardening as they realize the situation. The sound of the women's screams is getting louder, more frantic. The terror in those cries is something I've heard before, and I know what's coming.
I can't help but feel a cold rage settle in my chest. Alpha Lupine's pack has crossed a line, and this time, they will pay. They've been terrorizing smaller packs for too long, taking what they want without fear of consequences. But not tonight. Not anymore.
As I move to the front of the building to gather the last few soldiers, I hear a voice behind me-one I'd hoped not to hear tonight.
"Well, well, Little Miss Josephine," George's voice purrs, smooth and oily. It's the kind of voice that makes my skin crawl. I feel my stomach twist in disgust as I turn to face him.
"What do you want, George?" I snap, my tone biting as I try to hide the unease rising in me. George is the last person I want to deal with right now. His eyes are too bright, too hungry. And I can't stand the way he looks at me, like I'm some prize to be won.
He steps closer, and I instinctively take a step back, my body tensing. "Now, that's no way to speak to your future mate, is it?" he asks, feigning hurt. His lips curl into a smile that makes my skin crawl.
I feel my stomach churn. Future mate. He's been saying that for months, ever since I turned eighteen and he realized I was old enough to claim. The thought of being with him makes me want to throw up. He's ten years older than me, disgusting, and arrogant. But the worst part? He doesn't have a mate of his own, so he's decided that I'm the next best thing. His obsession with me is unnerving, and I don't know how to shake it.
"If you think for one second that I'm ever going to be your mate, you're delusional," I hiss, unable to keep the venom out of my voice. The last thing I want is to be tied to someone like George.
He raises an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Oh, we'll see about that. You'll come around eventually." His voice is low and taunting, and I can feel my blood boil.
I grit my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides, but before I can say anything more, the sound of another scream reaches us. It's closer now-louder, more desperate.
"Enough talking," I snap, my patience finally breaking. "We have bigger things to deal with."
Without waiting for his response, I turn and move toward the others, forcing myself to ignore the sick feeling in my stomach. Tonight, it's not about George or anything personal. Tonight, it's about protecting the pack. And nothing else matters.
Chapter 1 01
24/04/2025
Chapter 2 02
24/04/2025
Chapter 3 03
24/04/2025
Chapter 4 04
24/04/2025
Chapter 5 05
24/04/2025
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