FIONA

My name, my whole life, had been reduced to a box. The darkness smelled of damp and old iron. I didn’t know how long I lay there, drifting between black and a prickling half-consciousness, until a voice,soft and urgent,nudged me back from whatever thin place I’d almost fallen into.

“Fiona? Fiona? If you can hear me, try to blink,” it breathed close to my ear.

For a dizzy second I thought I’d gone to the Moon World, the place the old stories said the dead slept. Why would I imagine that? I’m only a wolfless Omega. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t spare someone like me.

“Fiona, you need to open those eyes. I need you to be strong,” the voice urged again, gentler this time.

My lids felt glued shut, the effort to lift them like trying to move mountains. Shapes swam into view: a wavering ceiling, the suggestion of a doorway, then a face framed by hair the color of ash,sharp features, eyes fixed on me with something like concern. The voice didn’t belong to a child or an elder. It belonged to a woman who had lived long enough to learn how to hold herself steady in crises.

“Hello, Fiona. Finally, you’re awake. I’ve been trying to get you back to us,” she said.

My mouth tasted of metal and fear. I tried to speak, but my throat was raw. The memory of being dragged, the slaps, the jeers and rose like bile. “How would you even think of attacking Luna?” the woman asked abruptly, as if the answer were obvious.

Confusion swam through my fog. Did they think I’d tried to kill Ryan? The very thought was absurd. I had loved him, stupidly, blindly, and then he had spat on me.

“Madam Barbara?” I said, because that was the name of the questioning ghost.

The woman’s lips tightened. “Trust me, she is the last person you want to see. Did you try to kill the Alpha too?” She sounded disgusted

I swallowed. My memory was a jagged thing: the slap, the guards, Sabrina’s cruel laugh. “Ryan?” I whispered.

She stared at me as if I’d asked the strangest thing. “Are you asking me?” she repeated, incredulous. “Do you even know what’s been done? Do you know the situation?”

I didn’t. I couldn’t. My head felt thick and heavy. The woman’s face loomed closer, urgent now. “You need to find somewhere to go,” she hissed. “If you stay, you’ll be killed.”

A pounding came from the corridor, and a young messenger burst in, breathless and wild-eyed. “Luna Sabrina is on her way here!” he panted.

Sabrina. The name hit like a blow. I felt the old cold of dread coil around my ribs. That girl wanted me gone in a way that wasn’t merely social cruelty, she wanted me dead.

Barbara, if that was who this was, moved with sudden decisiveness. She helped me to my feet, her hands efficient and steady despite the murmur of indecision on her face. She led me through a low doorway into a narrow passage.

“There’s a back stair that leads into the woods,” she whispered as she pushed me down the steps. “Go. Don’t look back. Head east until you find the old birches, then keep walking. Don’t stop for anything. Find someplace to hide until you can make a plan.”

My lungs burned with the movement, but I nodded. I had no strength left for words anyway. She pressed a small bundle into my hand, some cheese, a scrap of bread, and a torn shawl. “I can’t stay seen with you,” she said, voice low. “But I couldn’t leave you to die. Now go.”

I stumbled into the night like something half-formed: a shadow fleeing from fire. The cold air bit through my rags and slapped the tears from my face. The pack house loomed behind me, its windows glowing like watchful eyes. I wanted to turn, to scream every accusation until the whole world knew the truth, but my feet refused to obey a body grown too small for hope.

I ran.

For days I drifted on the edge of the woods, sleeping in hollows and waking to the ache of hunger. The forest was both refuge and wilderness, comfort in its anonymity, danger in every crook and shadow. I clung to the rhythm of walking as if movement could erase the memory of the mating yard and Ryan’s spit.

On the third night, I heard the first snap: thin, like a twig under a boot. I froze, every muscle tight. “Who’s there?” I called, voice too small. No answer. A second snap, closer this time, and my pulse hammered.

I should have been able to run. I should have had someone to protect me. Instead, my feet betrayed me; I saw a dark shape surge and a heavy weight knocked me to the loam. The forest floor bit into my palms and I tasted iron again, fear, not blood, for now.

When I turned, the thing that landed atop me was not one wolf but many, black shadows with teeth like knives. One shifted to human form, spiky hair standing like a crown, tattoos crawling up his arms like black vines. His grin showed too many teeth; saliva glittered at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re far from home, meat,” he said, his voice rough, amusement curling in the last word.

The others closed in, eyes glinting like coals. My throat constricted. “I’m…” I started, but something cold and cruel laughed.

“You don’t smell right,” another said, running a hand along my arm as if testing the texture of prey. “Not wolf. Not human. Empty skin.” The words echoed from stories Kush had told me in the kitchen—stories of the rogue packs, the vampire wolves who had been cast out for their hunger and madness. Legend, I’d thought. A nightmare now standing over me.

My mouth opened and closed on air. They circled, a tightening ring. Fear pooled in the hollow of my belly, hot and sharp.

“We’ll see how sweet empty skin is,” the spiked-haired one said, and his command was a blade. “Finish her off.”

They lunged.

For a terrible, breathless second I felt utterly alone… no Alpha’s protection, no friend’s hand, nothing but the cold earth and the sound of my own ragged breaths. Then, as their shadows poured over me, a strange part of me, thin as a thread and older than my fear, stirred inside, a whisper of something awakened. It was small and sudden and older than any story: a voice that did not belong entirely to me.

Fight. Run. Survive.

My heart obeyed even when my legs trembled to move. The world narrowed to the taste of fear and the sharpness of coming teeth. The night held its breath.

FIONA’S POV

My heart skipped, not just a beat, but several.

“Finish her!” Those were the exact words that monster spat before I closed my eyes, ready for death.

I thought it was over. Truly.

But then… the air shifted. The forest went silent, heavy, electric.

From the mist ahead, something moved.

A massive wolf, fur shimmering gold under the pale light, burst through the clearing like a storm given form. His eyes, steel-grey, sharp and ancient, locked on the vampire wolves as a low growl thundered from his chest. Every predator instinct in the woods froze in that instant.

I gasped, disbelief flooding me. I’d already accepted death, so who, or what, was this?

The golden wolf launched forward, a blur of strength and grace. His fangs caught one attacker mid-leap; another he slammed into a tree so hard the bark cracked. The others scattered, howling, but he didn’t stop until none of them dared take another step closer.

I stared, trembling, watching the impossible. His movements were precise, power without chaos, violence shaped by control. And his presence… it wasn’t just strength; it was dominion.

He turned, meeting my gaze for the first time. I didn’t dare move. Then, before I could even take a breath, his body shimmered, fur retracting, limbs reshaping, bones twisting with a soft, quick crackle. In less than two seconds, he was no longer a beast but a man.

A very tall, very shirtless man.

I froze. My lungs forgot how to work. His chest was broad and scarred, his expression unreadable, yet those same grey eyes carried the same storm the wolf had.

“We need to leave here. Now,” he said, his voice a deep, commanding rumble that sent shivers up my spine.

“Huh?” was all I managed to mumble.

He arched his brow. “Unless you’d rather stay behind to be dinner for those bandit wolves,” he said dryly.

My mouth fell open. “Of course not!”

“Then hold on.”

Before I could protest, he bent slightly, motioning for me to climb onto his back. My pride whispered no, but exhaustion and instinct screamed yes. I obeyed, clutching his shoulders as he shot into the night like lightning.

Wind whipped through my hair as we raced through the woods. Behind us, I heard more movement, pounding paws, quick and numerous. I tensed until I noticed the wolves weren’t chasing us, they were running with us. A whole patrol, sleek and disciplined, flanking us in formation.

When we broke through the treeline, my eyes widened.

The forest gave way to a vast clearing wrapped in mist. Beyond it stood a fortress of dark stone and silver banners fluttering under the moonlight. Towers reached into the fog, guarded by massive gates marked with a symbol, two crossed wolves beneath a crescent moon.

“Welcome to Jupiter Pack,” he said, setting me down gently as he pushed the great doors open.

The name struck a faint memory from stories I’d heard whispered among Omegas that Jupiter Pack, the strongest in all Darkstone territories. Its Alpha was said to be ruthless, yet just.

And I was now standing inside his room.

He offered me a glass of water, his movements oddly refined for someone who had just torn through a battalion of monsters. “What’s your name, damsel?” he asked with a faint smile.

My pulse raced. His tone was kind, but his presence commanded respect. “I… My name is Fiona Cullen. I came from the Bluemoon Pack,” I said softly.

I swallowed hard. I’d revealed too much already. If he sniffed me, he’d know instantly, no wolf. Just human flesh and a broken soul. “Please don’t sniff,” I whispered in my head.

He didn’t. Instead, he handed me the cup and looked out the window. “Drink. You’ll need your strength.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, taking a slow sip, the cool liquid calming my throat. Then I lifted my gaze to him, gathering courage. “But… you haven’t told me who you are.”

He tilted his head, amused. “Look outside,” he said.

“Outside?” I frowned, rising weakly to the window. All I saw was fog, thick, endless mist that swallowed the horizon whole. “Uhmm… I can’t see anything.”

He chuckled quietly. “Your head’s still pretty banged up. You should rest. When you wake, we’ll talk.”

He turned to leave, but I caught the faintest glint of curiosity in his eyes before the door closed. I heard him whisper to someone outside, his tone low and authoritative. Then the world drifted into silence, and I collapsed into uneasy sleep.

SEBASTIAN’S POV

I couldn’t get her out of my head. The girl from the woods. She didn’t fight, didn’t run, just looked at me with those wide, haunted eyes as if she’d already died a thousand times before I even touched her.

She would’ve been a corpse if I hadn’t found her when I did.

Now she was sleeping in my chambers. A stranger from Bluemoon Pack, one of the weakest and most reckless packs in Darkstone. Yet… there was something off about her. No scent of wolf. Nothing but the faint sweetness of rain and iron.

I had to find out why.

I left her in bed and went to the Dome—a circular hall carved from black stone, lit by torches, reserved for pack matters. Before I could even gather my thoughts, the door flew open.

“Pfft… so you are here,” Rachel said, strolling in with her usual smirk.

I groaned. “How many times have I told you not to barge in here?”

“Oh, come on, brother. You treat this room like it’s a sacred shrine. We own it together!” she teased.

I smirked despite myself. “We don’t. As long as I sit in this chair, I am your Alpha and you will respect that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Ah, there it is. The Alpha card. You always pull that out when I’m about to win an argument. Not fair, you know.”

“Careful,” I warned, half-grinning. “One day, I might bite your head off and take your precious hospital from you.”

She laughed. “Is that a challenge, oh mighty Alpha?”

“Absolutely not,” she said quickly, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Who am I to challenge the most powerful Alpha in all five territories of Darkstone City?”

“Flattery noted,” I said dryly. “Now, why are you really here, Rachel?”

She folded her arms. “I heard there’s a new intake in the pack and rumor has it you brought her in. On your back.”

I exhaled. “Easy. She was in danger. The Bandits nearly tore her apart.”

Rachel blinked. “What? How did she even end up there? Was she lost? What about her pack?”

“She claims to be from Bluemoon. Do we have records on them?”

“Oh, Bluemoon… those fools who trespassed years ago,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Always chasing prey, never watching borders.”

“She’s in my chambers,” I said quickly. “Sleeping. Check on her when you can, she might’ve hit her head.”

Rachel raised a brow but nodded. “Alright. But did you find what you went searching for before you stumbled across your mystery girl?”

I sighed. “No. I’m starting to think it doesn’t exist.”

“Don’t doubt Elder Konan’s words,” she warned. “If we find it, we end the warrior deaths once and for all. Wouldn’t that be glorious for your reign?”

I nodded. “I’ll keep looking. I can’t afford more losses.”

We were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

“My Lord,” a voice called urgently, “come quick, the lady in your chambers!”

Rachel and I exchanged a glance. Then I was gone before the second knock landed.

3rd POV

“Help me! Help me!! Help me!!!” Fiona’s voice echoed through the endless darkness. She ran, barefoot and terrified, through a misty forest that reeked of blood and dread. Her heart slammed against her ribs, breath ragged as unseen claws seemed to scrape at her heels. She didn’t know what chased her, only that it was evil. Something monstrous.

Branches lashed at her face as she stumbled through the trees, screaming, “Please! Don’t hurt me!”

A voice, deep and commanding, broke through the nightmare.

“Fiona!”

Her eyes flew open. She gasped, drenched in sweat. The room around her was dimly lit, unfamiliar yet safe. A shadow moved, then came the face of the man who had saved her.

“Are you alright? You were shouting in your sleep,” he asked, his voice low and calm.

Fiona blinked, her heartbeat still racing. “I… I had a bad dream,” she whispered.

Sebastian’s hand rested gently on her shoulder, warm and steady. She didn’t want him to pull away, so she placed her trembling fingers over his, pretending she was just cold. His touch grounded her, melting away the remnants of the nightmare.

“I’m Sebastian,” he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I remember I promised to tell you my name when you woke up.”

Her cheeks flushed with faint color. “Nice to meet you, Sebastian,” she replied, voice shy but sincere.

“Come,” he said, standing tall. “I’ll have someone take you to the pack clinic. You need to be properly checked.”

As he led her out, Fiona couldn’t help but notice how everyone they passed bowed slightly. “My Lord,” they greeted him. The title lingered in her mind, curious and strange.

At the hospital, a nurse prepared a bed for her. “Where is Rachel?” Sebastian asked.

“She’ll be here soon, my Lord,” the nurse replied.

My Lord again… Fiona thought. Who exactly is he?

Moments later, a young woman entered with an easy smile. “You must be the girl from Bluemoon Pack,” she said kindly.

“Yes, ma’am,” Fiona replied.

“Oh, don’t call me that,” the woman laughed. “I’m Rachel, the pack’s doctor. And that handsome young man you see over there…” she pointed at Sebastian, who was now talking with other wolves outside the ward…“is my brother. Alpha Sebastian.”

Fiona froze. Alpha? The word hit her like thunder. She had slept in the Alpha’s chamber.

“I slept in the Alpha’s room?” she muttered under her breath.

Rachel giggled. “Yes, you did. But don’t worry, he doesn’t bite. He’s more soft-hearted than he looks. He probably didn’t even tell you who he really was, right?”

Fiona shook her head.

“That’s typical Sebastian,” Rachel said, preparing an injection. “He never likes to show off.”

Fiona watched her cautiously. “Wait…when did you…”

“….inject you?” Rachel smiled innocently, pulling the syringe away. “While you were talking.”

“That’s… tricky,” Fiona mumbled, vision starting to blur.

Rachel chuckled softly as Fiona drifted into sleep.

**

Days passed. Under Rachel’s care, Fiona regained her strength. She had started to smile again. The Jupiter Pack had treated her kindly, welcoming her as one of their own. Rachel had become her closest friend, while Sebastian… Sebastian had become something else entirely.

He visited often, sometimes to check on her, other times simply to sit with her in silence. But Fiona knew what his lingering glances meant. He wanted more.

She tried to avoid him, but he was persistent, sending messages through Rachel or calling her to his chambers on one excuse or another.

This time was no different.

“Lady Fiona,” a soft voice called. It was Karen, one of the pack’s Omegas. “Alpha Sebastian requests your presence in his chambers.”

Fiona sighed, brushing her hair. “Tell him I’ll be right there.”

When she entered, Sebastian’s sharp gaze met hers. “What took you so long?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, my Lord. I was…”

“How long will you keep running from me, Fiona?” His tone softened. “The other day, I asked you to run with me and you refused. Is this because of my proposal? Do you loathe me that much?”

Her heart twisted. “Never, Sebastian. You’ve been nothing but good to me. I know what you want, but I can’t…” she looked away.

He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His hands found hers, strong yet gentle. “I don’t care what happened to you in the Bluemoon Pack,” he said quietly. “I’ll change that. I’ve fallen for you, Fiona. My wolf calls your name even when I sleep.”

Her breath hitched.

“Let me heal your wounds,” he whispered, “and replace your pain with love.”

Fiona’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Part of her wanted to believe him. But another part—the scarred, frightened part—whispered don’t.

What would he say if he found out she was wolfless? That she was an orphan Omega, discarded by fate?

Sebastian lifted her hand to his chest. “Listen,” he said. His heartbeat thudded strong and steady. “That’s for you, Fiona Cullen.”

Something inside her cracked open. She smiled, weakly at first, then fully.

When he leaned in, she didn’t resist. She hugged him tightly, feeling his strength surrounding her. His lips brushed her forehead, then descended to her mouth, gentle, deliberate. The world spun in a rush of heat and tenderness.

But Fiona pulled away suddenly. “I have to go,” she whispered. “Rachel’s expecting me.”

He smiled, though disappointment flickered in his eyes. “Alright. Go.”

***

At the clinic, Fiona found Rachel pacing, her face pale.

“Rachel?” Fiona frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Rachel pointed at the small scanning device on her desk.

“Take a look at this.”

Fiona blinked. “Rachel, you know I’m hopeless with machines. What am I looking at?”

Rachel turned the screen toward her, showing a tiny, pulsing image. Her voice trembled, half laughter, half shock.

“Fiona… you’re pregnant.”

Fiona’s world still. The sound of the words echoed in her chest like thunder.

Pregnant.

Her hand fell instinctively to her stomach, and her mind replayed the last few nights, his warmth, his touch, the way her heart had raced against his.

She looked up at Rachel, eyes wide with disbelief.

“I’m what?” she whispered, voice breaking.

Rachel smiled faintly, but there was worry and shock behind it. “How are you pregnant?”