Chapter 1 He's Falling Into The Trap

Ellen furrowed her brows as she walked toward the training area. She truly hated training with the other wolves, as most of them were pure-blooded, and she always felt awkward running in her human form alongside the pure she-wolves.

"Ahhhhh... ah... h..."

The heavy crash of something large hitting the ground snapped her out of her daze, dragging her back to reality.

"What just fell?" she asked, not directing the question to anyone in particular. She turned her head but saw nothing, so she slowly faced forward again and fixed her gaze on the path ahead.

Soon, flames engulfed the entire surroundings, and her breath hitched as she turned sharply behind her and saw that the pack houses were burning.

"Mom! Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking as she bolted toward her home. Maybe the fire hadn't reached inside yet, maybe her parents were still safe, or perhaps they were even searching for her. All these questions stormed her mind, yet none had answers.

She ran with everything she had until she suddenly halted when she saw two silhouettes standing along the narrow path that led to her house. She couldn't tell if they were men or women, but she was certain they were two in number. Slowly and cautiously, she pressed herself against the wall beside them and crept closer, lowering herself into a squat to catch a glimpse of what they were saying.

To her surprise, the moment she squatted, the two figures split and went in separate directions, as though they had sensed her presence.

Her heart pounded violently, and she was about to stand when she heard the heavy footsteps of running wolves. When she looked at them, they didn't feel like pack warriors to her-they felt like strangers. Dangerous strangers.

She watched them run past and disappear into the distance before slowly rising to her feet again. Fear, unease, and disquiet settled deep within her chest as the anguished wailing of omegas echoed through the air.

She felt that same agony might become hers if she continued heading home, but on second thought, she knew that if she left the pack without knowing whether her parents were alive, she would live forever with guilt, pain, and regret.

"Alpha, I have bad news."

A man's voice cut through the chaos, freezing her in her tracks. She quickly looked around for somewhere to hide and finally spotted a trash can that could conceal her. She slipped behind it and crouched low as she listened.

"What news? Speak," the Alpha said in a sharp, commanding tone that made Ellen shiver.

"I discovered that we don't only have Micheal to deal with. There's someone else," the man replied.

"And who might that be?" the Alpha asked, his voice rising slightly.

"I found out he has a daughter, one he's been hiding from everyone-even his own pack doesn't know about her."

"The girl... where is she?" the Alpha asked, his tone now calm but dangerous.

"I believe she's among the omegas in his pack, or perhaps hidden wherever his son was sent."

"Alpha Damien, I think they've got support," the Beta mind-linked to him.

"Zach, you may leave. I'll call you when we're done," the Alpha said. Without waiting for a reply, the man ran off, shifting into his wolf mid-motion. Moments later, the other followed in a different direction.

Ellen remained still for a few seconds before standing up and running again, faster than before. She had to reach her parents before the fire consumed everything.

Her mom... her dad...

She suddenly halted again as realization struck her-her little brother had gone to the Alpha's mansion that morning. Without hesitation, she turned and sprinted in the opposite direction toward the Alpha's mansion, the only building untouched by flames.

She walked past the gate, surprised to see no guards present. With determination, she approached the house, slowing down when she heard the clear sobbing of a child.

"Where is Micheal?" a man demanded.

"I-I don't know! I'm telling the truth! He just asked me to read some books from his library, then he left! I also-"

A loud slap echoed, cutting him off. The sound was harsh, landing across both cheeks, and Ellen's body trembled. The voice sounded like her brother's, but she refused to believe it.

It couldn't be him.

"Tell me the truth. Where is Micheal?" the man asked again.

"I don't know! It was when my sister Ellen-"

His words were abruptly cut off as loud, agonizing screams filled the room. Then, suddenly, silence followed by a heavy thud. After that, nothing.

Hot tears streamed down Ellen's face. Her little brother... her innocent little boy who didn't even understand what war was. He didn't know his offense, yet he died for someone else.

"Ellen, I'll be Beta when I turn eighteen."

His voice echoed in her mind.

"Ellen, I love you. You're the best sister in the world."

She hugged her knees tightly as if holding onto him.

"It was my sister Ellen..."

Those were his last words.

A sharp, unbearable pain tore through her chest.

The click of a door snapped her back to reality. She should have run when she had the chance, but she didn't. She saw a man dragging something across the floor, and when she looked closer, her breath stopped.

It was a body.

A child's body.

Her brother.

A broken cry escaped her lips, alerting the men, who immediately turned to locate the source of the sound. She didn't wait for them to find her-she ran. Faster than she ever had before.

She ran for her life.

She couldn't end up like her brother. Her parents needed her.

As soon as she reached her house, she rushed inside, but before she could shut the door, the men chasing her were already inside.

She heard a weak, painful groan from an inner room and was about to ignore it when one of them grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.

"Ahhhh!" she screamed.

Then she saw them.

Her parents lay in pools of blood.

"Mom! Dad!"

Her voice shattered as she looked up and saw a man standing behind them, his body drenched in blood.

"Alpha, I think he's falling into the trap," someone said from the doorway.