Chapter 2 Alpha's thirst for Ember

Ember's POV

Living in Alpha Thorne's territory has its advantages. It was so big that I rarely had to worry about crossing paths with him, and I intended to keep it that way. The last thing I needed was for him to discover I was the daughter of his old rival. If he ever figured that out, I had no doubt my days would end in misery, or worse.

My duties were simple: cleaning the servants' quarters and tending to the decorative flowers and trees scattered across the estate. The gardens were beautiful, a harsh contrast to the tough reality of life here. They reminded me of home, though that memory was fading faster than I cared to admit.

Kaya, of course, never left my side, and I suspected her loyalty wasn't entirely selfless. As a human among wolves, she counted on me for protection. The others in the servants' camp could be brutal, and my presence kept them at bay. I didn't mind though. Having someone to talk to kept the loneliness from swallowing me whole.

"I'm exhausted!" Kaya groaned, collapsing to her knees in the dirt.

I took the chance to stop too, brushing soil off my hands and cleaning under my nails. It had been a long day, but something else was bothering me. For days I'd been restless, my skin buzzing with an unfamiliar energy. My thoughts kept circling back to tonight.

The full moon.

It might finally happen-my first shift.

My stomach twisted with a mix of excitement and fear. Knowing I was a werewolf was one thing. Feeling the wolf inside me was another. I'd waited years for this moment, always wondering what it would feel like. Tonight, I'd finally know.

"What are you thinking about?" Kaya asked, retying her blond hair into a loose braid.

"I'm thinking about how I don't want to live the rest of my life here," I admitted.

"It's not as bad as I thought," she shrugged. "Except for, you know, the consequences if you try to run." Her voice dropped, and I saw fear flicker in her eyes.

"If we keep our heads down, we might just have a good time," she added.

"I don't want to have a good time, Kaya. I want to find my brother and mother."

Her face softened as she stood, brushing dirt off her dress. "We've checked most of the servant quarters, Ember. You said your brother was alive when you last saw him. What if he's in a good pack now, living a better life?"

Her words stung. She meant well, but the thought of Caden living peacefully without me was unbearable-not because I wanted him to suffer, but because the idea of him moving on without me made me feel more alone than ever.

"I won't stop looking," I said firmly, gathering my tools.

That night, the full moon rose bright and silvery over the camp. The wolves prepared to run, their energy thick in the air. Our camp was on the edge of the territory, bordered by miles of woods. It was the only time we were allowed a taste of real freedom.

I stood at the forest's edge, my heart pounding. Kaya had stayed behind, uninterested in the chaos of the full moon run. Most of the others had already shifted, disappearing into the shadows.

I closed my eyes and waited, willing my wolf to emerge.

But nothing happened.

Minutes passed. The moonlight prickled my skin, but there was no pain, no fire-only silence.

Panic crept in. Was something wrong with me? Had I missed my time? I clenched my fists, fighting the disappointment that threatened to drown me.

I'd always believed my wolf was inside me, waiting. But what if I was wrong? What if I wasn't truly a werewolf? I was past the prime age for shifting.

Tears stung my eyes.

"I'm not a runt," I whispered. "I'm not."

The other wolves were gone. Their howls echoed in the distance, and I stood alone under the full moon, feeling more human than ever.

Then, pain tore through my chest. I gasped, clutching my stomach as heat surged inside me.

It was happening.

Agony spread through every nerve. Bones broke and reformed. My vision blurred. The world spun-and then it stopped.

When I opened my eyes, everything was sharper. I could hear leaves rustling, smell the earth. I looked down and saw paws-dark red, nearly black, with faint streaks that shimmered in moonlight.

I was a wolf.

I ran without hesitation. The forest blurred around me. The wind rushed through my fur. I felt more alive than I ever had.

Then, a scent caught my attention-faint, but unmistakable.

Blood.

I slowed and followed it into a shadowed part of the forest. The scent grew stronger, mingled with fear. In a clearing, I found a young wolf lying in the dirt, matted with blood. His breath was shallow. His golden eyes met mine briefly before closing.

'Who did this to you?' I thought, knowing he couldn't answer.

I nudged him with my nose. He wasn't from outside. His fur was warm and soft. I bit his neck gently, trying to lift him, but he was too heavy. I started dragging him, my jaw aching.

Then I heard a twig snap.

I froze.

A massive grey wolf emerged from the shadows, towering, thick-furred, and confident. Another followed, darker, leaner, calculating.

The big one stepped toward the pup. Instinct kicked in and I leapt between them, snarling. I trembled, shielding the pup.

They circled slowly, their size alone terrifying. I lunged to scare them off. A mistake.

The dark one attacked, it's teeth ripping into my hind leg. I howled in pain but struck back. I wouldn't give up.

Then a howl split the air.

Deep and commanding. Unlike anything I'd heard. It stopped us all cold.

The two rogue wolves froze, then turned and vanished into the woods.

I stood shaking, my ears twitching toward the sound. A strange current ran through me.

Two massive wolves appeared. One was black and silver, shimmering under the moonlight, bigger than any wolf I'd ever seen. His golden eyes met mine. The second was deep brown.

Alpha Thorne.

His name echoed through me. I didn't need to be told-I knew. The connection between us thrummed in the air.

Mate.

My wolf stirred, drawn to him uncontrollably.

'Who are you, and why are you here?' His voice, sharp and cold, filled my mind.

I flinched, unable to speak. My wolf wanted to submit. But I couldn't.

'I...' I stammered.

He stepped closer. His gaze swept over me, then the pup. His lip curled.

'What have you done?'

'I was just trying to help...'

'Help?' His growl shook me. 'You've interfered where you shouldn't. Do you know the risk you've taken?'

The brown wolf stepped forward. 'Alpha, she's young. She might not know...'

'That's no excuse,' Thorne snapped.

I bowed my head, his anger riding over me like a storm. But beneath it, I felt the bond. Fragile, yet strong. It was in the way he looked at me.

'I'm sorry,' I whispered.

His gaze softened, briefly.

'Take the pup back to camp,' he ordered.

'I can't carry him. My leg's injured,' I admitted.

He turned, his eyes narrowing. 'What do you want-me to carry him for you?'

Fury surged in me.

'At least show some compassion! Two of your wolves are injured, and you're just going to leave us here defenseless? What kind of Alpha are you?' I didn't give him a chance to respond,

'Oh, wait, I know. The kind that traffics innocent people and turns them into slaves.'

The moment I said it, I knew I'd gone too far.

His golden eyes blazed, the air thickened with his rage.

And I wondered if I'd just signed my death sentence.