I am completely, utterly lost.

Rain falls around me heavily, and if I grew up anywhere but Blood Lake, the cold would have been debilitating.

Due to the tensions between Blood Lake and Crimson Shadow, I had never been to this part of the continent before, and my unfamiliarity with the area could easily become a problem. With any luck, I would cross into another pack's territory. Once I establish my identity as the Blood Alpha's sister, their Alpha would certainly provide me sanctuary, not wanting to incur the wrath of my family.

I could start over, make the Alpha promise to protect my true identity.

And if he didn't agree, I could kill him and take his pack for myself.

Of course, the last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself. The Lycan King will surely be looking for me, probably will visit Blood Lake trying time find me. The idea of him meeting my parents makes me smile.

My mother would have his head rolling before the snow hits the ground.

Or maybe he's already tracking your scent, a voice in my head protests.

It's unlikely he would be able to trace my scent with all of the rainfall, but I have no idea how strong Lycans' abilities are. I have been warned that they're stronger in every way.

Despite my worry over being caught by him, I press on through the rain, my fur completely soaking wet. It won't be long until I need to find shelter. Once I'm concealed, I can let my flames burn and warm myself, but I can't do that while I'm so exposed.

Strangely enough, I come across no wolves, rogue or in a pack.

Like something wards them off.

I can't deny that something in my gut twists. There's a smell I don't recognize, not human, wolf, nor Lycan.

Something else entirely.

My wolf doesn't like it, and neither do I, but I have no choice but to push further. I can't let the Lycan King catch me, not when I know my life will be destroyed when he does.

I had spent the entirety of my years alive under the control of my parents, and then my brother. Not in control of anything. Not territory, people, anything.
I couldn't deny that there's a large part of me that wants something of my own. The freedom to do what I want without someone looking over my shoulder, waiting for me to combust. The freedom to be my own King.

And that would not be an option if the Lycan King catches me.

Perhaps I will kill an Alpha and take the territory as my own.

That's the last thought I have before I feel something slam against my skull and darkness claims me instantly.

****

Woozy.

I feel woozy.

My head spins, and before I can even open my eyes, nausea overcomes me and I vomit.

It burns my throat badly, which can only mean I was dosed with wolfsbane, which explains why I feel so weak.

"Sorry," an accented voice apologizes. "I think I may have given you too high of a dose. You woke up rather quickly after the first one, so I increased the amount. Perhaps a little too much."

With great effort, I open my eyes, my vision blurred slightly, and I swallow the bile rising in my throat. A man stands in front of me, tall, lean, dark-haired, and pale-skinned.

He smells like the unfamiliar scent I caught in the woods.

"Are you from the Crimson Shadow pack?" he questions, sitting in a chair across from me.

I look down, and weakly tug on my chains. They aren't silver, but I was given far too much wolfsbane to break out of them via force or fire.

It feels like my internal inferno has been smothered.

"What are you?" I rasp, my throat dry.

"Are you from the pack of Crimson Shadow?" he repeats in that same accent.

Vaguely, I note that his words are strange. A wolf would have said: "Are you from Crimson Shadow?" The emphasis on the word pack is confusing, because it's redundant.

It's the confirmation I need to know that he is not wolf nor human.

I don't answer, because I don't want to confirm either way. Perhaps he has issues with Crimson Shadow, but it is equally, if not more, likely that he has issues with Blood Lake.

We are not known for making friends.

"How do you know Killian and Katrina?" he continues, looking deeply... concerned?

Killian and Katrina? How does he know the Alpha and Luna of Crimson Shadow?

"I don't want to hurt you," he says solemnly after a moment of silence when I don't answer him. "Katrina is a friend."

"How-How do you know her?" I ask, choking on my dry words.

He winces, and faster than I can see, darts out of the room in a blur before returning. My eyes widen as he unscrews the lid of a water bottle and puts it to my lips.

I shake my head furiously, keeping my lips closed before he drugs me again, the water undoubtedly laced with more wolfsbane.

He sighs, pulling the bottle away. "The water isn't poisoned," he promises. "I would not hurt a friend of Katrina."

"How do you know them?" I repeat, and my throat still burns. "What are you?"

"I told you," he says slowly. "I'm a friend. My... The man who found you crossing into our territory and brought you back did not realize you were with Crimson Shadow."

"Why do you think I'm with Crimson Shadow?" I ask in confusion.

He frowns. "I can smell both Katrina and Killian on you," he says, like it's obvious. "If the... man who found you knew that you were friends of theirs, he would not have hurt you."

He can smell the Alpha and Luna of Crimson Shadow on me? I hadn't been anywhere near them during the Gathering.

But Maeve had touched me when she shoved me in the bathroom. He must be smelling her.

"You're scared of them," I note. I could use that to my advantage.

His frown deepens. "When Killian comes to collect you... Make sure he knows I meant no harm," he says slowly.

"No!" I say panicked. "No, don't tell him I'm here. Don't tell anyone."

"Are you in trouble?" He says in confusion, looking concerned. "My coven will protect you, but I must tell Killian."

"Coven?" I ask, before remembering what my mother has told me about the others. "You're a witch."

He laughs. "No, no, young wolf. I am not a witch."

I pause. "Vampire?"

He stares at me for a moment. "What are you running from?"

Honesty, perhaps honesty is the best way to get out of this. Surely, he is terrified of Killian and Katrina, and would grant me shelter while I figure out how to escape the Lycan King.

"I'm running from my mate," I say, trying to look terrified, though it doesn't come naturally because I've never been scared a day in my life. "I'm from Crimson Shadow," I lie. "He's... a bad man from... somewhere else."

He looks at me with pity. "Do not worry, young wolf," he assures me. "My coven can protect you. I just need to know who you're hiding from, so we're ready."

I pause. Since he's a vampire, the Lycan King will surely be his enemy too, and perhaps he will even be able to help me kill him. I've witnessed firsthand how fast his kind is.

"The Lycan King," I say slowly, in mock-terror.

He freezes, looking like a perfect statue.

"The Lycan King is looking for you?" he asks, and his face pales.

Oh no. I've severely miscalculated.

"Let me out," I order, tugging on the chains. "Just let me go, I won't come back here."

There's a blur, and he's gone.

"Fuck!" I yell when I feel a needle prick into my neck.

"I'm sorry," he says lowly. "You're right. Alpha Killian scares me, but not half as much as King Nikolai."

Once again, I fall into the darkness, my flames mere embers inside of me.

****

"Thank you, Dorian," I hear a nightmarish voice say. A nightmare, because it belongs to the Lycan King.

I try opening my eyes, but only groan lowly in pain. I had never taken such a strong dosage of wolfsbane, only soaked daggers here and there, nothing like this.

"My apologies, King Nikolai," The vampire from earlier, Dorian, I suppose, says ruefully. "I had to keep her contained, I'm afraid I may have used too high of a dosage."

I feel myself being passed over into a hard set of arms, and thrash as I smell the familiar scent of the Lycan King.

"Thank you for returning her to me," he simply responds, his arms like stone around me, and I'm stunned by how cold his skin is, like ice.

"I should warn you," Dorian says lowly. "She woke up once before and erupted in flames. The wolfsbane will not stop it for much longer."

"I will handle it," The Lycan King says darkly. Faintly, I note that he doesn't seem surprised. "Goodbye, Dorian."

The vampire doesn't respond, and I feel myself being jostled as the Lycan King walks.

Before falling into slumber again, I try to force my flames to resurface and kill the Lycan King.

But there is only warm coal inside me.
**
Don't wait for the next chapter! Read the completed book and its sequel on my patreon now.
www.patreon.com/vviticus