Alana's POV
The night I ran away, the air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. My heart pounded so loudly I swore it would give me away. Every step felt heavier than the last, my boots sinking into the soft ground as I wove through the trees. I didn't look back. I couldn't.
I had never been outside my father's land before, at least not alone. There were always warriors around, watching, escorting, making sure the princess never strayed too far. But now, I was just another lone wolf running through the woods, hoping the night would swallow me whole before my father's guards caught up.
Marco had given me everything I needed, a small satchel of food, a water skin, and an old, worn-out map with a few scribbled notes on it. "Follow this trail," he had said, pointing at a barely visible path on the map. "It'll lead you to the neighboring pack's border. Stay off the main roads. And whatever you do, don't stop moving."
I didn't have much of a plan beyond getting away. I only knew that if I stayed, I'd be forced into a life I didn't want. Marriage. Obedience. A future chosen for me rather than one I carved for myself.
After hours of running, I finally saw few houses. A village. My body ached with exhaustion, my stomach twisting with hunger, but I pushed forward. I had no idea what kind of people lived here, but I was too tired to care.
I was so focused on reaching the village that I didn't hear the footsteps behind me until it was too late.
"Hey!"
I spun around, my hand flying to the small dagger Marco had given me. A man stood a few feet away, watching me with narrowed eyes. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with messy dark brown hair and a light stubble covering his jaw. He didn't look like a warrior, but there was something sharp about him, like he could be dangerous if he wanted to be.
"You're not from here," he said.
I swallowed, my grip tightening on the dagger. "I got lost."
His eyes flicked to the bag slung over my shoulder, then back to my face. "You don't look lost. You look like you're running."
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. If he was part of this pack, he could turn me in. If he was a rogue, he could just as easily take everything I had and leave me for dead. Either way, I was at a disadvantage.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Look, I don't know what your deal is, but you're obviously not safe out here. You need a place to stay?"
I hesitated. "Why would you help me?"
He smirked. "Maybe I have a soft spot for lost wolves."
I wanted to refuse, to say I didn't need help, but my body was screaming otherwise. My legs ached, my head felt light, and I knew I wouldn't make it much further without collapsing.
"Fine," I muttered. "But if you try anything, I will stab you."
He chuckled. "Noted. Come on."
I followed him through the village, my eyes scanning the small wooden houses lining the dirt path. It was nothing like my father's kingdom, there were no grand halls, no guards standing at attention. Just simple homes, people going about their business, children laughing as they chased each other through the streets.
Jeff, so he said was his name led me to a small house at the edge of the village. The place looked old but sturdy, with a stone chimney puffing out soft curls of smoke. He knocked twice before pushing the door open.
Inside, an elderly woman sat by the fireplace, stirring a pot of something that smelled warm and inviting. She turned when we entered, her silver hair pulled back in a loose bun, her wrinkled face creased with curiosity.
"Who's this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Jeff.
"Stray I found in the woods," Jeff said casually, dropping into a chair. "Figured she could use a place to stay for a bit."
The old woman studied me for a moment, then gestured toward the empty chair by the fire. "Sit. You look like you're about to fall over."
I hesitated but obeyed, sinking into the chair with a sigh. The warmth from the fire seeped into my skin, easing some of the stiffness in my muscles.
"Thank you," I murmured.
The woman gave a small smile. "You can call me Granny Mae. And that troublemaker over there is Jeff."
I glanced at Jeff, who simply smirked and leaned back in his chair. He already said that, and "nice to meet you, Granny Mae."
Granny Mae scoffed. "Don't let his charm fool you. He's a pain."
Jeff gasped dramatically. "Granny, how could you?"
Despite myself, I smiled. It was small, barely there, but it was the first real smile I had in weeks.
For the first time since running away, I felt like maybe, just maybe I had made the right choice.
Two moons later…
A night before my nineteenth birthday, I returned.
The journey back was easier than the one that took me away. My heart raced with anticipation as I approached the hidden cottage where I had left Pack. I expected to find him there, waiting for me, but as I stepped inside, my stomach dropped.
The place was empty.
The bed was untouched, the small table covered in dust. A deep sense of dread settled in my chest. Where was he? Had my father's warriors found him?
Panic clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to stay calm. Maybe he had simply gone out and would be back soon. Maybe he was hiding.
I curled up on the bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
At dawn, I made my way toward the castle. My heart pounded with every step. I had no idea what awaited me inside those walls, but I knew one thing for sure.. whatever had happened in my absence, it was going to change everything.
But morning came, and he never showed up.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest as I forced myself to leave the cottage. With hesitant steps, I made my way toward the heart of the pack, toward the castle.
But the moment I reached the pack's borders, my blood ran cold.
Everything was destroyed.
The village that had once been full of life was now a ruin of broken homes and bloodstained grounds. Bodies lay scattered, lifeless, their faces frozen in terror. Smoke still curled into the sky, the acrid scent of burnt wood and death thick in the air. My stomach twisted.
What happened here?
I stumbled forward, my legs weak beneath me as my mind tried to process the devastation around me. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I ran, weaving through the wreckage, searching for someone, anyone who could tell me what had happened.
Then, I saw the castle. Or what was left of it.
The once grand structure was reduced to a skeletal ruin, its mighty stone walls blackened with soot, its towers collapsed into heaps of rubble. Flames had ravaged it beyond recognition, and the air still carried the scent of smoke.
A crowd had gathered near the remains of the castle, their faces streaked with ash and grief. My breath caught in my throat as I pushed through them, my entire body trembling. And then, I saw the sight that shattered me.
Lying on a mat in front of the ruined castle were two burned bodies.
My parents.
Their once powerful forms were barely recognizable, their flesh charred and lifeless. A strangled cry tore from my throat as I dropped to my knees, my hands shaking as I reached out toward them.
"No… no, no, no," I whispered, my vision blurring with tears.
This wasn't real.
This couldn't be real.
A strangled sob wracked my chest as I hunched over, my whole world crumbling around me. I had come back, hoping to find things the way I had left them. But instead, I had returned to a nightmare.