chapter 4:A pack on like any other

Selena followed Kade through the dense forest, her heartbeat still unsteady. The further they walked, the more the trees thickened, their branches entwining to create a tunnel of darkness. The moon barely seeped through the canopy, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

Silence stretched between them, aside from the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant hoot of an owl. Selena's mind raced with uncertainty. Was she making a mistake? She barely knew this man. He could be leading her into a trap for all she knew.

She hesitated. "Where exactly are we going?"

Kade didn't look back as he answered. "Somewhere safer than here."

That wasn't much of an answer. She bit her lip but kept walking. She had nothing to return to, and the idea of facing the rogues alone was far worse than following a stranger.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Her legs ached, her feet sore from running through the forest barefoot. Just when she thought she couldn't take another step, Kade stopped abruptly.

"We're here."

Selena blinked in confusion. At first, she saw nothing but more trees and darkness. Then, as her eyes adjusted, she noticed the faint glow of torches ahead. Hidden among the dense foliage, a settlement revealed itself—large wooden structures built into the trees, some towering like small fortresses. Wolves moved in the shadows, some in human form, others in their wolf forms, their glowing eyes reflecting the torchlight.

This was no ordinary rogue hideout. It was a pack.

"Welcome to the Crimson Shadow Pack," Kade said, glancing at her. "Your new home. If you can survive it."

Selena swallowed hard.

As they stepped forward, she could feel the eyes of the pack members settling on her. Whispers carried through the night air, their curiosity and skepticism evident. A few wolves bared their teeth slightly, a low rumble of growls vibrating in the air.

A woman stepped forward. She was tall and lean, her hair tied back in a tight ponytail. Her golden eyes flickered with something between amusement and warning. "Another stray, Kade?"

Selena stiffened.

Kade smirked. "She's got potential, Raven. Don't let her small frame fool you."

Raven scoffed, crossing her arms. "We'll see." Her gaze flickered over Selena before she turned to the rest of the pack. "She fights tomorrow."

Selena's breath caught. "Wait—what?"

Raven arched a brow. "Every new member earns their place here. No exceptions."

Kade shot Selena a sideways glance, as if silently asking whether she still wanted to stay.

Selena's stomach twisted in knots. She had never been a fighter. She had barely survived training sessions in her old pack. And now she was supposed to fight just to stay here?

But then she remembered the way they had looked at her back home—with pity, with disdain. She thought of Ryker's cold voice when he rejected her, the way she had run, ashamed and broken.

No more.

She squared her shoulders and met Raven's gaze. "I'll fight."

Raven smirked. "Good. I hope you survive."

The rest of the pack murmured in approval, some amused, some intrigued. Kade gave her a small nod before stepping away, leaving her in the middle of a pack she knew nothing about.

Tomorrow, she would have to prove herself.

Or die trying.