A Vow Forged in Blood

FABIAN

I was twelve years old when I first met her—the girl who would shape my future in ways I couldn't imagine.

The forest had always been my sanctuary. That day, I'd wandered farther than usual, pushing beyond the safe boundaries of Silverclaw territory. My father would have been furious if he'd known. But I needed space to breathe, away from the constant reminders that I was Roman Vance's son, heir to the Alpha throne.

The first sign of trouble was the silence. The birds stopped singing. The wind seemed to hold its breath.

Then I heard them—footsteps. Too heavy for deer, too purposeful for normal forest creatures.

I ducked behind a thick oak tree, pressing my back against the rough bark. Three adults emerged from the shadows ahead—two men and a woman. Rogues. Their scent hit me like a punch to the gut—wild and angry.

They hadn't seen me yet. I could slip away. Run home.

But my feet refused to move.