Chapter 2

The chains hadn't broken.

Only cracked.

But the wolves froze.

The one closest to me snarled low and stumbled half a step back.

I sat in the mud, blood still flowing from my wrists.

Drops hit the ground.

The Black Forest went silent.

Varg frowned. "Seize her."

Two wolves pressed forward again.

I pushed myself backward across the dirt.

My back slammed into a tree root.

Nowhere left to go.

One wolf raised its paw, aiming for my face.

Moonlight fell across my wrist.

The wound turned hot.

Something crackled deep inside my bones.

Pain.

Blinding pain.

The claw stopped inches from my eyes.

The wolf dropped to its knees.

Its joints slammed into the mud.

The second one knelt as well.

Then the third.

Varg's face changed. "Impossible."

He stepped forward, trying to get a closer look at my blood.

The next instant, he collapsed to his knees as well.

Not willingly.

He was forced down.

I froze.

The bleeding from my wrist hadn't stopped.

The silver shackles blackened inch by inch.

Then shattered.

Howls erupted in the distance.

Many of them.

Close.

The lesser wolves flattened themselves against the ground.

Varg pressed his forehead to the dirt, voice shaking. "The king is here."

A man emerged from behind the trees.

Silver hair, black clothes, barefoot.

Not a single wolf dared raise its head.

He walked toward me.

I wanted to retreat.

My body had no strength left.

He looked down at my blood.

A few seconds passed. Then he knelt on one knee. "I, Alpha Blackthorn, pay my respects, my sovereign."

I stared at him. "You have the wrong person."

He raised his head.

His eyes were cold, his voice barely above a whisper. "The bloodline of Luna cannot be mistaken."

Varg cried out. "My king, she is the vampire prince's daughter."

Alpha didn't turn around. "Silence."

Varg bit down on his own tongue immediately.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Alpha extended his hand. "Allow me to take you to the Wolf Fortress."

I didn't take his hand. "Weren't you going to eat me?"

Alpha looked at the grey-furred wolves. "Who touched her?"

The three wolves pressed themselves lower.

One of them spoke, trembling. "We were only following orders to inspect the offering."

Alpha turned to me. "Your judgment, my sovereign."

I looked at the shattered silver shackles at my feet. "The paws that touched me. Leave them behind."

Alpha rose to his feet. "Cut them off."

The wolf guards stepped forward.

Screams tore through the air.

Three severed paws dropped at my feet.

Varg was shaking all over. "My king, the vampires are still at the border. They want confirmation that the offering is dead."

Alpha looked toward the edge of the Black Forest. "Then let them confirm."

He bent down and lifted me into his arms.

I struggled. "Let go of me."

"You've lost too much blood," Alpha said.

"I don't need a wolf to save me."

"You are not a vampire."

I froze. "What do you mean?"

Alpha didn't answer.

He carried me deeper into the forest.

The wolves parted to make way.

At the border, Victor's carriage hadn't gone far.

The blood guards were tallying the tribute.

A wolf guard charged out and threw down the three severed paws. "The offering has been received."

Victor glanced at the paws and nodded, satisfied. "Clean it up."

Maya lowered the carriage curtain.

Ivy asked, "Is Serina dead?"

Maya said, "Soon."

The carriage pulled away.

Alpha stood behind a tree, holding me.

He looked down and asked. "Do you want to go back and slaughter them?"

I watched the distant carriage lights.

The ache in my chest hadn't faded.

"Not now," I looked up at him. "I want them to come crawling back to me."

Alpha lowered his gaze. "As you wish."