Maya

As morning approached, my first order of business was acquiring a fake ID. Surprisingly, the process was expedited due to the prevalence of thugs and individuals engaged in illicit activities here—there was no shortage of such people over here. Acquiring the fake ID set me back two thousand dollars, exacerbating my already dire financial situation—I hadn't brought much in savings when I arrived. In fact, I hadn’t even thought of it that much

Night had fallen, and the prospect of survival with such limited funds loomed ominously—I didn’t have a single fucking idea of what was I supposed to do. However, the importance of the ID couldn't be overstated; it was a necessity. So, I didn't regret spending that sum of money, but I did regret not bringing more money with me.

As I made my way towards the borders of the pack, uncertain which pack lay in that vicinity, regret gnawed at me for ditching Maximus and Leonardo's car in the lake. That beast could've fetched me a few hundred thousand dollars, perhaps even a million if I'd sold it. Though a million seemed a distant dream considering the people around me; none had appeared capable of affording such an expensive car.

Forget it. There’s no point thinking about it anymore.

Actually, recollections of spending the night at the motel still sent shivers down my spine. Until I woke up and surveyed the surroundings, I hadn't realized it was a den of criminals. I still shuddered at the thought of the danger I'd unwittingly placed myself in. I could've been sold off or worse—my organs traded in some grotesque black market.

It was a narrow escape.

So far, luck was with me.

"We should shift; it'll help us get there faster."

"Why didn't you mention that earlier?" I nearly groaned, the realization dawning upon me that I could indeed shift. Truthfully, the ability had slipped my mind entirely since that one fateful night—I hadn't had the chance to do so while trapped with Max and Leo. They made sure I felt worthless every time our paths crossed. Escaping their grip felt like a surreal relief, almost like a dream.

But...

Somewhere deep inside, a regret lingered. If only they had changed. Perhaps, just perhaps, I might have considered forgiving them and all the torment they put me through.

We could have lived together, couldn’t we?

Fuck it. Why am I thinking about them?

"You seemed lost in your thoughts. I didn't want to interrupt," Olivia replied calmly.

"How thoughtful," I chuckled, the sarcasm not lost in my tone. "Now, let's shift."

Though I doubted any prying eyes lurked nearby, I sought cover behind a bush, setting my bag down and shedding my clothes, stowing them inside the bag. Then, we shifted—Olivia's white fur enveloping me as we darted off, the bag dangling between my canines.

And just like that, we reached the border. From the moment I stepped into that territory, an overwhelming sense of danger and peril engulfed me from all sides.

Well….

It wasn't just a feeling I had; it was palpable in the air, a looming presence of something haunting. Perhaps it was my own fear amplifying it or the gravity of the step I was about to take—one that could potentially cost me my life.

Will I be able to make it out alive or will I be killed tonight?

Standing before the border, my heart raced. Another boundary was visible in the distance to my right, and I hesitated to make my way over there because of the unmistakable scent of rogues. Maybe the boundary on my right wasn't for another pack, but a barrier against the rogues. However, the one directly ahead, right in front of me, I knew had to be the pack—the energy pulsated from it.

Setting the bag down, I hurriedly shifted back, slipping on my clothes. From my bag, I retrieved the tin snips I had brought along and the hacksaw. I didn't possess much expertise in cutting metals, but the border nets appeared sturdy enough. I had to rely on either one or both of these tools to breach the border fence.

Eyes darting around, I scoured for any signs of movement or sound and I found nothing.

With painstaking slowness, I began to snip at the border fence, creating a passageway for me to slip through undetected. Gradually, I succeeded. As I lifted the net and slid inside, the edge scraped against my hand, drawing blood. A soft groan escaped my lips, but I didn't have the luxury to dwell on it. Instead, I moved stealthily, suppressing any noise as I made my way inward.

As I ventured inside the pack's territory, I felt a prickling sensation at the nape of her neck, a telltale sign that I  had trespassed into their domain. My senses heightened, and I slowed my pace, attempting to blend into the shadows.

You have made it, Maya. Just a little more…..

Picking my back up once again and deciding to run just right inside until I’d find a crowd and blend in, I attempted to run but suddenly, a deep, guttural growl resonated through the night, freezing me in my tracks. The hairs on my arms stood on end as I slowly turned to face the source of the sound. 

Emerging from the dark ahead, someone stepped into the moonlight—a man, his eyes ablaze with a fierce intensity that sent shivers down my spine. His eyes shimmered in the darkness, akin to luminescent bulbs.

“Do not take one more step if you want to stay alive….” his voice sounded even before his face could come into my view.

I froze at the stop upon the commanding voice. It sounded like an Alpha—that authority. None else could have that unless it was an Alpha.

Shit. I wasn’t supposed to get caught too soon….

What do I fucking do now?

Terror seeped into me as the man’s scent hit my nose. He was an Alpha—his scent had wiped off any remnants of doubts that were within me.

A firm grip clasped my arm, pulling me around to face him. I was taken aback, and met with a face too captivating to ignore—His striking visage was framed by a tousled mane of ash brown hair, each strand a dance between shades of warm earth and subtle whispers of cool undertones. With a gentle tousle, his hair falls in artful disarray, accentuating the chiseled angles of his face.

But it's his eyes that stole the spotlight, that looked even better than the moonlight—a pair of mesmerizing orbs, the color of liquid amber, holding within them depths that seem to hold untold stories.

A strong jawline framed his face, leading to a straight nose and lips that glistened as he ran his tongue over them, scrutinizing me as though attempting to figure out something. His mere presence commanded attention effortlessly, without demanding it.

My breath caught in my throat as I met the alpha's unwavering gaze. There was an undeniable primal force emanating from him, a raw authority.

Is he going to kill me?

No! No! No! I can’t die. 

Before I could comprehend what was happening, he drew closer, his rigid muscles tensing. I struggled to maintain my composure—I was frightened, too frightened. He lowered his nose to my neck, inhaling my scent. The warmth of his skin melded with my cold one, sending shivers down my spine, a mixture of fear and uncertainty gripping me.

"You're not a rogue," he started, gradually releasing his grip on my arm but not letting go completely. Confusion marked his expression, evident in his low voice, “Why were you trying to sneak in?” 

Wait…so he is not going to kill me?