Nina's Pov

I was dragged down the hall like a criminal. No, even a criminal had more grace and dignity than the way I was dragged like a ragdoll.

The guard shoved me onto the cold, hard floor and spit on me. “Cursed child!”

“I... Alpha Nero of the Moonveil Pack… banish you, Nina Whitestone, from this land. You are to roam the land like a vagabond and no pack will ever receive you.”

“It is done,” Gordon said in a solemn voice.

And the people watching us in the grand hall did the unthinkable. They erupted in cheers and applause.

How could they do this to me?

I scoffed. Why am I surprised? They were the same people that condemned my parents to death. I'm no different.

“Get her out of here.” Alpha Nero gave the order.

The guards made a move, each one grabbing my arm.

“Let's go!” One of them hoisted me to my feet and pushed me outside.

While we walked the streets, he tightened his grip around my arm, preventing me from running.

“There's the cursed girl!”

Thwack!

A tomato was hurled at my face. Then another and another. As soon as we arrived at the pack gates, he loosened his grip from my arm and threw me out.

I stared at Lorelei, her arm hooked around Gordon's.

“Goodbye, Nina.” She mouthed to me and the pack gates slammed closed.

As if on a cue, the sky bellowed and the rain began — swiftly, soft at first before it poured. Hard.

I struggled to my feet and followed the only route mother said I should follow whenever I feel lost.

North.

*****

The forest was endless.

I walked through it, cutting through the long fields. Sharp branches sliced across my arms and thorns snagged my dress. By the time the rain stopped, my feet had bled, and my lungs were screaming. But I had to keep going. Because the voice in my head told me to find a boat and go north. I don't know why my mother said I should before she died, but I had to grant her wish.

I clawed through the wilderness like a wounded animal, too afraid to stop, too hurt to scream.

And just when I found a boat, they found me first.

Wolf Hunters.

I stiffened. How the hell did they find me?

Then I looked down at my bleeding feet.

Right.

The group of men standing before me meant business. They were massive and muscled. Their sharp amber eyes glinted through the trees like warm fire and their movements as quiet as shadows.

They didn't look like they'd want to sit down for tea.

“Look what we have here… A wolf.” One of them hissed in an odd accent.

I took a step back. “Evening, fellas.”

“Evening, little lady. You look a bit lost. Join us. "We'll show you the way.” He ran his tongue over his lips and I almost hurled.

“Don't you think it's a bit late for that?” I asked, taking note of my surroundings. It was nearly dark but if I ran, I might just be able to escape.

“Not at all.” He smirked.

Sh*it.

I turned on my heels to run, but they were faster.

A hand tugged at my shirt and I screamed.

“Let go of me!” I elbowed my assailant, but the hit wasn't enough to get him off me.

He twisted my arm behind me and dug his knees into my back. “You're quite a fighter, aren't you, you little sh*it!”

“Why don't you let me go and find out?” I struggled against his weight.

“Look at you squirming like a bug.” He whispered close to my ears.

“Let's gut this one. Her fur will cost a fortune.”

“No. She doesn't smell like a wolf.”

I froze.

No. They can't know.

“She'll make good prey for the hunting festival.”

The what now?

“Wait till the king hears this.”

“No!”

A sharp blow to my head sent me spiraling into the darkness.