Camille's POV

I tugged at the cuffs on my legs, but they refused to budge. My clothes were soaked in sweat and blood, and the shallow cut at the corner of my mouth was already beginning to heal. Skin pressed against skin.

This was new. I didn’t have a wolf, or so I had been made to believe.

My dishevelled hair was scattered across my forehead and the side of my face, brushing against my skin, mingled with my blood.

"Running away from me, princess?"

I spat, partly furious, partly disgusted. "Don’t call me that."

Its fingers pressed into my cheeks, digging deep and moving slowly down as blood traced the jagged line etched on my face.

It smirked faintly, and with a quick flick of its hand, it latched onto the cut, eliciting a sharp groan from my lips.

"I’ll call you whatever I choose," it sneered, its half-shifted form standing before me.

I grit my teeth and spat out the blood pooling in my mouth. My bruised lips quivered slightly. "Let me go," I managed to say, my voice cracking beneath the weight of pain.

"You’ve always belonged to me and always will," it growled before slashing its claws across my chest, causing the wound to bleed more profusely.

In spite of myself, I snorted. "Not anymore."

Its fangs grazed the scar around the wound.

"Don’t you dare," I yelled.

"Watch me," it snarled, sinking its canine into my flesh, marking me.

A loud wail escaped my lips as my eyes shot open. Moisture gathered there, and I wiped at it, sweat mingled with tears.

Goosebumps erupted on my skin as I sat up in bed. It was just another nightmare, like the many others I've had before.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead in a disheveled manner, the dream replaying relentlessly in my mind, pounding my skull with a headache.

Then I noticed the color of the bed.

I lowered myself, steadying my weight on both feet as footsteps approached from outside the door.

The door swung open, revealing two figures stepping inside. They looked like the quintessential “Power Couple.”

“Hi,” the lady beside the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my entire life beamed with a radiant smile, flashing her perfect white teeth.

“Hi.”

“I’m Dr. Skyla, the pack doctor at Varendolf.”

“And this is our Alpha,” she said, shifting her gaze adoringly to the man beside her.

“We thought you needed more rest, so I prescribed some injections to help you relax after we brought you in last night.”

I said nothing. I wondered who they were, and how the hell I was in this shabby-looking building.

“We found you within our pack’s perimeter last night, and we need to know who you are and what you want.”

What do I want? Weren’t they the ones who abducted me?

“I had no idea I was within your territory, and I want nothing from you,” I said defensively.

“But you had this with you,” she lifted a silver blade with distinctive black carvings.

“I needed protection, obviously.”

“You could have gotten an ordinary dagger if you had no other intention,” she replied.

I looked at the dagger Grandma Noa had given me on my fifteenth birthday.

"That’s just an ordinary dagger, as I see it—unless you have a problem with your eyes, which might suggest you’re something other than wolves."

Those piercing silver eyes turned on me and held my gaze, unblinking, long and intense.

I looked away from his scrutinizing stare, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

“This isn’t an ordinary dagger. It’s one of the oldest crafted by blacksmiths who were witches, meant for Upper class pure-blood Lycan kings,” Dr. Skyla said solemnly.

I stared from the dagger to the strange woman.

“Uhm… I think you’re mistaken. That’s mine." I said, pointing at the dagger, "It’s a gift from my grandmother. It’s nothing like what you’re describing,” I insisted.

The two strangers exchanged a knowing glance. One that conveyed they knew something I clearly didn’t.

He straightened, his dreamy silver eyes locking onto mine. “What district are you from?”

“The Southern District.”

His smile was slow, deliberate. “And you’re in the Northern District, with a weapon that could wipe out an entire district?”

He ran a hand through his hair, making him look dangerously attractive. Dangerously hot!

What was it with all this hormonal reaction since yesterday? Had my ovulation days ticked?

I gulped and turned my gaze away.

“Yes. I mean, no,” I stammered, struggling to calm the rising panic within me.

This was strange territory. I needed to play smart.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” I apologized, sensing the edge in his tone.

“You bet we did,” Skyla said curtly.

“I… I’m from the Southern District, and I only arrived in Slantville two days ago,” I said, .

“Being the sheep given to be slaughtered on behalf of my dear brother, I was betrothed in a contract marriage to Alpha Sigewuf of the Darkstar Pack." I said, hiding the pain I felt as the words left my mouth, and that dagger in your hand belongs to no one else but me.,” I explained.

Alpha Vikron’s silver eyes suddenly darkened to a deep brown, his jaw tightening. “Did you sleepwalk all the way from Darkstar to my pack, or do you think I’m stupid? Which is it!” he snapped.

A shiver ran down my spine. “No.”

Why was he so furious?

I steadied my trembling fingers. “It’s not that.”

“I honestly had no idea I was in your territory and believe me, I do not want anything from you. I just needed to get away from that monster!.”

Skyla tilted her head, her eyes alive with curiosity. “A runaway bride, huh?”

“A sheep to be slaughtered." I corrected, "That wasn't a marriage and it was clearly going to be the end of me. I’d rather be torn apart by rogues last night than stay there"

“Shhh,” Alpha Vikron hushed me, his silver eyes flickering back to their usual hue.

"Your marriage is none of our business"

I wasn’t sure if his grey hair was natural or toned, but it matched his silver eyes and sharply curved brows perfectly.

What level of handsomeness was this? His large hands looked flawless. Too flawless for an alpha.

He was calm, and god help me, he looked like a demigod.

But I had learned my lesson.

Beauty was fleeting.

Wasn't it cliched, 'Once bitten, twice shy'.

“Those rogues from last night belonged to this pack but had gone beyond redemption at the clinic and had escaped last night,” he paused, “So, where were you headed?” he asked.

I felt my feet grow cold at the revelation.

If he was the rogue alpha, then he must have lost his mind at some point t,oo.

Dr. Skyla cleared her throat, drawing my attention back from my wandering thoughts.

“Mind telling us your name and where you were headed last night?”

“I’m Camille,” I replied.

She jotted some notes on her tablet. “Your relationship with alpha Sigewuf, do you intend going back?”

A strange undercurrent ran through that question. A few nights ago, it would have felt different, but now I shook my head.

“No. Not anymore. I had made a mental funeral of whatever it was that had happened in the past two days”

She typed something into her tablet.

“Alpha Vikron asked you earlier, and I’ll ask again—where were you headed last night?”

I hadn’t considered that before, but now wasn’t the time to think. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Nowhere.”

They both stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.

“You planned to walk all the way to the ends of the earth, or did you have something else in mind?”

I stood up, eager to leave.

“Can… Can I have my bag?”

“All this questioning,” I said, pointing at her tablet, “I think I’ve had enough.”

“And no, I had nothing else in mind. I don’t have a fancy car or a loaded credit card, so I just did what I could. I ran to save myself first.”

She stood, dropping her tablet on the table. “I’m sorry if anything I said triggered you.”

“We’re just trying to figure out who you are.”

“Well, I’m no one. Nobody you should bother with,” I snapped, pulling away.

“Do you have any plans or anything you’d like us to help with?”

I hesitated, cautiously staring at them

“Yes,” I said, finally

“What’s that?”

“The academy." I said, feeling a flicker of hope in my chest, "I'd like to attend the academy."

" I received my admission letter and the application materials, and I will start in the fall.”

His deep baritone made the room shift. “So, you want our help then?”

“Yes,” I replied, carefully

He rested a hand under his chin, cocking a brow. “What do we get in return?”

"What would you like me to give in return?" I asked,

"You tell us, what can you give in return?" Skyla said,

I hesitated briefly. “Loyalty.”

"My loyalty is unquestioned. I could be loyal and useful to you and your pack if I get the help I need.”

"And here you are, trying to run away from your mate. How loyal of you." alpha Vikron scowled,

I looked away in embarrassment, "I can leave. If you want me to but please do not try to question my loyalty"

Another pause followed.

“If we help you, you’ll have to remain in this pack,” he replied.

As if I had a better option, I nodded in agreement.

His face softened, and he began a mindlink.

“Settled,” Dr. Skyla responded.

“You’ll be staying with us at the pack house until we figure out what to do with you and how to get you into the academy.”

“Okay, ma’am.”

Rising to her feet, “Alpha Vikron is part of the admissions council at the academy.”

My gaze drifted to the man who looked every bit a Casanova and nothing like an academic.

My brow creased, and my voice unintentionally quipped, “Like you mean him?” I asked, pointedly.

“A little respect would be appreciated,” Dr. Skyla added, her fingers moving as if dancing salsa.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“Do you have your admission letter with you?”

“Uh… yeah. I guess,” I stammered.

“I’ll email you some forms to fill out,” she said, and they both turned to leave.

“Okay.”

“Get your bag. You’re coming with us,” Alpha Vikron said as he strode out the door.

“Ehm… thank you,” I murmured to no one in particular, eyes fixed on the floor.

“Welcome to the communiDr” Dr. Skyla said softly, and without another word, they left.

Did genuine people like these still exist? If this was a trap, there was only one way to find out.

Stay!