The Wolf Within Her

Chapter 3- Blackfang Wolves

I arrived at the Black Fang Pack, every eye in the crowd seemingly fixed on me. I could feel the whispers before I even stepped inside—judgment, suspicion, disbelief. I was new here, a stranger in a place where everyone knew their place, and I had no wolf, no status, nothing but Mario by my side.

It didn’t take long for someone brave enough to challenge Mario to speak. A middle-aged man stepped forward, his eyes sharp and burning like fire. His presence alone told me he wasn’t just any ordinary werewolf. The way he moved, the confidence in his stance… he carried authority.

“Why would you just bring in a strange girl?” the man demanded, his voice loud enough for the murmuring crowd to quiet down. “She has no wolf. No wolf’s smell. She’s… nothing.”

He walked closer, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. Every step he took made my stomach twist. I could feel the hostility radiating off him, and I instinctively stepped back, shrinking under his gaze.

Mario, standing in front of me, didn’t flinch. His calm presence was a shield, and when he finally spoke, his voice carried all the weight of authority.

“Matteo,” he called, his tone sharp, unwavering, “she is my wife now, and your Luna. Refusal to accept my decision will be considered treason. You all know what happens to those who commit treason.”

Matteo’s eyes flared, but he didn’t stop. He tried to speak, to argue, but this time the other pack members joined in, murmuring their doubts and warnings. “A wolfless wife will weaken the pack!” one of them said. “Enemies will see this as an opportunity to strike!”

I froze, unsure of what to do or how to act. The murmurs stung, but Mario didn’t even flinch. He held my hand firmly and began to lead me forward, through the pack and into the house, leaving the whispers and discontent swirling behind us.

As we walked, I could still hear their voices, their judgements, their disbelief. My heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t belong here. I had no wolf, no place, no authority. I was… a mistake in their eyes.

Mario finally stopped in front of a large door and turned to me. “This will be your room,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Remain here for your own safety. Not everyone here will accept you as their Luna, and some might see you as prey.”

I nodded silently, swallowing my fear as he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself, but my relief was short-lived.

Almost immediately, there was a knock, and two figures stepped inside. The first was Matteo—the same man who had confronted Mario outside. His presence alone made the room feel smaller, more suffocating. The second was a woman, calm and composed, her presence radiating warmth and quiet authority.

“I’m Rose,” she said softly, her tone gentle as she gave me a small smile. “And this is Matteo, Mario’s brother, the beta of the pack. Don’t mind his… harshness. He is not always like this.”

Matteo’s eyes, however, did not soften. He stared at me as if I were a threat, his arms crossed. “A wolfless,” he said bluntly. “She will be a weakness for our brother. Nothing more.”

Rose, meanwhile, seemed to sense my fear. “Don’t worry,” she said kindly. “If Mario chose you, I’m sure there’s a reason. You’ll be fine.”

I nodded, trying to find comfort in her words, though Matteo’s glare lingered like a shadow in the room. When they finally left, I was alone. The silence of the room pressed in on me, heavy and suffocating.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. How could I survive here? How could I possibly make a place for myself in a pack that already despised me before I had even begun?

I had no wolf. I had no strength recognized by anyone here.

I sat there for hours, thinking, planning, wondering how I could possibly navigate this new life… before realizing, with a sinking feeling, that there might be no escape from the storm that had just begun.