Chapter Six
1410 Words
CHAPTER 6
“Where is the pelt of the Black stalker?”
Ravenna stiffened. Alpha Darrian was back.
The air turned colder as the moon continued to climb the sky, casting a silver glow on the academy’s expansive forest. Ravenna’s breath came in ragged bursts as she sprinted through the undergrowth, ignoring the sting of branches scratching her arms and the soreness blooming in her legs.
Ravenna stiffened.
From the shadows emerged two of Cassidy’s loyal lapdogs. The twins, Ivy and Iris. They weren’t in wolf form either. They stood upright, graceful and mocking, their eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation.
“What are you doing out here, Ravenna? Trying to pretend you’re one of us?” Ivy’s smile was razor-sharp.
Ravenna straightened slowly. “I’m part of the pack.”
“Are you?” Ivy mocked. “We’ll see about that in a minute right Iris?”
Ravenna’s fists clenched. “Back off.”
Before Ravenna could respond, Ivy shoved her hard. She staggered back, catching herself against a tree.
“Stop!” Ravenna hissed. “You’ll alert—”
The next moment happened in a blur. Ivy lunged again; this time claws partially extended. Ravenna ducked, narrowly missing a strike that would’ve left a mark. The other two girls moved in, but Ravenna dodged and twisted, surviving on instinct.
Suddenly a growl echoed.
Alpha Darian.
“You disrespect me by doing this in front of me.”
“Alpha, we are sorry. We only wanted to put this stranger in her place.” Ivy responded bowing her head.
“That’s my work. It is within my power to determine who is or is not a member of this pack. Or would you like to take over my job and position as well?’
“Absolutely not Alpha.”
They didn’t hesitate. The two of them bolted towards the community center.
Ravenna remained frozen.
Alpha Darian turned to her. His eyes pinned her in place. For a long, breathless moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, in a gravelly tone, he asked, “ Are you okay?”
“I did not help you.”
His jaw tightened. “Come to the pack house this evening with the pelt you collected.” He glanced at her empty hands, “Whether you will be punished or get to move on to the next stage depends on your skills, Ravenna.”
Ravenna stood quietly, a pool of tears forming in her eyes as she glanced at her empty hands. No pelt of the Albino wolf. She was not eloquent enough to have them give her another chance.
Yellow eyes stared at her from the darkness, unblinking using the cover of the woods.
The trees rustled; birds stopped singing.
Lia stood outside the pack house, her breath coming in short, cold gasps. Her hands were scraped and trembling, her knees muddy from where she’d fallen. The hunt had ended in failure. She hadn’t returned with the pelt. And in the eyes of the Green Springs Pack, that was the ultimate disgrace.
The pelt—white and streaked with blood—was the trophy of the annual Moon Fang Hunt. Every eligible wolf was to participate. Even the shiftless ones. Especially the shiftless ones, like Lia, who were given these impossible tasks to remind them of what they lacked.
Cassidy had made sure she got the worst section of the woods. And when she’d finally caught a glimpse of the white fox, Cassidy’s voice had echoed in her head:
“Your place is not here, you useless mutt.”
But she’d failed.
The others had returned hours ago, all boasting about their kills, their bruises, and showing off the bloodied pelts like war medals. Lia had come back empty-handed. Again.
She barely had time to catch her breath when the call came.
“Alpha Darian wants to see you. Now.”
The warrior’s voice was clipped, emotionless. Lia wiped her face, straightened her spine, and walked into the pack house like a soldier going to the gallows.
The room was silent.
Alpha Darian stood by the hearth, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was unreadable, his powerful frame stiff. Beside him stood Beta Kai and—of course—Cassidy, her arms folded and a smug smirk dancing on her lips.
“Lia,” Darian said without turning. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“You failed.”
Lia nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
“You know the rules. You’ve been given opportunities others only dream of. And yet, you disappoint again. No pelt. No honor. No contribution to the pack.”
Cassidy clicked her tongue. “She didn’t even try. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”
Lia’s hands curled into fists at her sides.
Even with all the scratches and hits she’d obviously taken, Cassidy could say so and no-one will dare to rebuff the Alpha’s sister.
Darian turned to face her fully, eyes hard. “You’ve disgraced the Green Springs Pack and did not uphold your end of the deal. You are no longer welcome within our borders.”
It felt like the floor disappeared beneath her.
“No…” Lia whispered.
Cassidy stepped forward, voice syrupy sweet. “We can’t keep protecting dead weight, Lia. This isn’t charity.”
“You’re banishing me?” she asked, voice cracking.
“You’ll be given an hour to gather your things,” Darian said, already turning away. “After that, you’ll be escorted beyond the border. You will not return.”
Beta Kai looked uncomfortable, but said nothing.
Lia’s heart thundered. “Where will I go?”
“That’s no longer our concern.”
Her knees threatened to buckle. Cassidy leaned in, whispering just loud enough, “Maybe now you’ll learn your place.”
But Lia didn’t respond. Couldn’t.
She walked out of the pack house in a daze, ears ringing, chest hollow. As she stepped into the biting evening wind, the stares followed. Some pitied her. Most didn’t care.
She returned to her small quarters, barely more than a closet. Inside, she sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the cracked mirror. Her reflection looked like a ghost—mud-stained, hollow-eyed, broken.
An hour.
She rose, grabbing the small satchel from beneath her bed. She didn’t have much to pack. A few threadbare clothes, a sketchbook with water-damaged pages, and an old photo of her mother. That was it.
Just as she zipped the bag shut, a knock came at her door.
It was Sofia.
“You can’t be serious. They’re expelling you?” she asked, storming in.
Lia didn’t answer.
“This is insane. You didn’t even get a fair chance—everyone knew they set you up to fail.”
“They don’t care, Sofia. They never have.”
Sofia grabbed her hands. “Then screw them. You’re better than all of them combined. You’ll find a new pack. You’ll be fine.”
Lia gave a weak smile, tears burning her eyes. “Will I?”
Sofia didn’t have an answer.
Minutes later, two guards knocked, faces grim. “Time’s up.”
Lia turned one last time to the room that had been her prison and her shelter. Then she walked.
The forest was colder that night. The moon hung low and distant. The guards stopped at the border and pointed.
“Keep walking. If you step back over, we’re under orders to treat you as a rogue.”
Lia nodded and crossed the invisible line that now divided her from everything she’d ever known.
She walked for hours, feet aching, branches scratching her arms. Somewhere along the way, it began to rain. Soft at first. Then harder.
She collapsed under a tree, soaked and shivering. For a moment, she thought she heard a howl in the distance—but it wasn’t from any ordinary wolf.
Then, just as she began to drift into exhausted sleep, she felt it:
Eyes on her.
She sat up, heart racing.
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
Silence.
She stood, drenched, clutching her bag like a shield.
Then, a shadow moved.
Large. Silent.
She caught a glimpse—a tall figure with glowing eyes, watching her from behind the trees.
“Please…” she murmured.
The figure didn’t move closer. Didn’t speak.
Just as quickly as it appeared, the figure melted back into the forest.
Lia’s breath caught. Her heart stuttered.
Who was he?
She would find out soon enough.
- Writer
