1
1134 Words
CHAPTER 1: ELOWEN
The rain in the Northern Territory did not just fall… It was heavy. Each droplet felt like a tiny, frozen needle piercing through my thin jacket. Back south, storms were warm and predictable. Here, the weather was as wild and hostile as the beasts that ruled the woods.
I wiped a streak of icy water from my eyes and groaned. "Of all the days to cross the pack border," I muttered to myself, my voice shivering. "Why did it have to storm?"
I pulled my hood down lower, trying to hide the silver tint in my blonde hair. In the human world, it was just a unique color. In the werewolf world, it was a dead giveaway that I was a rogue—an outcast wolf without a pack. I grabbed the leather strap of my heavy travel bag and quickened my pace down the muddy forest path.
Suddenly, a loud, deep howl echoed through the trees. It was close.
I froze. I could feel my heart beating very fast. My wolf inner-spirit stirred inside me, whimpering in fear. Keep moving, Elowen, I told myself. Just get to the sanctuary.
I hurried around a massive, moss-covered tree and finally saw it: the Bloodwood Sanctuary. It wasn’t a human apartment building. It was a massive, ancient stone fortress built right into the side of a mountain. It was the only neutral territory for miles, a place where rogues could pay for shelter without being hunted by the local Alpha.
I rushed under the giant stone archway of the fortress, gasping for air. The rain stopped hitting me, and I collapsed against the cold wall, squeezing the water out of my ponytail.
"Well, you look like a drowned pup," a deep voice boomed from the shadows.
I jumped, my eyes snapping toward a tall, muscular man stepping out from the gloom. He wore a heavy black fur cloak, and his amber eyes glowed slightly in the dim light. The scent of pine and raw power rolled off him. He was a high-ranking wolf, no doubt about it.
"I am just looking for a room," I said, trying to make my voice sound firm. "I have the gold to pay for it."
The man chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through the stone floor. "No need to snap your jaws at me, little wolf. I am Kaelen. I manage the sanctuary for the Alpha. And you must be Elowen?"
"Yes, that's me," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest to stop myself from shaking. "How did you know my name?"
Kaelen walked over, his heavy leather boots thudding against the stone. He held out a large, scarred hand. "Letters travel faster than wolves, Elowen. Your old pack leader sent word that a rogue matching your description was heading north. He said you were quiet, but stubborn."
I took his hand, giving it a quick, careful shake. His grip was warm and terrifyingly strong. "I am just looking for a fresh start, Kaelen. I want a safe place where I can live in peace. Is that so much to ask?"
“For a rogue? Usually, yes," Kaelen said honestly, turning his back to lead me down a long, torches-lit stone hallway. "But inside these walls, the pack laws cannot touch you. Follow me. Your room is at the very top of the spire."
"The very top?" I asked, carrying my heavy bag and matching his long strides. "Why so high?"
"Because you requested privacy in your letter," Kaelen explained, looking back over his shoulder with a small smirk. "The top room, number ninety-nine, looks out over the entire valley. No one will bother you up there. Not even the wind."
"That sounds perfect," I said, a genuine smile breaking through my exhaustion. "I am tired of looking over my shoulder. I just want to rest."
We began climbing a massive, winding stone staircase. There were no human elevators here; everything was built by raw strength. As we climbed higher and higher, the air grew thinner and warmer, heated by giant fire pits built into the walls.
"So, Elowen," Kaelen said, breaking the silence as our footsteps echoed. "What brings a southern wolf all the way to the frozen north? It is a dangerous journey for a female alone."
I sighed, staring at the steps. "The south became too small for me. After my parents passed, the local pack tried to force me into a mating bond I didn't want. I had to run. I am just twenty years old, Kaelen. I want to choose my own destiny, not have it chosen for me."
Kaelen stopped on the landing, looking at me with a soft expression in his amber eyes. "A wolf who fights for her freedom. I respect that. The Alpha up here is harsh, but he respects strength too. Just keep your head down and stay away from the pack borders."
"I intend to," I promised. "I have no desire to start a war. I just want to paint, read, and live my life."
"Paint?" Kaelen raised an eyebrow, amused. "An artist wolf. We don't get many of those around here. Mostly just warriors and hunters."
"Well, consider me a breath of fresh air," I joked, though my heart was still beating fast.
We finally reached the very top of the staircase. A single, heavy iron door stood at the end of the corridor, with the number 99 carved deeply into the black wood. Kaelen reached into his fur cloak and pulled out a heavy, ancient-looking iron key. He pressed it into my hand.
"This is your key," Kaelen said, his voice turning serious. "The lock is enchanted with pack magic. Only you can open it from the outside. Once you are inside, you are completely safe."
I looked down at the cold iron in my palm. It felt heavy with meaning. "Thank you, Kaelen. Truly."
"If you need food, the communal dining hall is on the first floor. We serve roasted meat after sundown," Kaelen said, turning to walk back down the stairs. "And if anyone gives you trouble, tell them you belong to the spire. They will know what it means."
"I will," I called out as his tall figure disappeared into the shadows of the staircase.
Now, I was completely alone in front of the door. The howling wind outside battered against the stone walls, but inside, it was warm.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the scent of fresh air. I placed the key into the lock, turned it until I heard a heavy click, and pushed the door open.
This was it. No more running. No more hiding from cruel Alphas.
This was my new beginning, and my new life as a free wolf.
- Writer
