The Crimson Claim

Into the Fire

The night fell hard and fast. I hadn’t rested since the burial; my head pounded, and my hands itched for a fight, but I didn’t stop. I spent the day pacing the cabin, my wolf snarling, my thoughts a tangled mess. Kael Draven’s scent kept creeping in, pine and smoke, mixing with my dad’s blood in my mind. The letter burned a hole in my pocket, its words twisting my gut. I wanted to bolt, to ditch this whole mess and run free, but my legs pulled me toward Crimson Hollow instead. Not away.

I left at dusk, the sky bruising purple. The woods stretched dark and thick beyond the cabin, whispering danger with every rustle. I didn’t care. My knife hung heavy at my hip, my boots crunched leaves, and I moved quick, heading straight for their border. Answers waited there, answers about my dad, about this royal garbage, about Kael. I didn’t trust Darius, didn’t trust that letter, but I’d get the truth my way. Even if it meant facing that red-eyed Alpha again.

The air changed as I crossed into Crimson Hollow land. It smelled wilder, sharper, like wolves ruled every inch. My wolf perked up, ears twitching, sniffing for trouble. I kept low, sticking to shadows, avoiding patrols. I’d heard stories about this pack, ruthless, tight-knit, loyal to their Alpha like he was a god. Kael Draven. My lip curled just thinking his name. He killed my dad, or his pack did, and I’d make him admit it.

I got maybe a mile in when the first sign hit. A twig snapped, too loud, too close. My hand flew to my knife, my body tensing. I scanned the trees, eyes sharp, but saw nothing. The wind shifted, carrying that scent again, pine, smoke, blood. My wolf growled, low and ready. I didn’t move, just waited. Then they came, three of them, stepping out like they owned the night.

Two guys and a girl, all big, all wolves. The girl led, her hair short and black, her eyes narrow and mean. She smirked, crossing her arms. “Well, look at this. A stray on our turf.”

“I’m not here to play,” I said, voice hard. “I want Kael Draven. Where is he?”

The taller guy laughed, a rough bark. “You hear that, Lyra? She wants the Alpha. Like he’s got time for some rogue.”

Lyra, the girl, tilted her head, sizing me up. “You stink of Silver Claw. That’s a problem. We don’t like trespassers, especially not from that trash pack.”

“I’m not with them,” I snapped, gripping my knife tighter. “I’m here for answers. Get Kael, or I’ll find him myself.”

The second guy moved, quick and quiet, circling behind me. I turned, keeping him in sight, but Lyra stepped closer, her smirk gone. “You don’t call the shots here, rogue. Drop the knife, or we drop you.”

I didn’t drop it. I lunged instead, aiming for Lyra’s arm, fast and low. She dodged, barely, and the tall guy grabbed me from behind, his arms like steel. I kicked hard, hitting his shin, but the second guy tackled me, pinning my legs. My knife clattered to the dirt, and I cursed loud, thrashing under their weight. My wolf roared, begging to shift, but I couldn’t, not with three on me.

“Enough,” Lyra said, picking up my knife. She nodded to the guys. “Tie her up. Alpha’s gonna love this.”

They bound my wrists with rope, rough and tight, yanking me to my feet. I glared, spitting at Lyra’s boots, but she just laughed. They dragged me through the woods, deeper into Crimson Hollow, toward a cluster of buildings lit by torches. My heart hammered, but I kept my face blank. I’d get out of this. I always did.

The packhouse was bigger than Silver Claw’s, stone and wood, solid as a fort. Wolves milled around outside, staring as they hauled me in. The air stank of fur and meat, thick with pack life. They shoved me through the doors, down a hall, and into a room that hit me like a punch. Kael Draven stood there, leaning against a table, his red eyes locking on me the second I came in.

My breath caught, but I hid it quick. He looked the same, tall, scarred, his black hair a mess. His presence filled the room, heavy and hot, pressing on me like a weight. Lyra stepped forward, tossing my knife on the table. “Found her snooping, Alpha. Says she’s here for you.”

Kael didn’t look at her, just kept staring at me. “Selene,” he said, voice low, rough. “You’ve got guts coming here.”

“Untie me,” I said, jerking my wrists. “We need to talk.”

He smirked, slow and dangerous. “You don’t give orders in my house.” He nodded to Lyra. “Leave us.”

She hesitated, frowning, but walked out with the others, shutting the door hard. Kael straightened, stepping closer, and that scent hit me again, pine, smoke, something warm I hated feeling. My wolf stirred, whining, and I shoved her down fierce.

“Your pack killed my dad,” I said, staring him down. “Silver Claw’s Beta. Last night. Why?”

His eyes flickered, but his face stayed stone. “We didn’t start that fight. Silver Claw’s been pushing our borders for weeks. If he’s dead, he got in the way.”

“Liar,” I spat, stepping forward despite the ropes. “He’s torn apart, left like a warning. That’s your style, isn’t it?”

He closed the gap, fast, stopping inches from me. My pulse jumped, loud in my ears, but I didn’t back off. “You don’t know my style,” he said, voice dropping. “But I know yours. Running solo, picking fights. You’re trouble, Selene. And you’re here, in my territory. Why?”

I didn’t answer, just glared. He leaned in, his breath brushing my cheek, and my skin burned where it shouldn’t. “You feel it too,” he said, quiet, sure. “That pull. It’s not going away.”

“Back off,” I snapped, shoving against the ropes. “I’m not here for your games. I want the truth. Did you kill him because of me?”

He pulled back, frowning, like I’d thrown him. “Because of you? What’s that mean?”

I didn’t explain, didn’t trust him with the letter yet. My head spun, his scent clouding everything. He stepped around me, slow, circling like a wolf with prey. “You’re hiding something,” he said. “I can smell it. Silver Claw’s stink, yeah, but more. Something old. Something mine.”

“Stop saying that,” I growled, twisting to face him. “I’m not yours. I’ll never be yours.”

He stopped, his eyes flaring red, bright and fierce. “We’ll see,” he said, stepping back to the table. He picked up my knife, spun it once, then tossed it to me. It landed at my feet, and he nodded at the ropes. “Cut yourself free. Then talk. I don’t kill family for no reason. If your dad’s dead, there’s more to it. Start spilling.”

I grabbed the knife, sawed the ropes off quick, my hands shaking with anger, not fear. They fell away, and I stood tall, blade ready. “You don’t scare me,” I said, voice steady. “But you’ll answer me. My dad’s dead, and you’re tied to it. What do you know about my blood?”

His jaw tightened, his stare digging into me. “Your blood? You think I’d spill it over some rogue? You’re fishing, Selene. Tell me what you’re chasing, or I’ll lock you up till you do.”

I didn’t budge, didn’t blink. My wolf clawed at me, restless, drawn to him in a way I hated. The letter’s words echoed, royal, power, Crimson Hollow knows. Did he? My dad died for this, and Kael stood there, too close, too calm. I wanted to lunge, force it out of him, but I held back. Not yet.

“Keep your secrets,” I said, low and hard. “I’ll find out myself. And if you’re lying, I’ll carve it out of you.”

He smirked again, leaning against the table. “I’d like to see you try. You’re not leaving yet, Selene. Not till I say.”

The door stayed shut, the room shrinking around us. My knife felt heavy, my chest tighter. Kael Draven wasn’t done with me, and I wasn’t done with him. Answers waited, buried deep, and I’d dig them up, no matter what it cost.