Ashen's POV
The cool evening air brushed against my skin as I ran through the dense forest, my breaths steady and controlled. Running was the only thing that quieted my mind, the only thing that dulled the echoes of my past. The faster I moved, the less I had to think.
But apparently, peace was too much to ask for.
"Ashen!"
I slowed my pace as Roy jogged toward me, his face set in a familiar mix of amusement and exasperation. He was the only one in this pack who didn't grate on my nerves,probably because he knew when to back off. Most of the time.
"You never stop, do you?" he panted, shaking his head. "I swear, you train more than the Alpha himself."
I smirked, wiping sweat from my brow. "Maybe I should take his place, then."
Roy snorted. "Yeah, right. Where do you even get all this strength?"
If only he knew.
I shrugged. "Discipline."
Roy rolled his eyes. "More like pure insanity." He fell into step beside me as we walked through the clearing. Then, after a pause, he added, "I heard the Alpha's planning to transfer some warriors to The Blackridge Pack."
I froze mid-step.
Blackridge.
The most dominant, ruthless pack in the territory. A pack full of overbearing, controlling wolves who ruled with sheer strength and fear.
And their Alpha Dominic Kael Varen? He was said to be the worst of them all. Unyielding. Merciless. The kind of dominant who could make the strongest wolves crumble beneath him.
I had no intention of going there.
"Tch," I scoffed, forcing my feet to move again. "I'm not interested."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "What? I thought you'd jump at the chance. Bigger battles, stronger warriors you love proving yourself, don't you?"
I clenched my jaw. "I don't need to prove1 anything."
And I didn't. I knew I was strong. But Blackridge? That place was suffocating dominance wrapped in a pack's name. If I set foot there, it would be like walking into a den of Alphas, all waiting to see who would submit first.
The next morning, the entire pack gathered in the courtyard, the air thick with tension. Gregor stood at the front, his expression unreadable as he addressed the warriors, his voice booming with authority.
"As you all know, alliances are crucial for survival," Gregor began, scanning the crowd. "After long discussions, Alpha Dominic Kael of The Blackridge Pack and I have come to an agreement,an exchange of lands and warriors."
A murmur rippled through the pack. I stiffened.
Gregor continued, ignoring the shifting unease. "Blackridge will take control of our northern hunting grounds, and in return, they will provide reinforcements during times of war. But more importantly…" His eyes narrowed slightly. "Alpha Dominic has requested some of our finest warriors to integrate into his pack. The names have been listed. If you're on it, you are expected to leave immediately."
A warrior beside me muttered a curse under his breath.
I crossed my arms, expression blank, but my pulse kicked up a notch. I knew what kind of wolves ran Blackridge. Dominants who thrived on control. Alphas who suffocated everything around them. It was the last place I wanted to be.
A Beta enforcer stepped forward with a parchment, unrolling it before reading aloud. Name after name was called, warriors stepping forward with varying reactions some proud, others hesitant.
Then—
"Ashen Wolfe."
My stomach dropped.
The pack turned toward me, but I kept my face emotionless, clenching my fists at my sides.
No. No, this couldn't be happening.
Gregor's gaze met mine, firm and unyielding. "Report to the front, Ashen."
I barely heard the rest of the names being called, my mind reeling. This was exactly what I didn't want. Blackridge was full of wolves like Dominic Kael,wolves who would push, pry, and dominate. I had spent years burying my true nature, controlling every part of myself.
And now I was being sent straight into a pack where dominance reigned.
I spent the rest of the day in silence, my mind a warzone.
The other warriors who had been chosen for transfer were excited,talking about Blackridge's strength, its elite training, the chance to fight under Alpha Dominic Kael himself. They saw it as an opportunity.
I saw it as a trap.
A suffocating cage of dominance.
I shoved my belongings into a small bag, my movements stiff with frustration. Not that I had much,just a few sets of clothes, my suppressants carefully hidden beneath layers of fabric.
I wasn't taking any chances.
By nightfall, the pack gathered near the border. A line of horses waited, along with a few Blackridge warriors who had come to escort us. Their presence alone sent a chill down my spine.
They radiated dominance. Even without shifting, their energy was thick in the air, pressing against me like an invisible weight.
I refused to let it affect me.
Roy nudged me with his elbow. "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
"I would," I muttered.
He smirked. "Come on, maybe it won't be so bad."
I shot him a look. "You don't know what Blackridge is like, Roy."
His smirk faded slightly. "You've heard the rumors, huh?"
More than rumors. I knew what kind of wolves ran that pack. They thrived on control, pushing others into submission.
And now I was walking straight into the lion's den.
Gregor stepped forward, addressing the group one last time. "You are no longer warriors of this pack. You now serve under Alpha Dominic Kael. Honor him, respect him, and make us proud."
Respect him?
I gritted my teeth.
The warriors from Blackridge signaled for us to mount the horses. As I swung my leg over the saddle, I made a silent vow to myself.
I didn't care how dominant these wolves thought they were.
I would never submit.
The ride to Blackridge was long and silent, the night air thick with tension. The Blackridge warriors leading us barely spoke, their presence alone enough to demand obedience.
I ignored them, keeping my gaze ahead, but I could feel their eyes on me. They were studying us, assessing.
Hunting.
I forced my muscles to stay loose, my breathing steady. I wasn't prey. I wasn't some weakling waiting to be dominated.
The moment I stepped into Blackridge, my senses betrayed me.
The air was thick with the raw scent of dominance, but beneath it,twisting through everything,was something else. Something irresistible.
A scent so intoxicating, so sweet, it coiled around my lungs and sent a strange heat pulsing through my veins. It was rich, deep, laced with something dark and commanding, something that made my instincts waver.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. What the hell was that?
It wasn't just pleasant,it was pulling me in. My skin prickled, my heartbeat uneven. The longer I stood there, the worse it got. I wanted to
No. I refused to react to something so ridiculous.
Grinding my teeth, I forced myself to focus as we were led to the main training grounds. But my body felt wrong, on edge in a way I couldn't explain. Worse, my gut twisted when my eyes landed on him.
Alpha Dominic Kael Varen.
Even without being told who he was, I would've known. He carried his authority like a second skin, like the very air bent to his command. His sharp golden eyes swept over us with brutal precision, assessing each warrior as if deciding who was worth his time.
And then—he stilled.
His nostrils flared slightly, his head tilting as if scenting something in the air.
I swallowed, my skin prickling.
Dominic's golden gaze darkened, flickering around the crowd, searching.
I frowned. What was he looking for?
His brows pulled together, his body tensing like a predator sensing prey. There was a shift in the warriors around him Blackridge wolves noticed the change in their Alpha, watching as he inhaled deeply again, his expression turning unreadable.
The scent I had been trying to ignore only grew stronger.
I didn't understand it,I didn't like it. It made my body feel strange, too aware, my instincts wavering between something dangerously close to fear… and something else.
Something I didn't want to name.
I looked away, forcing my feet to stay planted. I wasn't afraid of him.
Yet, a small part of me wanted to… obey.
I gritted my teeth. No. No, no, no.
I didn't submit. I wasn't weak.
But when Dominic's eyes swept over me,lingering for just a second too long,I barely managed to keep my breathing steady.
Then, just as suddenly, he tore his gaze away. A flicker of frustration crossed his face, his jaw tightening as his sharp eyes scanned the crowd once more.
As if something was missing.
As if he was searching for something he couldn't find.
I exhaled slowly, my pulse thudding against my ribs.
whatever the hell was happening here
I wanted no part of it.