The dark forest is definitely not the best place to run crying to. Certainly, not the best place to seek fresh air either.

Rogues live here. They roam here—

And I just stepped inside their home uninvited.

The air here is thicker, denser. And the darkness is as unsettling as how it smells.

But even when I hate this forest, even when my father has warned me many times to never set foot in here, I still found myself resting at the bulgy roots of a giant tree sprouting from the ground.

Finally, I let my tears fall freely. I never want this place. But this forest is the only place that I guess will not judge me even if I cry my heart out.

No Omegas to gossip about me. No Beta’s daughters to roll their eyes at me.

Just me and the trees and the sense of feeling empty even when you’re being seen by everybody.

No one cares about me. My own father sees me like some brooding mare to be given away at the ripe age. My brother...my brother cares about me, yes. But he wouldn’t dare stand up against our father. Regardless of whether he’s his heir, Alpha Dorian is still our reigning Alpha. Our father.

And then there’s Beta Homer, who broke my heart on the day that’s supposed to be the anniversary of our first kiss. And Lazel...the elegant daughter of the richest Beta proved to be a snake who should’ve belonged here in the forest crawling for eternity.

I rested my chin atop my fist, musing on how to react to father’s request.

Truth be told, it wasn’t so bad to be Alpha Azriel’s Luna. But...

I want to be a Warrior like other Alpha’s daughters. I don’t want to be just a pawn for a political marriage. I want to be Beta Homer’s wife. I’ve loved him since I was in my early teenage years. He was the one who made me realize I want to be something more. I want to be someone more than what my father sees me to be: a she-wolf only designed to carry an Alpha’s pups.

I sighed and fixed my hair, letting the forest breeze caress me. My tears have dried out, but the trail where they fell remained stark against the bright moonlight above.

But perhaps my father is right: he never forbids me to be a Warrior. He just needs my help in the meantime.

“You must help me save our pack, Rhian. You and me.” His words echoed in the heart of my mind, clawing its way to my conscience.

Right. I can be both after all. I can be something more without sacrificing what my father expected me to be.

After all, once I become Alpha Azriel’s Luna, I can talk to him about this. Surely, he’s not some traditional male who always holds the leash of their females—

I shot to my feet at the sudden thought that struck me.

What if he is? He wouldn’t be feared if he was just some good Samaritan that even humans think they can manipulate him—

Something suddenly rustled behind me. I just hope it wasn't someone.

I swallowed and slowly turned around, willing my footsteps to be silent. Compelling my sight to watch out for twigs at the same time focus on the origin of the sound across the forest clearing.

I looked back to the path I’ve taken. I shook my head, panic rising in my throat. I can no longer remember my way back.

And this makes the cascading of my tears from my eyes start again, my sweat racing along that unnerving feeling of being watched.

“Well, well, well. Look what I’ve found...” The stranger purred, as if delighted to come across a sumptuous dinner.

I exhaled a sharp breath and asked calmly, “Who are you? Are you one of my father’s pack guards?”

The stranger smiled. No, he grinned. Wolfishly. Baring his fangs at me as if any minute now, he’ll tore a piece of skin from my neck.

“What is an Alpha’s daughter doing here in the forest?”

He ignored my question because he knew—we both knew—he’s not an Alpha’s guard.

Nor does he have an Alpha.

‘I told you we were being watched!’ I scolded myself, bile now settling on my throat. I think I’ll definitely vomit on the stranger.

A retching sound escaped from my lips. The Rogue sniffed the air. “Fancy, princess. You’re alone.”

I was about to turn on my heel and run in the opposite direction when I tripped—in front of him.

And in a heartbeat, we just remained rooted to the ground. Eye to eye. Staring at each other, waiting to see who will strike first.

I blinked, and as if it was his signal to strike, the Rogue lunged at me.

I was immediately on both feet and unsheathed my claws.

I growled at him as I stepped backward—narrowly escaping the sharp swipe he intended for my right shoulder.

The forest was thick with shadows, the scent of pine and damp earth clinging to the air as I sprinted through the underbrush. Moonlight struggled to pierce the canopy, but my keen senses guided me through the gnarled branches and twisted roots. As the daughter of the Alpha, a proud and fierce one, I will never back down from a fight.

But I can hide.

And hiding is the best move to keep me alive tonight. I’m not really that trained in combat so I wouldn’t dare fight that feral Rogue with maneuvers that I barely mastered nor theories that I’m not sure would really knock him down and defeat him.

I peeked behind me. The Rogue was relentless, his feral growls echoing through the cluster of trees nearby.

“Where are you, Princess?” He purred, calling my name in the most malicious manner I ever heard.

His back was behind me, larger than my brother. He turned around my direction. I ducked. His amber eyes gleamed with wild fury just like the stories my brother, Rowan told me: Rogues are unpredictable, untethered by pack law, and dangerous to all who crossed their paths.

And here I am: face to face with one of them. Perhaps one of the fiercest of them given his size—

“There you are.” He grabbed my wrist and pinned me on the earth. I struggled beneath him with a shrill.

“No, I’m not!” My forehead collided with his that made stars dance in my vision. I rolled beneath him. Jumping in both feet and steadying my body, I bared my teeth, claws glinting against the silver moon.

“Come here, you foul beast!” I gathered my fists and attempted to punch him in the jaw.

He dodged it. But as soon as he lowered his body, I threw a flying kick to his crotch.

The Rogue groaned, falling face first on the dirt.

But the kick caused me to slip and I almost hit my head on the rock when I willed myself to land in the row of brambles and thorny roses instead.

The fall there wasn’t too fatal but it still hurt as fuck. The thorns scraped my hand, my arms, my face. It tore my clothes as I attempted to stand, and even resulted in drops of blood from my abdomen.

I gritted my teeth and ignored the pain, stepping out from the thorns and brambles.

Just as the Rogue was about to get up, we both shifted to our wolf forms.

I snarled as claws slashed through fur, teeth snapped dangerously close to our throats. I leaped back from him and landed on a nearby boulder on my paws, my wolf licking her teeth stained with blood. I can hear my heart pounding; I can feel my adrenaline surging through my veins.

The Rogue, with his brownish-black fur sprayed with his own blood, growls at me as he realizes he was caught in those same brambles and thorns I was in earlier.

I shifted back to human form, chest puffed out in victory. “You lost.”

The Rogue shifted in his human form too. He growled once, letting all the anger shatter his ears.

But then he laughed.

His laughter was soft at first. Then it becomes louder, rising into an eerily sound. I prowled closer, making sure he’s really wounded.

It happened so fast that I didn’t had time to blink—

He kicked me in the stomach.

My back thudded in a groan that I vividly heard the breaking of bones, an explosion of pain that rendered me immobile. I faced the sky as I struggled to breathe. I can’t even move my fingers, only my eyes.

I heard the Rogue escaping from the sharp thorns and strode slowly towards me, relishing every step as if he’s walking into his summit of victory.

This Rogue is definitely not an easy bastard to deal with. He’s cunning, and very strong.

My breath hitched, my legs wobbling. He towered over me like Death given form. I feel my neck slicked with blood. I think my whole body is.

“Any last words, princess?”

And then I screamed. Really screamed. Louder than I ever did.

With his figure looming before me, teeth bared in a savage snarl, I didn’t hesitate to show him it’s not the end of my fight. But my body betrayed me.

This couldn’t be the end. Not here, not like this. I wouldn’t die today—

I closed my eyes, sending mind-links to my brother and father as I waited for the Rogue to lunge his killing blow.

“If you’re so brave, Rogue, then kill me with your bare hands. Do not shift or use a stone,” I side-glanced the huge stone between us. “Kill me with your hands alone.”

A dark chuckle, and then, “Of course. I can do you with my own hands—”

Movements on my side distracted both of us, the blur of motion shattering the scene.

He was another Rogue—sleek, powerful, and fast—who collided with the Rogue that was supposed to end my life. I can tell what he was because of his scent. And because of his ragged look that seemed to wander anywhere the moon guides them.

The Rogue that attacked me hissed at my savior, facing him in a fighting stance that he’s sure will knock down my savior in a blink.

My savior filled the forest with his howl. He shifted into his human form, and his snarl even set the hairs on my arms to its tip.

“Uhm—”

They clashed, even before I could say more. Teeth and claws and punches thrown at one another against the dim.

My vision started to blur, but I forced myself to stand up and rise to my feet.

As I whipped my head to the two Rogues, I realized that my savior really meant to protect me and drove the Rogue out from our sights. I can even see in his eyes and the way his body moves that he’s willing to punch him in the throat and bury him beneath one of the trees.

As I was on my both feet, I didn’t wait for either of them to turn around at me.

I ran away—back to the Moonbeam Pack even if I’m no longer sure which path to take.