I reassured her, although internally, doubt began to creep in. Elle always sensed things for a reason, and I trusted her instincts. But what could it be this time? I pondered the possibilities—anything or perhaps nothing at all.

I tensed as I heard the crunch of leaves nearby, snapping my eyes open and scanning for movement. It didn't take much searching to find Wade, leaning against a tree and smirking at me. I despised him, his obsession with me turning my stomach.

Standing up, I leaned against a tree, glaring harshly at Wade. He chuckled lightly and began to approach. I tried to move, but he grabbed my arm and forcefully pushed me against the tree. His hands were on either side of my head, his body pressing against mine. I struggled to escape his touch, but he had me pinned.

"Get off of me," I spat.

"No chance. It is only a matter of time," he spoke cryptically.

Time for what? He was speaking in riddles, and I had no idea what he meant. I needed to get away from him. He assaulted my neck with his lips, kissing down my jaw and neck. Disgust welled up inside me. I fought back, but he had me firmly pinned, continuing his assault.

Enough was enough. I brought my knee up and struck him where it hurt, causing him to back away and bend over, hissing in pain. Seizing the opportunity, I uppercut him, sending him sprawling to the ground. His nose was clearly broken and bleeding.

He glared up at me, spitting out some blood and groaning in pain. I smiled sweetly and innocently at him.

"You stupid bitch!" he screamed.

"Keep your filthy hands away from me. Step near me again, and let's just say you won't be having kids anytime soon," I sneered.

I stalked away, leaving him sprawled on the ground. I was furious, struggling to keep my wolf in check. She wanted to tear him apart, to spill blood, and I was dangerously close to letting her.

Knowing my father would be up by now, I headed to the meeting room we had set up. Leaning against the wall, I watched as the leading warrior rogues filed in, all waiting for my father. Wade hobbled in at some point, and I could barely contain my laughter as he glared at me, clearly annoyed.

My father entered the room, and a hushed silence fell. The rogues turned to him with looks of respect and admiration, sickening me. My father was nothing more than a monster, yet they treated him like a hero. Foolish. They were all foolish.

Taking his seat, my father seized control of the room. No one dared speak until spoken to. He thrived on this absolute control.

"Right. We are on the border of three packs. Now it is time to select which pack we will target first," my father declared.

A subdued murmur circulated through the room as they discussed their opinions. How naive they were, thinking they could influence my father's decision. I was certain my father had already made up his mind.

"I have already made up my mind. We will be attacking the Crescent Pack," he ordered, prompting a murmur of agreement, "Yes, it is a very large pack. Their warriors outnumber ours. However, the Alpha is young, only eighteen and recently taken over. This makes him weak, vulnerable, and inexperienced—problems we will exploit."

The group nodded in agreement as my father began outlining plans. I only half-listened, knowing that in this moment, we had sealed the Crescent Pack's fate. My father was relentless, thorough, and ruthless. The moment he decided to attack, it was over for them.

"I need volunteers to keep an eye out for stragglers on the border to instill fear. We also need someone to patrol today to familiarize themselves with their borders and patrols," my father stated.

The room filled with hushed conversations as people stepped forward to volunteer. I saw this as my chance to prove myself and avoid another beating.

"I will take on the patrol watch," I spoke up.

My father turned to me, smirking slightly, scrutinizing me, unsure if I was being serious.

"Fine. Go now. Report back to me in exactly five hours," he ordered.

I nodded and made my way out of the room through the back door. Heading towards the targeted pack's border, I found a secluded spot behind a tree, where I stripped out of my clothes and neatly stacked them for later retrieval.

Allowing my wolf to emerge, my body shuddered as I shifted. I opened my eyes and observed my black paws. I was entirely black, a rare occurrence among leaders of any pack. Most had a secondary color in their fur, but I was the exception. Black signified a true leader chosen by the Moon Goddess. My father and the rogues knew this, expecting me to be the strong and true leader of the Rogues. I would do anything to prevent that fate—anything, even if it meant facing death.

I raced through the forest, the wind rustling through my fur, an invigorating sensation. In this moment, I felt truly alive and awake. You might wonder, why not run away from this monster? Well, during the day, I was constantly shadowed. Even now, I could hear the footsteps of a wolf following me. I wouldn't get far. They'd call for backup, and my fate would likely be sealed.

Taking my position about fifteen meters away from the border, easily detectable by scent, I hid behind bushes, concealed enough to observe the border. I watched the first patrol run by and started timing until the next one. Fifteen minutes later, another patrol passed.

For the next four hours, I continued this surveillance, deducing that patrols passed every fifteen to thirty minutes. About to leave and make it back before curfew, a patrol came to a halt. A group of five stood, and in the middle, a huge black wolf, entirely devoid of any other color. I couldn't get a glimpse of the wolf's face due to the wind blowing away from me.

Realizing they might have caught my scent, I kept my head down, hiding my wolf form. The wolf pack seemed suspicious, but they eventually moved on.

Swiftly, I made my way back to the tree where I left my clothes, shifted back, and dressed. Returning to the meeting room where my father was conversing with the main rogue warriors, I stood, awaiting his command.

"Speak!" he ordered.

"I watched from cover, and their patrols pass every fifteen minutes, assuming they're on time. This pattern held during the entire observation period. The patrols are organized and well-planned. The Alpha also takes part in patrols," I reported confidently.

My father nodded. "Good. Anything else?"

"Nothing," I replied.

"Fine. You are dismissed," he ordered.

I left and headed straight to my caravan, changing into training gear. I needed an outlet for the stress building up within me. Dressed in leggings, trainers, and a sports bra, I headed to the training area. Some people were already training, but I spotted an available punch bag hanging from a tree.

Fiercely, I punched the bag, strike after strike. It shuddered under my force, my strength evident. I had a very toned stomach, a result of relentless training by my father since I was ten. He was cruel and unforgiving, pushing me to my limits for hours on end.

This relentless training was the source of my strength, speed, and power. Yet, I dared not challenge my father, for the consequences would be fatal. I pummeled the bag, releasing all the anger and frustration bottled up inside me. I was infuriated with my life, with everything.

Each kick at the bag was a release, a fierce strike of power growing with intensity. The bag could only take so much, and the chain eventually snapped, sending it crashing into a tree, fragments scattering in all directions. Onlookers gazed at me in awe, but I simply walked away.

Returning to the caravan, I took a shower and downed a couple of glasses of water. I changed into my pyjamas and indulged in some chocolate from my stash in the cupboard, munching on it as I sat on my bed.

I chose not to inform my father about the Alpha being a pure black wolf. I purposefully withheld the information, knowing it would put my father at a disadvantage. Perhaps this larger pack could prevail. I hoped for it. I couldn't bear to witness another pack's demise. I was sick of this life.

Exhausted, I fell asleep, grateful to have survived another day without additional injuries. I longed for a change, a different life, something beyond the pain and torment. I yearned for a chance at a new beginning. Please, Moon Goddess, grant me a better life.