Chapter 4 Cast Into The Wild

She was immediately woken up by the guards. The guards dragged Lena to the northern border of the packlands, their grips unyielding. The night air was sharp against her skin, but the cold didn’t compare to the hollowness in her chest. "This is as far as we go," one of the guards muttered. "You step past this line, and you’re rogue." Lena swallowed hard, staring at the dense forest beyond. Rogues lurked there, desperate, feral creatures who had lost all ties to packs. The thought of becoming one of them sent a shiver through her. "Wait," she said, her voice hoarse. "My parents—" "They didn’t fight for you," the other guard interrupted, his face blank. "Alpha Damian has spoken. You poisoned his mate. There’s no place for traitors here." Lena clenched her fists. Lies. All of it. But her father had only lowered his gaze, and her mother had done nothing but watch as she was dragged away. "Go," the guard ordered. "Before we change our minds and put you down instead." A lump formed in her throat. For nineteen years, this had been her home. Now she was nothing to them. She took a shaky step over the border. The moment her foot landed on rogue land, something inside her snapped. Her wolf let out a low whimper. We are alone now. The guards turned away without another word. Lena stood there, frozen, until the sound of their retreating footsteps disappeared. Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped deeper into the unknown. Lena forced one foot in front of the other, but every step felt like she was dragging a boulder behind her. Her muscles screamed in protest, aching from hours of walking with no rest. Her feet were raw, torn by jagged rocks and unseen thorns hidden beneath the thick undergrowth. A sharp sting shot up her leg as she stepped on something hard, but she had no energy to check if she was bleeding. Her head pounded. The night around her blurred, shifting like a mirage. The trees twisted in and out of focus, their looming branches casting eerie shadows that made her feel like something was always watching. She blinked hard, trying to clear her vision, but her body betrayed her, growing weaker with each passing moment. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, a sharp, twisting pain that only worsened as time dragged on. She couldn’t remember the last thing she had eaten—maybe the small bite of bread she had forced down before the ceremony? It felt like a lifetime ago. Her throat was dry, her lips cracked, and every breath she took was shallow, as if even air had become too much to take in. She swayed on her feet, exhaustion threatening to pull her under. Just a few minutes of rest, she thought. But she knew better. If she stopped, she might never get back up. Her body was failing her. And the night was just beginning. Hours passed. Lena pushed forward, her body aching. Twigs snapped under her bare feet, and the scent of damp earth filled her nose. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, but worse than that was the exhaustion pressing down on her. She had lost everything in a single night. Damian betrayed me. My parents abandoned me. I have no one left. A sharp pain burned behind her eyes, but she forced herself not to cry. Tears wouldn’t help her survive. She needed to find shelter before dawn. As she trudged through the trees, a rustling noise made her freeze. Lena’s heart pounded. She turned slowly, eyes scanning the shadows. Nothing. But her instincts screamed that she was being watched. And then— A low growl. Lena spun just as figures emerged from the darkness. Five men, their clothes ragged, their eyes glowing with hunger. Rogues. "Well, well," the tallest one drawled, his lips curling into a smirk. "What do we have here?" Lena tensed. She could smell their intent—bloodlust, cruelty, and something worse. "A lost little pup," another sneered. "Fresh out of the pack, I bet." She forced herself to stay calm. She was outnumbered, but she wasn’t weak. She had trained under the best warriors in her pack—until Damian had cast her aside. One of the rogues stepped closer. "Tell you what, sweetheart. Be a good girl, and we won’t hurt you too much." Rage boiled in Lena’s veins. They thought she was helpless. They were wrong. When the rogue reached for her, she moved. Fast. Lena slammed her fist into his throat. He choked, staggering back. Before the others could react, she whirled, kicking another in the ribs. A satisfying crack echoed through the trees. The moment of shock on their faces was worth it. But it didn’t last long. "You bitch," one snarled, wiping blood from his lip. They lunged at her at once. Lena dodged, ducking under a wild punch. She struck out again, but there were too many. A fist connected with her stomach, stealing her breath. Another rogue grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her back. She struggled, but pain shot through her shoulder. This was bad. She had fought with everything she had, but she was still just one against five. No, she thought fiercely. I can’t die here. The rogue holding her leaned in, his breath foul against her ear. "You’ll learn your place soon enough." A deep, menacing growl cut through the night. Lena froze. The rogues stiffened. The growl wasn’t from her. It was from something far deadlier. The air shifted, thick with an overwhelming presence. A figure stepped into the moonlight—a man, tall and broad, his dark hair tousled by the wind. His golden eyes gleamed with something dangerous. The rogues stiffened in recognition. "Kieran," one whispered, fear lacing his v oice. Lena’s breath hitched. The Rogue King. Kieran’s gaze flickered to her, assessing. Then he smirked. "You’ll do."