Katrina stood tall, her gaze unwavering as she faced Glenn. He was trying to console Clara, his voice calm yet firm. But Katrina had seen enough. A smirk curled on her lips as she spoke, her voice laced with disdain.
“You used to be so smart, Glenn. But now, you can’t even tell who’s lying and who isn’t.”
Glenn’s head snapped toward her, his glare sharp. His jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Katrina shifted her gaze to Clara.
“You don’t have to wait for Glenn to throw me away,” Katrina said, her smirk fading. “I’m leaving willingly.”
Clara’s eyes widened, but Katrina didn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing her falter. "You're joking..."
“It’s already been five years. Why should I wait to be discarded when I can walk away with my dignity intact?” Katrina continued. She turned back to Glenn, her voice steady despite the storm raging within her. “I’m done. I’m severing my ties with you and the pack.”
A heavy silence filled the room. Glenn’s breath hitched, his expression momentarily stunned. Then, without warning, he groaned, clutching his chest as if in pain. Katrina felt it too—a deep, piercing ache that tore through her soul—but she refused to let it show. She masked the pain behind an indifferent expression, refusing to crumble before them.
When the sharp agony subsided, she looked at Clara again. The woman’s lips parted in shock, disbelief evident in her eyes. Katrina knew what she wanted—to see her broken, begging, suffering. But she wouldn’t give Clara that satisfaction.
Without another word, Katrina turned on her heel and walked out of the office. The corridor outside was filled with pack members. Their eyes bore into her, some filled with contempt, others with curiosity. But she didn’t care. She kept walking, her chin high, ignoring the whispers and the silent glares.
When she reached the pack’s border, two familiar figures stood in her way—Beta Eunice and Beta Klarence. Her parents who only showed their favor to her elder sister, Clara.
Eunice’s voice was cold. “Once you leave, you can never come back. You will be disowned, I will disown you.”
Katrina’s gaze shifted to them—her parents. Her heart ached, but she steeled herself.
“You can disown me now because I’m never coming back,” she said with finality. “Even if you beg me.”
Without hesitation, she shifted into her wolf form. Her sleek, dark fur shimmered under the moonlight before she bolted forward, leaving the pack behind.
She ran.
She ran until her lungs burned, until the night swallowed her whole.
For the first time in years, she felt free. But that freedom was laced with loneliness. The weight of her past clung to her, whispering bitter reminders of the pain she endured. She wouldn’t forget. And if she ever returned, she would be stronger—better.
Days passed in a blur. Hunger gnawed at her, but she ignored it. Hera, her wolf, urged her to eat, to rest, but Katrina pushed herself to the limit. Until her body gave in.
She collapsed.
Hera whimpered in protest. "I told you to rest and you're not even listening to me!"
Before Katrina could even gather herself, rustling sounds reached her ears. Low growls followed, surrounding her.
Wolves.
Slowly, Katrina shifted back into her human form, raising her hands in submission. Her voice was hoarse as she spoke.
“I apologize for trespassing. I mean no harm. I’m just a rogue.”
The five wolves surrounding her hesitated before shifting into their human forms. Their expressions were wary.
“How do we know you’re alone?” one of them, a Beta, asked suspiciously.
“I left my pack recently,” Katrina admitted.
Another Beta scoffed. “That means you’re disobedient. Wolves who leave their packs are nothing but trouble.”
Katrina let out a bitter chuckle. “I left because no one wanted me there.”
Before another word could be said, a sudden wave of heat washed over her.
Her body trembled.
Her heart pounded wildly, an unfamiliar excitement flooding her senses. Strength drained from her limbs as she collapsed onto her knees, gasping for breath.
Then, she realized—
She was in heat. Damn it, she's in heat! Why?
Katrina cursed under her breath. The scent she emitted was unmistakable. The two male Betas tensed, their eyes darkening with instinct.
Panic gripped her.
Before they could step closer, a deep, dangerous voice cut through the air.
“Don’t move an inch or you're both dead.”
The authority in the voice was undeniable. The two male Betas immediately stiffened, their heads bowing in submission.
Then, a large gray wolf emerged from the shadows.
His golden eyes locked onto her, piercing through every defense she had left. Katrina felt frozen, unable to look away.
Her breath hitched as he approached.
He was mesmerizing.
The gray wolf lowered his head, brushing his nose against her cheek before whispering one single word.
“Mine.”
