A Few Hours Later…
Raine jerked awake with a sharp gasp—then bam!—her head slammed into the wall of the moving truck.
"Ow," she cried, blinking from the pain.
"You're awake already?" the guy beside her said, surprised. "How is that even possible?"
Raine stared at him. "What did you do to me? Where am I?"
"Calm down, country girl. I didn't hurt you. You were just making too much noise, so I had to knock you out. That should've kept you down for at least five hours, but it's barely been one."
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"I don't know either. That was weird even for me."
He leaned forward, pulled the truck door open, and looked at her. "Since you're up, get down."
"Why?" Raine asked.
"Because Matteo won't like you looking like that." He tossed her a small bag. "You need to clean up and disguise yourself."
He looked at her again, serious now. "Take off your clothes."
Raine froze. "What did you say?"
"I said strip," he repeated, sounding annoyed. "You smell like trash. Look, I'm not trying to do anything to you, alright? But I'm not taking you to Matteo's tent looking like this."
"I'm not stripping," she snapped. "I didn't run away from being the Alpha's sex toy to become another slave's toy."
The guy laughed. "Wow. You've got a sharp mouth. But don't flatter yourself. You're skin and bones. I wouldn't touch you even if you paid me. The bag has clean clothes—just change."
Raine let out a tired sigh. He wasn't lying. Her collar bones stuck out like she hadn't eaten in weeks, even though she actually ate a lot. Her fast metabolism just burned it all away.
She changed quickly, pulling on the rough, baggy pants and oversized shirt that smelled like old leather. They weren't comfortable, but at least her body wasn't exposed anymore.
"I'm not some poor nobody, you know," she mumbled. "Don't know why you picked these rags, but… thanks, I guess."
He snorted and handed her a dull scissors. "Cut your hair. I'm only helping you because of the man who gave you that blue stone."
Raine hesitated. But the look in his eyes told her she had no choice. She took a deep breath, grabbed her long, messy orange hair, and hacked it off. The scissors wasn't sharp, so her hair came off uneven and choppy. Then she braided then into five cornrows
"Now bind your chest," he ordered, tossing her a strip of cloth. "It'll help you look more like a boy. Not that it matters—you've got nothing to bind anyway. With that big shirt, no one would guess you had boobs."
Raine rolled her eyes and wrapped the cloth around her chest. "Why do I need to look like a boy?"
The guy smirked. "Your dad probably has posters of your face all over the country by now. You just need to not be recognized. What's your name again?"
"Raine. Just Raine. I haven't picked a last name yet."
He grinned. "Just Raine. Cool. Use Omega as your surname for now—Raine Omega or Omega Raine. I think they one sounds better"
She didn't get the joke and just gave him a blank look.
"Whatever. Let's see if Matteo even gives a crap about you."
***
"Welcome to Nkwell pack" He said.
"Weird as fuck pack name. I've never heard of that" Raine mind-linked
"It's a rougue pack for a reason "
Nkwell wasn't much of a town. It looked half-dead—more bushes than buildings. The people of Nkwell gave them cold, suspicious looks as they walked by.
Matteo was sitting on a torn old armchair, legs wide apart, smoking. His eyes were sharp, and when he saw Raine, it felt like he could see right through her disguise.
"Who's this?" Matteo asked.
The guy—Tobe—answered first. "Peter sent him." He threw the blue stone to Matteo, who caught it easily.
Matteo puffed out smoke. "So what? Tell me, girl—why shouldn't I kill you right now and feed you to my wolves?"
Raine's heart pounded. Tobe had said she looked like a boy, but clearly, her face still gave her away.
"I want to survive," she said quickly. "And I can adapt."
Matteo's eyes narrowed, and suddenly Raine couldn't mind-link anymore. She turned to Tobe, but he looked away.
"Don't bother," Matteo said. "I can read minds, and I don't trust strangers."
Raine lifted her chin. "I need to find my mother. I know it costs. I'll do whatever you need."
Tobe flinched beside her, like he didn't expect her to say that.
Matteo smiled coldly. "Brave talk. But tell me something— why can't you even speak, ?"
Raine blinked. She wasn't sure. She had barely spoken in years. She'd been alone for so long, with only her mother to talk to, and her mom was always busy and did all of the talking while she just nodded.
Her gaze fell on the floor and she gave no response.
Matteo sighed and pointed at a bloodied knife on the table. "If you want to prove yourself, bring me the head of the man outside. He betrayed us."
Raine felt sick, but didn't hesitate. She picked up the knife and walked out.
The man outside was on his knees, face bruised and hopeless. His eyes begged her for mercy.
I can do this. He's a traitor. I'm just doing a warrior's job.
Her hands shook as she raised the knife.
She looked away and stabbed him in the stomach.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Then she rushed back inside, knife shaking in her hand.
Matteo stared at her, shocked. His mouth agap
"He's dead, sir," she said. "Sorry, I couldn't cut off his head. This knife's better for cutting vegetables."
"Dead?" Matteo scoffed. "That weak stab?"
"I'm shocked too, sir. I'll improve with training. I want to join your army."
He stared at her like she was a joke. "You're bleeding more than him. Useless. Tobe, take her to the kitchen. Let her cut vegetables "
Then Matteo walked out and, with one clean slice, chopped the man's head off.
Raine hiccupped at the sight. Then everything went dark.
***
It was almost nightfall, , Tobe sat next to Raine by the fire and asked quietly "You didn't even try did you?,"
"I did," Raine whispered. "But Matteo… he kills like it's nothing and I was shocker. Don't worry that I fainted. I was just tired. I've been running. I'm not that weak."
"Sure," Tobe muttered. "That's why you passed out and slept for almost whole day"
"A whole day? That explains why my stomach is burning"
Matteo walked up and tossed something into her lap—a folded paper and an ID card.
"His name was Rowan Vale. From now on, that's who you are."
"Thanks," she said in her thoughts. " Wait ...what?_ "
"No. Speak. I don't want your weird mind-link. Use your wolf. You can talk, Raine. I heard you're the Gemma's daughter—an Alpha's daughter. That means you're a princess. The moon goddess wouldn't leave you voiceless so ask your wolf to help you."
Raine took a deep breath. She hadn't talked to her wolf in ages. She named him Ryan, after her childhood crush.
"If you can hear me… help me," she whispered. "Ryan."
"Raine!" Matteo shouted again, losing his patience." You are not even trying!"
"S-sorry," she muttered.
Her own voice surprised her. It was soft… and beautiful. Tears spilled from her eyes.
"I just spoke," she gasped. "Tobe—I talked!"
"There it is," Matteo said, pleased. "No werewolf is born mute. And your scent—can't even smell it. That's special. How did you do hay "
"No one taught me," she said, excited. "I'm a dusk wolf. I have no scent!"
She laughed and danced by the fire.
then she stopped suddenly.
"Wait. When do I get to see my mom?"
"You have a mom?" Tobe asked.
"Duh! Of course I do. I want to find her. Gemma Anthony said 'take care of her' and I'm scared what that means."
Matteo frowned. "If Anthony said that, your mom is either dead or locked up. I'll help you find out. But earn it first."
He stepped closer. "You're a dusk wolf, right?"
She nodded.
"Then your strength has no limit. Your first mission, Rowan Vale—ever heard of Apex Trials Academy?"
Raine froze. "That's real? I thought it was just a story."
"It's real," Tobe said. "Only the strongest survive there. You could become anything."
"I can't…" Raine whispered. "I'm just a nobody. I don't want to die."
"You just found your voice for the first time. That's why I believe you'll survive," Matteo said. "All I ask in return is this—kill three of their professors: Alpha Gabriel, Alpha Cole, and Alpha Kieran. They have taken so much from me."
"And not with a kitchen knife this time," Tobe added.
Matteo smiled coldly. "This time, I want their heads on a platter."