The Lost Wolf

*Two days later*

Ariana's POV

I had been locked inside this dungeon for two days; no food or water.

Oddly enough, those two miserable days hadn't been entirely wasted, I had truly gotten to know my wolf: Kayla.

Her soothing voice echoed. 'We'll survive this, Ariana'

Before I could answer, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor.

My body tensed.

I forced myself upright, ignoring the dizziness that immediately swept over me, and gripped the cold iron bars.

"Please!"

My voice came out hoarse and barely audible.

"Please... get me out of here!"

The footsteps stopped.

A moment later, Logan appeared at the end of the corridor.

His eyes were red and swollen, as though he hadn't slept.

My jaw tightened.

"You've got some nerve showing your face here."

He lowered his head and clasped his hands together.

"Ariana, I know I've been a jerk. I know I don't deserve to stand before you, but please... forgive me."

"Get out!"

My voice thundered through the corridor. But instead of leaving, Logan dropped to his knees.

"Please, Ariana."

For years, seeing Logan beg would have made my heart ache… but not anymore.

Kayla murmured. ‘Excellent choice’

"I want to make it up to you," Logan continued.

I stared at him, fighting the tears threatening to surface.

"You want to make it up to me?"

He nodded eagerly.

"I'll break off my engagement with Elena and make you my Luna."

My expression hardened.

So that was what he thought I wanted; the title… the position… the crown.

He still didn't understand that what had destroyed me wasn't losing the title of Luna. It was discovering that the person I'd trusted most had never loved me.

"I don't want anything from you."

"But I need your help."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Of course I know you definitely want something.

"I'm truly sorry, Ariana."

Kayla's voice softened. ‘Hear him out first’

I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to remain calm. "Fine, what do you want?"

A faint spark appeared in Logan's eyes. "I've reached an agreement with Nightfang Pack."

My brows furrowed.

Nightfang Pack? The most feared pack on the continent? Its Alpha was infamous and ruthless.

Legends claimed no one had ever seen his true face because he never removed the black mask that concealed his identity.

"What kind of agreement?"

"Alpha Damien has agreed to a peace treaty with Silver Moon."

I narrowed my eyes.

"But there's a condition." His voice dropped. "He wants you."

My heart skipped.

"What?"

“You'll be transferred to Nightfang Pack as a servant.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “A servant?”

“Only temporarily,” he quickly added. “Alpha Damien has decided that you’ll be taken to Nightfang Pack first. You’ll stay there for seven months while you undergo your training. Once your training is complete, you’ll be transferred to his pack house, where you’ll serve as a servant.”

Seven months? What kind of servant needed seven months of training?

Logan stepped closer to the bars and lowered his voice.

“You won't be mistreated. I'll make sure of that.”

I almost laughed.

The same man who had watched me being dragged into a dungeon now wanted to assure me that I'd be safe?

“You expect me to believe that?”

His expression tightened.

“You have no idea what Alpha Damien is capable of. If you go there without my protection, he'll make your life miserable.”

I said nothing.

Then his voice dropped even lower. “But I have one request.”

Of course.

I stared at him coldly. “Go on.”

“When you arrive at Nightfang Pack, I want you to learn everything you can about them. Their defenses, their warriors, their weaknesses. Anything that could give Silver Moon an advantage.”

I already knew where this was going.

“And?”

He hesitated.

Then he finally said, “When you get the opportunity… kill Alpha Damien.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

“So that's your real plan.” I shook my head slowly. “You're not interested in peace at all. You want to destroy Nightfang from within.”

“Keep your voice down.”

He glanced nervously down the corridor.

“Do this for us, Ariana, and I'll make you my Luna. I'll break off my engagement with Elena and give you everything you ever wanted.”

I stared at him. “No.”

His expression fell.

“I don't want to.”

“Ariana…”

“I said no.”

He stepped closer to the bars. “Please, I'll give you anything you want. Just say it, you know Alpha Damien will make your life miserable. You'll only be doing yourself a favor by helping me.”

A bitter smile touched my lips.

“Let me put it straight to you.” My voice grew colder. “I'm nothing but a fat, shameless elephant. A useless, unwanted daughter. An enemy to this pack.”

I tightened my grip around the bars.

“So tell me, Logan… how exactly can I help you?”

“Please, Ariana.”

He was still on his knees.

I stared at him for another moment before stepping away from the bars and turning my back on him.

“Ariana!” His voice suddenly hardened.

I stopped.

Was he tired of pretending?

“If you don't do this, Ariana, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in this dungeon without food or water until you die.”

I slowly turned around.

For a moment, hope flickered across his face, as though he believed his threat had finally broken me.

Instead, I laughed.

“And what do you think I'm living for?” My jaw clenched. “I'd rather die here than help you pick up a pin or a needle.”

His eyes widened. “Ariana…”

“I can't be a servant for Nightfang Pack!” I yelled, my voice reverberating through the dungeon. “Find someone else!”

I turned my back on him and lowered myself onto the cold floor.

Logan stood there for several seconds, then he walked away.

*The next day*

My stomach growled loudly, dragging me from an uneasy sleep.

I clutched my abdomen and slowly sat up.

Hunger had become a constant ache.

But I had made my choice. If this was the only way I could keep my dignity, then so be it. I'd rather die here than become Logan's weapon.

Footsteps suddenly echoed through the corridor.

My jaw tightened.

What does he want now?

A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

My eyes first caught sight of his black boots before slowly traveling upward.

He was dressed entirely in black.

My gaze finally reached his face.

For a brief moment, something about his eyes felt strangely familiar.

“Hi, Ariana. It's good to finally meet you.” The stranger said.

I narrowed my eyes. “Who are you?”

“My name is Aiden.” He paused. “I'm the man Alpha Damien sent to train you.”

So he was from Nightfang.

“I heard you refused to go to Nightfang Pack for your training,” he continued. “So Alpha Damien decided your training would take place here. Once you've completed it, you'll be taken to Nightfang.”

“I'll never go to your pack.”

“My pack?” He arched his brow. “Ariana, you don't even know which pack you're truly from.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Aiden took a few steps closer. “Ariana, you're from Nightfang Pack.”

My heart skipped.

“You might be confused, and I understand why. But the truth is, you're one of us.”

He reached behind his neck, pushed his hair aside, and turned around.

A strange crescent-shaped marking was visible on his neck. The crescent was surrounded by three small, claw-like lines.

My stomach twisted as I forced myself to my feet.

I knew that mark. I had the exact same one, but my mother had always told me it was something she'd placed on me as a child so I'd always remember to be a good girl.

The memory hit me:

“Mum, am I not a good child? Why don't I have one?” little Elena had once asked.

Mother had immediately carried her away.

At the time, I didn't understand why.

“You see?” Aiden asked as he turned back toward me.

“No.” I shook my head. “This is just a coincidence.”

I couldn't be connected to them.

“Ariana.” His voice softened. “Your father is still alive.”

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Father?”

Aiden nodded. “He's been searching for you for years. He's in Nightfang Pack, and he's waiting for you.”

I stared at him.

“You'll meet him after you complete your training.”

I shook my head again.

No, I couldn't let myself believe this. I had already lost everything. This had to be another lie designed to manipulate me.

“No!” I screamed. “Leave me the hell alone!”

Kayla whispered. ‘Calm down, Ariana’

I turned away from him.

“It's your choice,” Aiden said quietly. “Think about it.”

His footsteps slowly faded as he walked away.

The moment he disappeared, my strength left me as I dropped to my knees.

No, I couldn't go with him. I should just stay here and die.

Hours passed before another set of footsteps approached.

I turned toward the corridor, then I saw Elena.

A mocking smile spread across her face.

“Hi, sister.” She paused. “Or should I say… foster sister?”

I closed my eyes briefly, forcing myself not to break down.

“You knew?” My voice trembled. “You knew all this time that I was adopted, and you never said anything?”

“Of course I knew.” She shrugged. “Father told me but I had to promise to keep it a secret.”

She chuckled. “You have no idea how difficult it was to keep something like that from you.”

I lowered my gaze.

All those years, I had been too blind to see the truth.

“And the mark…” Elena laughed softly. “Don't tell me you actually believed what Mother told you all those years ago.”

My eyes snapped toward her.

“She only said that so you wouldn't ask questions.” She paused.

“When she took me outside that day, she told me never to compare myself to you because you'd always have that mark. I didn't understand what she meant back then.”

Her smile faded slightly. “But now I do.” She pointed toward my neck. “You didn't have that mark by accident. Everyone born into the Nightfang bloodline receives it shortly after birth. It's their birthmark. It identifies them as members of the pack.”

My heart pounded.

Aiden hadn't been lying? He really knew my father?

A strange strength surged through me.

I pushed myself to my feet and grabbed the iron bars.

“Get Aiden!”

Elena took a step backward.

“He should be gone by now.” She chuckled.

“Get him!” I thundered.

She laughed as she walked away. Her footsteps faded down the corridor.

I tightened my grip around the bars.

Moments later, another set of footsteps approached as Aiden appeared before me.

He studied my face.

“So,” he said calmly, “what do you say? If you still refuse, I'll leave, and…”

“I'm in.” I cut him off.

His brows lifted.

“I want to see my father.”

For the first time, Aiden's expression softened.

“Then prepare yourself, Ariana.” He paused. “Because once you begin this journey, you'll finally learn who you really are.”

Who really was I?