The Shadow Series Book 1: The Rogue's Shadow
Автор
Tara Lee Curtains
Прочтений
2,2M
Глав
44
Josette runs from cruelty, desperate for freedom from the pack that broke her spirit. But her escape leads her straight into the territory of a brutal Alpha—one far more feared than the monsters she left behind. Cold, commanding, and bound by ancient power, he cages her once again… but this time, something feels different. There’s danger in his gaze, yes—but also something deeper. As their bond begins to twist into something neither understands, Josette must choose: run again, or face the dark fire between them. In a world on the edge of ruin, their bond could doom them both… or save everything.
Chapter 1
JOSETTE
My body hangs in the darkness, shackled arms yanked high above my head. The metal digs into my wrists, burning against the raw skin. I try to move, just once, but the chains rattle and hold fast. My feet barely graze the stone floor.
Everything aches.
The air is damp and cold, the scent of mildew thick in my nose. I don’t know where I am or why I’m here. All I know is fear, sharp and rising in my chest, building into a scream I can’t release.
Footsteps echo through the corridor. Slow. Heavy. Measured.
I freeze, my throat dry. Then, I see him—Alpha Curtis. His silhouette fills the dungeon gateway, broad and towering. As he steps closer, a twisted grin spreads across his face.
I open my mouth to speak, to beg, to question, but he raises one hand. His thick, calloused palm slams over my mouth, silencing me. The stench of sweat and blood clings to his skin. I choke on it, eyes wide.
And then, without a word, he draws a long, serrated knife. It catches the faint light, gleaming like something hungry.
“No! Please—”
Before I can twist away, pain explodes in my stomach. My breath catches.
I look down, gasping, horrified to see the hilt jutting from my gut. Blood, dark and thick, pours down my thighs and soaks the floor.
He laughs. It’s low. Cruel. Joyful.
I try to scream, but no sound comes out. My knees give way, and my body hangs limp in the chains. The world begins to spin, the darkness pressing in harder, tighter.
My last breath rattles out of me as his laughter echoes around the stone walls.
My eyes snap open, yanking me from the grip of the strange, unsettling dream. Relief washes over me as I take in my surroundings, grateful to be back in reality.
I let out a slow, steadying breath and stumble out of bed. The worn wooden floor is cool under my bare feet. I reach under my bed, fingers closing around the necklace my mother gave me when I was just a child. The silver chain wraps around a red teardrop gem in the center, and it still gleams.
For a moment, I hold it tightly, letting its familiar weight settle my nerves. Then, with a quiet breath, I tuck it back into its hiding place.
The bathroom light flickers as I enter, but I pay it no mind. I splash cold water on my face, and my trembling hands linger over the sink.
“Get a grip, Josette,” I whisper to my reflection, my voice wavering.
My pale, tired face stares back, eyes hollow from restless nights. The faint fear that something might be lurking behind me tugs at the edge of my thoughts.
Turning quickly, I scan the room.
Nothing.
My paranoia eases, though not completely. With a sigh, I leave the bathroom, my nerves still prickling, and head toward the alpha and luna’s quarters to begin my daily chores.
It takes a while to get there, as the alpha’s wing is on the far side of the estate, well away from where omegas like me are housed.
A deliberate design, no doubt. The alpha of the Night Wing Pack wouldn’t dare to live near the likes of us. Superiority practically oozes from every pore of his being.
It’s normal for alphas to have an inflated ego, but this one, he takes it to a whole new level.
Just thinking about him makes my skin crawl. The way he treats me and the other omegas is despicable. It’s cruel and calculated.
He thrives on exerting power and control, and I’ve been on the receiving end of his sadism more times than I care to admit.
The worst was when he chained me in the dungeons for a week.
I can’t even remember what I did to deserve it. Maybe I didn’t bow low enough, or maybe I spoke out of turn.
The details blur together, but the pain—that remains vivid.
The biting cold of the chains, the sharp crack of the whip on my back, and the excruciating agony that followed are all seared into my memory.
The scars line my back, though I’ve never been able to bring myself to look at them. I don’t need the reminder.
Some of the omegas used to tease me, calling me ugly, disfigured, and broken.
But they’re all gone now, mated off to other packs, and living lives I can only dream of.
I finally reach the alpha’s wing. The sight of it never fails to strike me. The grandeur is overwhelming, with polished staircases, opulent paintings, and luxurious carpets that look too soft to walk on.
Every room is enormous, with sprawling beds, gleaming vanities, and bathrooms larger than our entire quarters. It’s a constant reminder of the gap between us.
I don’t bother knocking before entering the alpha and luna’s quarters. They are never here at this time of day.
At least, they usually aren’t.
The moment I step inside, I freeze. My stomach twists as Luna Suzanne storms out of her bedroom. Her icy gaze locks onto me, and an ominous growl rises from her throat.
My body stiffens with fear. I’m familiar with her temper. The memories alone are enough to make me tremble.
She doesn’t even wait for me to try to apologize. Her hand lashes out and strikes my cheek with enough force to send me reeling.
Pain blossoms instantly, and I bite back a gasp as my hand flies to my throbbing face.
“How dare you enter my chambers while I’m still here?” she snarls, her voice laced with authority that presses down on me like a heavy weight.
I start to stammer out an apology, but she cuts me off with a laugh that’s equal parts venom and mockery.
“The omega without a wolf,” she sneers. “What a disgrace.”
Her words sting more than her slap.
Her laughter fades as she sniffs the air, her expression darkening. “I can smell her, though. Your wolf.”
When I don’t reply, she smirks, leaning closer. “Too weak to come out, isn’t she?”
Her words burn, but I say nothing. I’ve learned the hard way that talking back only makes things worse. With one last growl, she storms past me and disappears down the hallway.
I stand there for a moment, staring at the space where she stood a moment ago.
My cheek throbs, but it’s nothing compared to the ache of anger and humiliation simmering inside me. Pushing it all down, I turn back to the room and get to work.
Dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming—it’s all mindless, repetitive, and exhausting. As I clean, my anger festers and spills over.
“Why won’t you come out?” I hiss under my breath, directing my fury at the wolf buried deep inside me. “Why are you so weak?”
But as always, there’s no answer. No stirring. No sign she even exists. The disappointment feels heavier with every passing day.
Sighing, I shove the broom across the floor with more force than necessary and get back to work, cursing the wolf who refuses to emerge and the world that refuses to let me be free.
Voices, low and familiar, echo from the corridor. I pause mid-step, my spine prickling. Alpha Curtis and his second-in-command, Sam.
I don’t need to see them to know it’s them. I’d recognize those footsteps, that tone of voice, anywhere. They pass by without a word, but I feel their eyes on me, heavy and unblinking.
Throughout the day, I catch them watching me again, too long, too often. Neither speaks. They don’t need to. Their silence says enough.
The way Alpha Curtis stares makes my skin crawl, like he’s already stripped me bare in his mind.
Sam doesn’t even try to hide the way his lip curls, and I know he’s holding back a laugh or something worse. Still, they keep their distance this time. And I force myself to be grateful for that.
After work, I head to the kitchen as my stomach growls from the long day. When I step inside, a small smile graces my face as I spot Chrissy, the pack’s house boss, bustling around.
She’s my one bright spot in this suffocating place.
“Hey, Chrissy,” I call out lightly, leaning against the counter. “What’s on the menu tonight?”
Chrissy barely spares me a glance as she rolls her eyes, though there’s no real malice behind it. “Pasta bake. Same as every other Tuesday, Josette.”
I grin, trying to lighten her mood. “Just checking you haven’t lost your memory. And maybe I’m spotting some gray hairs?”
As I pretend to pluck one from her hair, she swats my hand away, a laugh bubbling out of her. “You’re a pain, you know that?” She shakes her head. “It’s good you’ve still got some spark left in you. Not many of us do, living here.”
Her words make my grin falter, and I look closer. Chrissy, usually so vibrant, seems worn down. Her smile is forced, her movements sluggish.
“You okay?” I ask softly.
She nods as she quickly wipes down the bench.
I eat quickly, barely tasting the food, then move to the sink to start the dishes.
“Leave it, Josette,” Chrissy says gently, touching my wrist. “I’ll do it. Go get some rest.”
Grateful, I nod and slip away to my room. The second my head hits the pillow, I’m out cold.
But it doesn’t last. Rough hands shake me awake, jolting me upright.
My heart lurches. It must be Alpha Curtis. I gasp and look around.
It’s not him. It’s Chrissy. Her face is pale, eyes wide with panic.
“Chrissy? What—what’s wrong?” I manage, my voice hoarse with sleep.
She doesn’t answer right away, just grabs my arm and yanks me from the bed. “Get dressed. Pack something. You have to leave. Now.”
“What? Why?” I ask, heart hammering.
Chrissy spins to face me, gripping my shoulders hard. Her voice shakes as she speaks. “Alpha Curtis is going to kill you.”
The words punch the breath from my lungs.
Before I can even respond, she’s already shoving clothes and a flashlight into a bag. “No time to explain, Josette. We need to get you the hell out of here—right now!”
“You have to come with me,” I beg.
Chrissy’s expression softens, but she shakes her head firmly. “If I leave, the pack bond will break, and they’ll know. Neither of us would make it out alive.”
A tear slips down my cheek as she places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“But you can help. Go to the Shadow Pack. Head north. Convince that crazy Alpha Kage to come here. Let him destroy this pack of monsters.”
I nod, swallowing hard, as she hands me the backpack.
“Run, Josette,” she says. “And don’t look back.”
I reach under my bed and pull out the red necklace, slipping it into my pocket without a word. Then, I turn and throw my arms around Chrissy, holding her tightly.
Chrissy presses a bundle of crushed herbs into my hands. “Rub it on your skin,” she says quietly. “It’ll mask your scent.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, the words catching in my throat.
My heart pounds as I reach for the door. I’m leaving hell, the only home I’ve ever really had. And now I can finally escape—but I’ll be alone and venturing into the unknown.
I slip out the door and into the night.
