Prologue

Every part of my body ached. I had reached a limit where I could not go any further. I was beyond my strength and could not think straight. Everything hurt, my body, my soul and yet I had to go on. Keep running before my injuries would slow me down.

I stayed in my human form, as my brothers had told me, but when I saw our enemies circling me, there was no way out. My wolf would be able to carry me faster than my legs could.

I had pushed aside my guilt towards my brothers. They were far enough from me to reach me. I just had to lure her away from them.

I focused on the sound of my paws slamming into the forest floor. That was the tune I wanted to hear that would carry me far enough away from my brothers. But it was just a thought, I couldn't use it

I was farther from home than I had ever been before and when my wolf started whimpering inside me to help me, I ignored it. I couldn't, I wasn't allowed to. It was too dangerous. I couldn't transform.

Exhaustion and disappointment flooded my body. I was my parents' daughter, my brothers' sister, and yet I was so much weaker than them.

There wasn't that much to lose for me, but there was for her.

Despite my parents, I was an outsider in the pack. Everyone in my pack called me privately, midget. If my parents or brothers knew that, they would probably weaken their own pack.

For a long moment I thought I had left them behind, until suddenly several men emerged from the thicket of the forest. All naked and sweat glistened on their bodies. There was no question that they were the ones who had hunted me.

I could see eight, and I was sure there were more behind me. The circle they formed around me grew tighter and tighter. My stomach wanted to empty and my head was spinning. It couldn't end like this for me.

No matter which way I turned, there was always someone behind me. Their faces were frozen no matter which one I looked at.

"Let them go," I heard a deep voice rumble across the forest, and my attackers slowly backed away.

I looked around for my savior, but he didn't show up.

I only saw my enemies retreat from me. Slowly and carefully, without taking your eyes off me.