AEGIS'S P.O.V.

"What does it mean?"

We were preparing to receive the Alpha from a nearby packborders. We the adults were going to protect. The children to carry and bear gifts to the people. Five adults and Eight children.

I turned my head to the short woman on my left. Kara. The beta's girlfriend.

"Pardon?"

" The tatoo on your shoulder. What does it mean?

I didn’t respond. I didn't know how to. How do I explain that it's not a tattoo per say, it just appeared out of nowhere one day.

"Come on, Aegis," Emery chimed in, his tone dripping with fake curiosity. "It’s an ugly thing. Just like you." Noah snorted.

"She’s not going to answer you Kara. She thinks she’s better than us." I kept walking, my eyes fixed ahead.

Their words slid over me like ice. It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. "Hey!" Zach stepped in front of me, successfully blocking my path. "Are you deaf or something? We’re talking to you!"

I looked at him then, my expression blank. His smug grin faltered for a second before he recovered. "You’re pathetic," he spat. "You act all high and mighty, but you’re nothing. You should’ve died with them."

Something sharp twisted in my chest. But I didn’t react. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. "You hear that?" Emery said, grinning. "Nothing. Just like I said. She’s broken."

"Shut up," one of the other pack members muttered. "Mind your business, Danny," Noah snapped. "We’re just having fun." Fun. That’s what they called it.

"Let’s go," Danny said. "We’re supposed to meet Brianna at the border." They groaned but moved on. I followed in silence, my fists clenched at my sides.

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The forest was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed against your ears and made your skin crawl. We were halfway to the border when I froze. "Did you hear that?" Everyone stopped, listening. My pulse quickened. Something was wrong. " Will you stop trying to scare others with your weird self. It's probably just a deer," Emery said, though his voice wavered.

I caught the faintest scent of metal and sweat. My heart sank. "No," I said softly. "It’s not." Before I could say more, they appeared. Wolf hunters. There were five of them, armed with silver-tipped weapons and cruel smiles. "Well, well," one of them drawled. "What do we have here?" Noah stepped forward, his posture alarmingly stiff.

"We’re just passing through. We don’t want trouble." The hunter laughed. "You think we care what you want, mutt?"

I stepped in front of Noah before he could respond. "Just let us go. Please," I said firmly. The hunter’s eyes flicked to me, amused. "And why would we do that?"

"Because we don't have anything you want," I said. "Oh yes you do." He answered looking at the teenager with us. Everyone of our shackles rose up. But the kids with us, I could smell their fear. We had to play this wisely. "They’re just kids."

"Aegis, don’t," Danny said, his voice low. I ignored him, keeping my gaze on the hunter. "I’ll go with you. Just let them leave." The hunter tilted his head, considering. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I don’t lie," I said. "And I don’t run." For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. He looked me up and down in a an obvious leer. Then the hunter nodded. "Fine. They can go."

"No!" Noah grabbed my arm. "You can’t do this!" I turned to him, my voice sharp. "Go. Now." "But--" "Go!" He flinched and dropped his hands.

Danny tugged on his arm. "Come on. We can’t help her if we’re dead." Reluctantly, they backed away with the other hunters watching them closely. As they disappeared into the trees, one of the hunters grabbed my arm, pulling me forward. "You’re brave," he said, his tone mocking. "Stupid, but brave." I didn’t answer. My heart was pounding, but I kept my face calm. They bound my wrists with silver, the metal burning into my skin. I bit back a hiss of pain, refusing to show them anh weakness.

The journey to their camp was a blur of pain and exhaustion. Every step sent sharp jolts of agony through my arms. I clenched my teeth, forcing the thought away. "You’re quiet," one of the hunters said, glancing at me. "Most of your kind scream." I stared at him, unblinking. He shifted uncomfortably under my gaze. When we reached the camp, they shoved me into a cage, the bars cold and unforgiving. I collapsed onto the hard ground, my body trembling from the silver’s poison. But I was alive. And they were safe. That was all that mattered.

"I hope you didn't think you'll be getting out of this alive. I have to break it to you pretty girl," he looked me up and down again with a very dirty suggestive eyes "We'll be having a lot of fun together. Well we'll be,I can't say same for you."

"Give me your very worst. But I can promise you now, I'll be out of here very soon," moving closer to the silver bars of the cage with an equally creepy smile on my face.

"I'll destroy every single one of you."

Lesson Five: There's maybe a bit of Good in each person. Some have a lot, some ohabe a bit. But it's always there. You just have to find it.

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