The image of blood gushing from Elizabeta's neck still burned in Lili's mind as she walked through the forest. Natalya had shifted into her human form soon after she had finished with the brown wolf and proceeded to tie Lili's hands together with a strong rope. She had also produced a knife from the pocket of her simple blue dress and pressed it against Lili's back.

"I won't hesitate to kill you if I have to," she had said.

Lili didn't doubt it for one second. She wanted to run to Elizabeta and make sure she really wasn't dead, but had been forced to hurry across the border instead. They had been walking for some time, and the point of Natalya's blade had never left its spot on the small of Lili's back. She had been holding back tears for so long, but they now flowed freely. down her face. This part of the forest had more pine trees than that of Ludwig's pack, and the dense canopy of needles blocked enough sunlight to create the illusion of twilight. She felt the same terror she had felt the night she had been chased through the forest by Ludwig and his pack. But she was beginning to doubt if Ludwig really had been her pursuer. She had never bothered to ask him about that night.

"Walk any slower and I'll slip this knife between your ribs," Natalya threatened.

"S-sorry," Lili said with a trembling voice. Her captor really didn't deserve any politeness from her, but it was habit.

"Brother has wonderful plans for you."

Lili was surprised by how forthcoming Natalya was being. "Like what?"

"I can't tell you."

Then why bother saying anything at all, Lili wanted to ask. She kept her mouth shut though, and focused on not tripping over the large branches that littered the needle covered ground. The short conversation had given her the resolve to be strong. She wasn't going to let this pack get away with abducting her and hurting her friends. No matter how difficult or scary her situation would become, Lili was determined to be brave, and the tears stopped rolling down her cheeks.

They stepped into a wide clearing with a large pit in the middle for lighting fires. Makeshift lean-tos and tents had been built against some of the thicker trees, but they appeared as if they might fall apart at any moment. The thing that disturbed Lili the most was something that looked like a large wooden cage that sat beside the largest tent. There wasn't anything inside of it, but she didn't think it would stay that way for long.

As soon as they left the forest behind, several wolves stepped out of the ramshackle shelters and watched their approach. Natalya stepped ahead of Lili as she slipped her knife back into her pocket. She stood next to a shy looking wolf with fur the color of tarnished brass. They kept a close eye on Lili as she waited for something to happen. Something had to happen now that she was in the enemy's camp. She wasn't brought here for nothing.

"Oh good. It looks like my plan has succeeded." A man even taller than Ludwig in his human form stepped out from the large tent and smiled innocently, but Lili could tell he was anything but. He had sandy hair that was neither silver, blonde, or brown and wore a long scarf wrapped several times around his neck. It was the only article of clothing he wore that really stood out. "Welcome to our home. I hope you like it because you will be here for a very long time."

"W-why am I-I here?" Lili asked as her trembling grew worse. There was something about this man that made her fear for her very life. His smile sent chills down her spine, and his brilliantly violet eyes pierced her to her soul.

"Ah, it is funny you should ask," he said with a small laugh. "Does anyone want to explain?" He looked around to the rest of his pack, but no one would meet him in the eyes. "No? It seems I must do everything here myself," he muttered darkly. "I am sure you know about that horrible treaty that allows us to run freely only on the nights of the full moon."

Lili nodded, afraid that not reacting would bring about some unpleasant retribution.

"We are tired of the conditions the humans have forced upon us. We wish to roam free whenever we choose. That is why we are going to eliminate everyone who stands in our way, including Ludwig and his group of cowards." The malice in his voice was unmistakable. "Then we will have control of this forest and the humans. We will no longer have to live like rats in this part of the forest where nothing grows. I tried to catch you myself, but that meddlesome Ludwig got in the way. I'm sure you remember that night." His smile widened. "It was unfortunate that I could not have you then, but we have been watching you for some time, and now you are mine. Revenge is a wonderful thing, yes?"

There was nothing Lili could say to express her horror. He had been the one chasing her through the forest, and Ludwig had saved her. Her feelings for the blonde alpha swelled inside of her frantic heart. How she wished he was there to save her again. She watched tongue tied as the man transformed into a wolf that was much bigger than the others. The top of his sandy head was probably taller than the tips of Ludwig's wolf ears. His eyes gleamed with amusement at the terror and shock so evident in her face. He turned to address the other wolves of his pack. Clearly, he was the alpha male.

"Toris. Eduard. You two make sure she gets in that cage. If anything happens, it will be you two who will live to regret it."

A dark brown wolf with shaggy fur and a wolf with fur the color of dirty straw both tensed before moving quickly to Lili's side. They ushered her toward the wooden cage with urgency, like the sooner she was locked up, the sooner they could escape the purple eyes that followed them unblinkingly. Lili didn't try to resist as they led her to the cage. She didn't stand a chance of escaping, so there was no point in her doing something stupid. The brown wolf, Toris, shifted back into a human so he could swing the door of the cage open.

"I'm sorry," he whispered so quietly that Lili wasn't sure if she heard it or not. But he truly did look apologetic as he closed the cage door behind her, his green eyes full of regret. "I-it's all locked up, Ivan," he said to the large wolf. He stepped aside so the thick padlock on the door was visible.

"Good, now the fun can begin." Ivan paused for a moment and looked carefully at each member of his pack. "Where's Ravis?"

"Y-you sent him with Natalya to be the distraction," the other wolf, Eduard, said nervously.

Ivan looked to the small girl with platinum hair. She tugged at the blue bow in her hair, but didn't seem particularly concerned about the missing pack member. "He never showed up."

"Then the imbecile got caught," the alpha deduced. He didn't seem all too worried either. "It is no great loss to us. The plan will continue regardless."

Lili gathered up the last of her courage and looked Ivan straight in the eyes. "L-Ludwig will stop you."

He wasn't bothered by her statement at all. "But that is why you are here, little one. You must be very important to him if he kept you alive for so long. That is why he would not dare to do anything that would put me in the unfortunate position of harming you." Ivan strode closer to the cage, violet eyes gleaming. "I assume the humans that have been spending an unusually large amount of time in the forest are also looking for you. With just the right incentive, they will be hunting Ludwig's pack and doing all of the work for us." He was close enough now that Lili could feel his warm breath. "And then we will kill you."