A month and a half had passed since Kayleigh had been trapped on the island. Every day, she had watched, listened, and learned. Every day, she had planned. Escape wasn't a matter of if—but when.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. The walls around her, dark and unwelcoming, had become a prison disguised as luxury. The bed was soft, the food provided was decent, and the clothes were always clean, but it was nothing more than a cage. A beautifully constructed lie.
Her fingers traced the bedsheet absentmindedly as her mind drifted toward the inevitable. I need to get out of here.
A sudden knock on the door broke her from her thoughts.
Her body tensed, instincts sharpening like a blade.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice controlled, but beneath it lay irritation.
"Master's right-hand man, Killian. Time for training," the rough voice replied.
Training. Right.
Two weeks ago, Ralph had informed her that she would begin training with the Shadowborns his army of mutated shifters. It had nearly slipped her mind that today was the day it all began.
She remained seated for a second longer, her thoughts still tangled in the plan she was forming.
"What should I wear? The only things in the wardrobe are dresses," Kayleigh said, stalling for time.
"Your training gear is outside the door," Killian responded, voice flat and unreadable.
She stood, smoothing her expression as she approached the door. With a slight creak, she cracked it open just enough to grab the folded clothes. The hallway beyond was dimly lit, the flickering glow of lanterns casting elongated shadows along the stone walls. Killian had already turned to leave, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Thanks," she muttered before shutting the door.
Unfolding the attire, she examined the pieces carefully a black singlet, leather pants, a fitted leather jacket, and heavy boots with a hidden dagger in the tip. The weapons they provided her were a dagger and a gun, which she secured to the belt at her waist. At least they weren't completely stupid. They hadn't given her anything too dangerous. Not yet.
She stepped in front of the mirror, studying herself with careful eyes.
Two months in this hellhole had changed her.
Her height had shot up unnaturally fast—now standing at 168 cm. It was impossible, unnatural, yet she had stopped questioning it weeks ago. There was something happening to her body, something beyond the shifters' understanding.
Another side effect of being here? Or something else entirely?
Elisa, the wolf spirit inside her, had remained silent for a long time, watching from the shadows. The drugs they had injected her with were meant to break her mind, to turn her into something docile and weak. But they had underestimated her resilience. Elisa had stopped it just in time.
They don't know that it didn't work.
Her lips curled slightly at the thought. They had tried to destroy her will, to make her another one of their obedient soldiers. But she was no pawn in Ralph's game.
Taking a deep breath, Kayleigh opened her door and stepped into the cold corridor. The walls loomed over her, carved from thick stone, their surface lined with strange markings that pulsed faintly. She ignored them and walked forward, her boots clicking softly against the floor as she headed toward the training grounds.
The scent of damp metal and faint traces of blood filled the air. The closer she got, the more her senses sharpened. Voices echoed down the hall—low, calculated whispers belonging to people she recognized all too well.
"I think the serum is working well, Master," came a voice laced with arrogance.
Kayleigh slowed her steps, pressing herself against the wall just before the entrance. Delta. One of Ralph's most trusted subordinates.
"Good job," Ralph responded, his voice as smooth as ever. "But what if she's pretending? Wolves are cunning creatures. We still don't know if she's truly under the influence."
Kayleigh's heart pounded, but she remained utterly still.
They don't know Elisa stopped it.
A low chuckle hummed in the back of her mind.
"Idiots."
Elisa's voice was amused, yet there was an undercurrent of danger beneath it. Kayleigh forced herself to relax, her expression slipping into something unreadable. She had to be careful—if Ralph so much as suspected she was playing along, everything would fall apart.
Still, the way he questioned the serum's effect unsettled her.
Was he growing suspicious? Or was he merely cautious?
She couldn't afford to find out.
Taking a controlled breath, Kayleigh stepped forward, making her presence known.
"Hey, Kayleigh, what are you doing over there?"
Ralph's voice cut through the hallway, sharp yet oddly amused.
She looked up, feigning confusion.
"I was on my way to training. Didn't know I needed permission to walk these halls."
Delta narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. Ralph, however, simply smiled. It was the kind of smile that sent chills down her spine—too controlled, too calculating.
"Of course not," he said smoothly, his gaze lingering on her for a second too long. "You're one of us now. Let's see how well you do in the field."
Kayleigh nodded, keeping her expression neutral.
One of us?
No. Never.
As she followed them into the training grounds, her mind was already working three steps ahead. Ralph was watching her too closely. Delta was suspicious. She had shown too much, or maybe not enough. Either way, one thing was clear.
She had to be careful.
Because the moment they realized she wasn't broken, the real game would begin.