Chapter 7

Leena's POV

I'm running through an endless maze of my pack's territory. I hear footsteps thundering behind me with malicious growls echoing around. I can feel my heart pounding throughout my entire body.

No matter where I turn, there's no end in sight and I can hear Silas and Lancaster not far behind me. They're taunting me. "Run little piggy! We're coming for you."

I step on a branch and twist my ankle, causing me to fall hard onto the ground. I fight to get up when suddenly there's a foot on my back.

I can hear Lancaster laughing as he's finally caught me. Fear washes over me and I can tell that this is it, he's finally going to go too far.

I start struggling beneath him as he raises an axe to my neck. All I can hear is my blood rushing in my ears and the scream that I strangle out.

I'm still screaming as I wake up. Thank the Goddess, it was only a nightmare. But that doesn't stop the fear taking over me.

My senses are foggy as I start to come to. My head feels like it's splitting in two and my vision is fuzzy. I blink several times as if to clear it and come to the realization that I'm no longer back at my pack's home, but rather in some ornately decorated room with strange people hovering over me.

I start to sit up before blinding pain shoots through my torso. A pained groan makes its way past my clenched teeth as I fall back to my previous position.

What's happened? Where am I? Panic comes raging through and my senses are on high alert. I start panting with anxiety and one of the strange people places their hand on mine.

"Quiet Your Highness. You mustn't strain yourself. Your body is healing from some fairly significant wounds. You must lie still."

Your Highness? There's no way. I'm just a lowly omega. I haven't even shifted for Goddess's sake! They must actually believe their king when he said that I am his mate.

I still can't bring myself to believe it. After all that I've went through, it would be like a miracle if it's true. I still believe I'm only here for more torture, probably for more information about my fathers treason.

It takes a massive amount of effort, but I'm able to push out words. "I think there's a misunderstanding. I can't be the queen. I'm just--"

Before I can finish my sentence, I succumb to the heavy blackness that I fought so hard to get out of.

My dreams are filled with more replay of events of my life. I can only see the faces of Silas and Lancaster hovering over me with evil expressions as they torture me.

No matter how hard I try to escape them, it all ends up in the same way. I'm beaten until I finally die. Instead of dying, it just restarts and I go through it all over again. This next dream doesn't prove any different.

My hands and feet are bound by rope and the sting of a metal blade slices through my skin. I cry out from the pain and beg them to stop, but they won't. They never do, they just laugh mockingly.

"Father, do you hear that? She thinks she can command us to stop. Filthy pig, you're worthless. You should have never been born. You've been a disgrace from the start."

I continue to cry and scream with each new slice that seems to get deeper as they go on. Before I experience the stabbing sensation that Silas is about to perform, I spring awake in a cold sweat.

I can't tell if this is another dream I've been transported into or if I've finally escaped. I look at my surroundings and realize that it's the latter.

My chest is heaving from the short breaths my lungs are pushing out. I look down to see an enormous figure hunched over my legs and realize that it's hand is holding mine.

King Damon. It's him. Where am I? This sure doesn't look like a torture chamber to me. There are beds all around the room. I see an office to the far back with the light on and the blinds drawn.

This must be an infirmary. If the king was going to torture me, why would he bring me here to be healed? Well I guess it wouldn't be much of a torture if I died before he got the chance.

I really can't seem to get the thought of torture off my mind. I guess it's pretty much been beaten into me. I really need to get myself to start thinking positively, but it ultimately seems pointless in giving myself that false hope.

The king starts to stir and brings his head up, eyes slowly blinking. He looks like he hasn't slept well in days. "You're awake. I was worried for a while that you wouldn't pull through. Those cowards did a number on you."

My mouth hangs open slightly in surprise. He was worried about me? This doesn't seem right. He squeezes my hand. I feel that false hope rising up in me, and I push it right back down.

"You don't have to worry about them anymore. I've taken care of the situation and you're safe here with me."

My wolf cowers. This is her usual response to any situation. She's the reason for all of my self-doubt. After all, it wasn't just me that they tortured.

While Silas never sensed her, Lancaster new immediately. He made it his life's mission to crush her warrior spirit before she made it possible for me to escape them.

I remove my hand to rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"How long have I been out?" I feel like I've been hit by several semi trucks. I wince through the pain but manage to shift into a more comfortable position that eases it only slightly.

Damon lets out a long sigh. "Three days, mate." Three days? I really must have been in pretty rough shape.

"Now that you're awake, I'm going to take you to our chambers where you should be more comfortable."

Our chambers? Before I can say anything he lifts me up out of the bed and starts to carry me out of the room.

As he's walking out, he turns his head towards the group of nurses that are running towards us. "Thank you ladies. I'll be moving her to the royal wing to finish her recovery. I don't know what I would do without your talents."

With a final step out into a corridor, he kicks the door closed with his foot and takes me throughout the biggest building I've ever seen in my life.

The walls are precisely decorated with pictures of the royal family throughout time and other beautiful artistry. Their colors bring life to the otherwise dark hallways.

We seem to travel two entire football fields length of the castle before we enter a wing that's a lot more beautiful than the others. The gold and emerald colors bring an air of significance. This must be where the royal family resides.

He goes down another king hallway with the most beautifully carved light sconces mounted up until he comes across a large set of double doors.

With a powerful kick, they're open and my mouth seems to come unhinged from how far it's dropped. This area is absolutely stunning and I've never seen anything like it. The same colors are strewn throughout this room as well and it goes perfectly with the hand carved furnishings.

He sets me on a bed and goes to light the fireplace. All the curtains are drawn so that the fire brings a subtle, inviting light into the space. If this were any other circumstance, I'd be in total comfort.

Before I can say anything or make a run for it, my body collapses into the soft mattress. I try to keep my eyes open, but it's inevitable, I pass out once again to the sound of the crackling fire. The sound reminds me of the night my pack met their end.