Chapter 6. Encounter

 Chapter 6. Encounter 

          Anna-leigh's P.O.V. 

I awoke to different scenery, candles lit up every corner of the modest tent I was in. A small cot covered in furs supported my now very sore body and I was wrapped in a poorly woven blanket. I sat up quickly, reality hitting me. My husband was about to rape me, I begged God for death to take me before I felt that disgusting man take my innocence. I frantically observed my surroundings, unsure as to what had happened after I had lost consciousness, I then looked down to see that I was completely naked under the small blanket around me. I could hear two men talking outside the tent but couldn't make out what either was saying, my ears still rang and my head was pounding.

 Fear suddenly struck me like lightening as I remembered the last words I heard "wolves, wolves are coming arm yourselves." A man had shrieked as my husband began to force himself inside of me and then darkness. I could feel the blood drain from my face when I realized that I was no longer in the presence of my people. I was taken by monsters, I was now in the hands of the very creatures that slaughtered so many of my kingdom's soldiers, the abominations who had forced my parents to give my hand in marriage to a monster equal to Colby. 

I sat in fear as a man stalked into the tent where I lay. He was tall with Raven hair in tassles framing his handsome face, he had a  chiseled jaw-line and tanned skin. Sea green eyes peered down at me with firm perfectly shaped lips pressed into a hard line. His stature screamed dominance. He was shirtless, his muscles rippled throughout his stomach and chest, I could see that he seemed to be very tense. 

His eyes had the expression of both need and sorrow in them. I feel like I was supposed to be afraid, he clearly is the most intimidating man I have ever seen but my body reacted differently. Butterflies filled my stomach and i was suddenly very aware of my nakedness. This man looked like a god, I wanted desperately to touch the bare tanned skin on his chest, then mentally slapped myself. What the hell was I thinking, I have never been attracted to any man before yet hear I was drooling over one of my captors, Colby's abuse must have done something to my head. 

He stood there for a while then cautiously walked towards me and sat down at the foot of the cot, I quickly scooted back gripping the blanked tightly across my chest. His voice was deep and sounded like honey. "My name is Draven, my men saved you from your husband."I was unable to speak "I promise I'm not going to harm you nor will my men, please don't be afraid."  His tone was kind and full of empathy.

Dravens P.OV. 

 I finally am able to move so I slowly walk to her and sat at the foot of the bed, I watched in sadness as she instinctively grabbed the blanket to cover herself tightly. I begin to explain that I won't hurt her. That she was safe. she then asked in a silky chirp that was so low I barely could hear "Why am I hear?" She was clearly afraid. I didn't have it in me to tell her at this moment that she was my hostage so I lied "my men heard your screams while looking for weak spots in your people's defenses, they came to your aid and brought you here in this condition, my healer Micah tended to your wounds." Her Expression softened at first then turned angry "you are going to attack my parents!" She screamed suddenly full of life "if you touch a single hair on their heads I will kill you myself!" I looked back at her, stunned by the sudden bravery and threat in her tone, it was almost as if she had completely forgotten that she was in my bed fully nude. I felt myself become bitter as she defended the people who handed her to a monster and before I could catch myself I replied back "You are really going to defend the people who handed you to a man who rapes and abuses you!? You witches truly are stupid." My voice was suddenly a growl and I felt bad remembering that she was obviously traumatized by the cruelty the bastard had put her through. Her eyes were now a darker blue and her faced turned red with rage "YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE ARE THE REASON MY PARENTS HAD TO HAND ME TO HIM, HE ABUSED ME ON OUR WEDDING NIGHT AND I WAS GOING TO TELL MY PARENTS WHAT HE HAD DONE BUT THEN A SOLDIER RAN TO MY PARENTS ROOM AND INFORMED THEM OF YOUR THREATS AND HOW YOU AND YOUR MEN KILLED SO MANY! MY HANDS WERE TIED AND I COULDN'T END THE ALLIANCE EVEN IF IT COSTED ME MY LIFE, I SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO KEEP MY PARENTS AND MY KINGDOM SAFE FROM YOU!" her voice was now a mixture of rage and sobs, I felt regret as the words she spat sank in. She blamed me for her hell of a marriage and honestly her mistreatment was my fault, her parents didn't even know of the abuse she was enduring. She kept that secret just to provide soldiers to defend her kingdom against my army. I could feel my stomach flip into knots as this innocent and beautiful creature now sobbed in my bed no longer caring if the blanket covered her naked body. Guilt is what I felt. "Why didn't you people just let him kill me? Please tell me, why didn't you leave me to my death. Where is your leader? I want him to end it please." She cried. I froze at her words, she was so devastated that she wanted me to end her life. I couldn't take it anymore, I looked deep into her eyes and spoke softly "I am the leader and I will not take your life. I'm so sorry." Was the last words I spoke to her before grabbing two more blankets off the ground next to me then walked out of the tent. I could no longer see her pain. I don't even know the girl but I had the need to wrap my arms around her and hold her until all the pain was gone. I couldn't be around her like this, otherwise I would take her as my own and say to hell with my mission. 

Anna-leigh's P.O.V.

Sorry? Did he just say he was sorry? This man ruined my entire life and he was sorry? I felt anger, rage, heartbreak and misery all in a matter of seconds. I glanced into his eyes as he apologized and saw sadness there, was he actually remorseful for what he had done? He quickly snatched two blankets off the floor and walked out. Was I in his tent? I layed down and buried my face into the warm soft fur underneath me and let my tears take control, finally falling asleep from exhaustion. 

    I opened my eyes to sunshine peering through the flaps of the tent entrance, birds chirped songfully, my head ached and I rolled over with a loud groan feeling to weak to sit up. I looked around and to my disappointment I was still inside of monsters sleeping quarters. Unsure of what to do I just pay there, praying for my parents, hoping the prince had died in the attack on our camp and aware that I lay naked in a stranger's bed surrounded by beasts just on the outside of where I slept. 

The man I met last night, the absolutely gorgeous man was named Draven, he is their leader. To spite his insult towards my people he actually seemed like he may have A heart, perhaps I can convince him to return me home to my parents. What if peace could be made, I could then be free of my new husband's abuse and spare the lives of my people from these wolves. I sat up cautiously, not wanting to cause myself more pain than I was already feeling and managed to swing my bare feet over the cot and began to stand. I hadn't realized that my legs would feel like jelly until I found myself falling, unable to stand properly. Before I hit the ground I felt strong arms catch my weak, bruised body preventing me from hitting the dirty ground. I didn't even notice him entering the tent and now hear he stood, holding my naked body against his bare muscular chest. My breasts were pressed up against his torso, I could feel his breathing become heavy and his sea green eyes were now darker looking down at me with need, I could feel my stomach stir as him and I both became painfully aware of the position we were in. My cheeks turned crimson, I don't understand how I can feel this way in his arms. I only know his name and nothing else aside from the fact that he was a savage so why did I have the urge to press my lips to his, why was the smell of him which was that of firewood and pine so damn intoxicating. His arms around me felt like electricity. Lost in my thoughts of this beautiful man holding me in his arms I didn't notice him move until he helped me back to the edge of the bed to sit and then quickly threw the blanket back around me as if my skin burned him. 

"I..I'm sorry, I thought I could stand." I spoke shyly as my cheeks burned red from the unnatural thoughts that ran through my brain at his touch. It took him a moment to speak "it's okay, I uh.. I just thought you may be hungry. Thought I would see if you wanted something to eat." He was scratching the back of his head he was blushing. "Yes" I replied with a slight smile then my cheeks began to burn more as I whispered "I'm not dressed though." He gave me a sheepish smile "y..yeah, you're right...um, give me a moment I'll see if I can help you out. I will kill my men for looking at you." He stopped his sentence suddenly as he realized that his voice was full of possessiveness. I felt the hair raise all over my skin, my belly churned at the way he had said that. Did he want me? Why does the thought of that bring excitement, I must have really hit my head because I was clearly in danger yet when he took his hands off of my body I wanted to grab them and make him hold me tighter. He asked me to hold on while he walked out of the tent and then returned five minutes later with a big smile stretched across his face "apparently when my men raided your camp they had found some of your belongings, here you go" he said setting the large familiar trunk at my feet. It was my clothes, what a miracle. I thanked him as he left. I was relieved when he walked away because my body was on fire from his touch and my face was beet red. 

I then turned my attention to the chest that belonged to me which I was sure contained something to wear. I dig through it to find a white fitted dress, it was slim fitting and left little for the imagination when it came to men but it was the most modest one I had since my new husband had taken the liberty of arranging a new wardrobe for me that was quite slutty and they all made me cringe at the amount of skin he expected me to show around his fortress, I felt my stomach turn at the thought of him. I slipped myself into the dress then quickly threw my hair into a bun. It was messy and covered in sweat, blood and tears. I took a deep breath and decided to leave the small tent where I had been residing. 

I stepped out into bright warm sunlight, I could hear laughter churning around the large camp, men chatted and others were sparing each and every one of them filled with laughter and joy I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps they weren't monsters at all but people just like us witches. The smell of food cooking over campfires completely enveloped my nose and I could feel my mouth water, my stomach rumbled in anticipation I hadn't ate since the day of my wedding. I stopped outside of the tent, afraid to make any sudden movements until I felt a strong hand rest in my shoulder, I flinched at his touched and turned to be greeted my those sea green eyes again "come over hear and sit, I will bring you some food.," He gestured for me to sit in this small area, with large logs as seats. Men sat all round them stuffing their faces with good smelling salmon and venison. I approached the logs and sat on the one that was empty on the opposite side of the fore, the men looked at me in awe each of them not saying a word. One man broke the silence, his hair was dark and cropped short and he had the similar facial features of Draven only his eyes was a chocolate brown and his expression menacing "well hey their princess, they didn't lie when they said you was an incredible beauty." He said lustfully "Now I see why my brother is having so much trouble with this situation…" he was then cut off by Draven slapping him on the back of the head as if he didn't want the man to continue his sentence "I'm sorry for him" Draven said to me while handing me a plate full of fish and wild berries "This is my younger brother, Mordrid. He has no filter but I assure you that you are safe here and I will not let anyone bother you" I could see the man named Mordrid give Draven a dark look of disapproval. I took the plate and began quickly scarfing down the food, suddenly not caring who watched me, I was starving. I can see out of the corner of my eye that Draven is finally wearing a shirt, thank goodness because him shirtless was driving me insane, him and Mordrid bare now lost in conversation that seemed a bit heated, Mordrid then stood slamming his plate to the ground and said loudly to his older brother "your a idiot Draven, a damn idiot." He then stalked away, everyone was silent now and Draven clearly looked upset as he stood and began to walk the opposite direction to the woods. 

I sat my plate down ignoring the men staring at me as I took off after Draven, I needed to speak with him in private.