Chapter 8. Uncertainty

I stood outside of Mordrid's tent, dreading the rage I was about to stir up in him with my change of plans. Mordrid hates changing things, especially if it is going to cost him the revenge he was so dead set on getting as was I, up until I met Anna. I walked into the tent to find him lying on his cot with his hands behind his head. "Thinking of Clair huh?" I stated casually as I sat on a small chair next to his bed. He looked at me with a smirk "yes, she is always on my mind." I let out a sigh "Brother, you aren't going to like this but it is necessary. We will be changing our course of action, we aren't going to war. Instead I believe if we return the princess and explain the situation as well as use the man outside to bare witness to the king and queen that the princesses new husband is treasonous that they would reward us. I believe that if we aid them then we may be able to have peace with much less loss of life for our men." Mordrid shot up from his bed, his face twisted with rage as he began to speak "What the hell Draven, have you lost your damn mind? Why in the hell would you want peace with the very beings who cursed our people, who sent our ancestors to a life of torture and starvation! Our people were forced into shifting into wolves for generations until our great grandfather learned how to control the wolf and taught the packs to do the same. My wife suffers from lack of food and bitter cold daily, as do the rest of our loved ones back home and you want to show these monsters mercy Have you hit your fucking head!?" I waited patiently for him to finish before speaking "They should not have to pay for their ancestors mistakes, Mordrid. They don't even know the true story behind it all according to the princess. Did I want revenge? Yes of course but this may be the best solution because the one thing more important than our revenge is to make peace so maybe then our people can return to this land which is fruitful. That is what's important brother, not our anger. The kingdom is going to be full of civil unrest very soon with the arrogant prince trying to take the throne of Mascovania, if we return their daughter safely and provide them aid with their prince problem then they will owe us, hence a good home for everyone including your mate and wife Clair." My brother looked at me bitterly then spoke "Why shouldn't they suffer for their ancestors mistakes? We all have suffered because of them. Where is the justice for our people's suffering!? And civil war, hah that would be the best time to take it all Draven, the timing couldn't be better. Let them destroy themselves and once it's all said and done we can take out the rest with ease, why the sudden change of heart?" He shouted. I felt irritation bubbling up as I replied "Because I can't do that to her." I shouted back pointing in the direction of my tent where Anna laid. Mordrid laughed sarcastically "So this isn't about peace, it's about your cock controlling your emotions. You have let those pretty blue eyes brainwash you brother, she isn't even your mate your wolf would have made it very clear if she was. Stop this idiocy for a woman you will never have a life with, a rich whore with supernatural power!" His sudden disrespect for Anna lit fire inside of my stomach that I had only felt once before and that was when I witnessed my father taking my mother's head, before I could stop myself I swung at my brother hitting him so hard that blood spewed out of his mouth and nose instantly and he fell to the floor, shock rippled through his face as he looked at me in disbelief. I then used my alpha tone something I have never done towards my baby brother. "You. Will. Not. Disrespect her. I will not tolerate such blatant disregard towards the woman who saved my life tonight. She is the heir to the kingdom and everlasting peace with her secures our people's future, this is no longer up for debate. We will make a truce and bring our people home and we will save lives doing this. You won't get your revenge but one thing you will get is a piece of mind when your wife is able to provide for herself as well as provide for future pups. Look past your rage and think smart!" I spat at him then turned and left his quarters, not wanting to discuss anything further. 

My mind was fighting me, a part of me wanted to be the ruthless man that I was while my wolf howled inside my head in protest, telling me that he refused to cooperate in the destruction of Anna's people and kingdom. Why was my wolf so adamant of her protection and happiness, she wasn't my mate just a pretty face. My brother was at least right about that but even then my wolf growled at the memory of the remarks Mordrid had made towards her. 

I sighed, it has been a very long day I only want to eat and go to sleep, it has to be late. I went to my tent to see Anna who was still unconscious. My wolf howled in approval at the sight of her 'stop acting so damn weird' I told him then he growled back. My wolf was now acting very unusual, he was normally obedient and silent until I let him out but now since I had woken from the attack and caught sight of her my wolf keeps yearning to be near her and honestly I felt exactly the same, like I needed to be near her. The attraction was there when she arrived and her and I spoke at the spring before she knocked me out and took off but when I found her again being attacked by her husband's footman, the urge to stay close was almost unbearable. She must have done some damage when she knocked me unconscious, large rocks seem to be her favorite weapon. lucky I'm a wolf or that blow to the head probably would have killed me, how the blow to the assassin's head didn't kill him is still a miracle to me. I was about to grab extra clothing when I noticed her eyes begin to flutter open slowly, I pulled my desk chair from across the small tent and sat down next to her as she tried to wake  "Are you okay?" I asked lightly trying not to disturb her. She finally woke completely and I was suddenly struck with what felt like lightening, sapphire eyes pierced my very being, my stomach churned and my wolf went crazy as he preached 'mine' in my head over and over again. Shit. She is my mate. My mind churned in confusion, why didn't my wolf notice her before when I first laid eyes on her. That question really didn't matter anymore though, she was my mate and there was no possible way I could resist the pull now, I will forever be her slave. My brother won't like this at all. 

      Anna-leigh's P.O.V

My eyes fluttered open, was I alive? The amount of power I had used to heal Draven should have killed me. I could see a figure next to me through my blurred vision whispering "are you okay?" I managed to open my eyes fully to see his sea green eyes scanning me. He looked tense, his eyes full of hunger, his lingering gaze made my stomach do flips. I suddenly had the urge to throw myself into his arms at the realization that I had saved Draven from death. "You're alive. I didn't know if the spell would work but it did, oh thank God you're alive." I began to cry, the thought of anything bad happening to him made my chest hurt and I honestly couldn't figure out why. His hungry gaze locked on me as he finally spoke "yes, I'm alive surprisingly. I suppose I have you to thank for that." He was now smiling at me. "You had saved my life, I couldn't have possibly let you die." I said, a sob nearly exiting my throat he suddenly leaned closer and took my face into both his hands wiping tears away with his thumbs, his green eyes peered into mine as he spoke "It's okay, don't cry, I'm safe and I'm alive, Anna why are you crying?" I was so lost in his gaze that I didn't realize I was sobbing, the thought of him dying had me in mental turmoil. Confusion swept through my brain, how could I feel so strongly towards this man and they only had gotten stronger since I saw him lying nearly dead in front of me, completely naked. I felt my cheeks get hot then replied "I just… I just don't handle death very well, that is all." I lied. My feelings for this man was something I had never felt before and it terrifies me. He wiped another tear from my cheek and then stood offering me his hand before he spoke. "You and I have some things we need to discuss, about your people and mine. I plan to make peace once you have been safely released to your parents. I withdraw my threats of war." I stared at him in shock then asked "But why, what's changed?" He looked away when he replied almost as if to hide his face "I've realized that peace is the best solution, all I want is for my people to return here. We're we live now is like I said before, cruel and cold. We only want stability for our families, no more talk of revenge." I stared at him puzzled then a question slipped from my mouth before I could stop it "Do you have a family? You know a wife, children?" I regretted the question the moment I asked it.

"No." He replied "us wolves have a sixth sense sort of, we have one mate and our wolf knows the moment we meet our mate, once we meet that one person nothing else in the world matters it's very primal and over powering, then during… uhh.. um during intimacy we mark our mates." His face was now flushed as he described the mating bond of the wolves to me and I was now truly curious. "So it's like love at first sight, that's kind of romantic. So have you found your mate yet?" I said casually he then looked away again when he spoke "yes it is and… well yes I've met her but mine and her relationship could never happen." His face was suddenly sad and I regretted the question. Jealousy gnawed at my insides at the thought of him with another woman, I wanted him with me. I quickly stopped my thoughts, I can't believe I want this man like I do. He countered me with his own curiosity that threw me off guard. "What about witches, is there love at first sight for you as well?"  I smiled at him sadly then spoke "Kind of, a warlock will know when he meets his true love by instinct but for us women we will know by our change in power, the women are sacred in our community as well as breathtakingly powerful, we witches contain so much power that by the laws of nature we can't harness that power unless our hearts have known true love. We have to know love to receive our gifts, otherwise it can be used for great destruction. The love in our hearts humbles us, making us more determined to use our great power for good and not evil." He looked at me in amazement "So the women are the most powerful, it makes sense why your husband mistreated you, he clearly has a power issue and he must not want you to be stronger than himself." 

I looked at Draven confused "I would say that he is cruel and arrogant, but a power issue? I mean he's already to be king of Nashard what more power does he need?" Draven looked at me with concern written all over his face "He tried to have you assassinated and according to his assassin he is adamant about ending your life, he has already sent word to your parents that you are dead and from what the wretch said he plans to use your death as cause to take your kingdom." Fear rippled through my body "The crown matrimonial, if I die without a child my throne by law goes to my husband. He will be king, but why would he go through the trouble, my father still rules…… unless… unless he's planning to have my parents killed as well, that would give him the keys to my kingdom, he would have to plan a coup. Oh my God, he's going to use my death as a way to rally the people's support behind him. Once he has my people's support he can destroy my parents." Panic washed over my body "I can't allow him to do this, I have to return home to warn my family Colby is going to start a civil war between my people, I HAVE to stop him!" I jumped up and began looking for shoes in my chest, I suddenly felt Dravens hands around my waist as he pulled me down to sit on the bed he then used his hypnotic green eyes to capture mine as he spoke softly "Calm down, I am going to return you to your parents. You are no longer my hostage, but before I do so I need you to look better than you do now. I don't want them to believe I have neglected you otherwise we may never see peace. Their is a hot spring not far from here, I was about to go bathe before you woke I believe it would do you some good to join me." My face flushed and deep into my abdomen I felt fire at his request. He must have seen my expression when he corrected himself "I...I didn't mean for you to join me join me, I only meant for you to accompany me down to the springs, there are more than one bathing spot… so of course you would have your privacy." He said clearly embarrassed. I smiled a genuine smile at him "yes, I would like that." I knew I hadn't bathed in a few days and I'm sure I reak of nature, blood and sweat. I stood and found a short lace red dress inside of the chest I also found some black shoes with no heels that would work perfectly for the terrain I was stuck in for the moment. Once him and I both had what we needed gathered up we left the tent and headed towards the spring, all the men in the camp were eyeing us curiously, some whispering to one another and giggling like little girls. They must be thinking bad things, however who could blame them, I was walking into the night to take a bath in a spring at the same time as this handsome God of a man. 

As we walked through the woods the moon shown brightly, reflecting off his handsome features. I wanted badly to touch him to taste him, I have never felt this way before and it confused me, the swirling in my belly was becoming uncomfortable my need for this man was almost irresistible, but I could show that in any way. Him and I could never be, he was a wolf with a mate as he had said and I a princess with a cruel and sick husband. My stomach rumbled and I was exhausted, I then realized that it must be very late. With the events of everything I had honestly lost track of time. Weade casual conversation as we walked down the beaten down path to the springs, turns out he was very good company, his presence ever fulfilling and that brought me a sense of joy then a sense of jealousy again, his mate was a lucky woman. We arrived at the springs, large boulders stood throughout the center of the small lake separating part of it making some places more private than others. I felt relief when I understood what he meant by my privacy.

"I will go to the other side and bathe princess, you will have complete privacy, once I am done I will wait for you and we can go back to camp to get good and some much needed rest." Draven said calmly "Thank you, I appreciate that." I replied then watched him walk away into the night, all I could see of him now was the large moon light glistening off his Raven black hair and then he was gone. Once I was sure I was alone I peeled the torn white fabric that used to be my dress from my bruised body then slowly stepped into the warm swirling water until it reached my chest, I dunked my head into the relaxing water. I could feel the dirt and grime leave my body, making me feel alot better. I continued to wash and scrub until I was as clean as I possibly could be without the use of soap. My stomach rumbled and I realized just how hungry I was so I reluctantly left the warm spring and began to dry myself then slipped on the beautiful little red lace dress I had extracted from my trunk back at the camp. After slipping my shoes on I walked back towards the trail where Draven and I had parted to see that he was already there waiting patiently for me just as he had said. He was now cleaned up, he was much more handsome under the dirt and grime. This man takes my breath away every time I lay eyes on him.