Chapter 4

Veronica's POV

What awaits me on the other side could be hell.

I am not sure what to expect when they told me that I will be sacrificed and sent to the Helios pack for the treaty. So far, they have yet to kill me.

At first, I thought that we would be treading the cold on foot. Or maybe just me, as a punishment or initiation but I was shocked to see that there was a carriage waiting once we crossed the river. They gestured for me to hop in so I did.

“Do not look through the windows,” the gruff voice of one of the three representatives of the Helios clan told me. I still could not make out their faces because my eyes are really blurry now, my headache is becoming worse.

I said no complaints and simply followed them. I am still gauging how they act, I don’t want to make a mistake and suddenly anger them. I am on thin ice.

For a second, escaping crossed my mind but I knew that it would be too risky. I am not in my best condition and even if I manage to pull it off somehow, I wouldn’t know where to go from then.

The carriage started moving. I was not sure if they used horses or if one of them shifted to pull the weight. I am curious why they instructed me to not look outside but did not dare to do otherwise. Most likely, they do not want me to map out their territory. Smart move.

It was just dark inside the carriage so I just closed my eyes. My body felt the toll of my current state now that I could rest a little.

While I close my eyes, I cannot help but think about the bloody red eyes I locked gazes with earlier. I could still feel the shiver that went down my spine earlier so I am sure that it is real.

Werewolf eye colors are gold in general. However, mine turned purple because of my bloodline. I have never learned as to why but it was pretty rare and it’s the thing that my stepmother has always been so keenly interested about.

Red eyes are different. I haven’t heard of actual wolves owning red eyes, even the lines of the exceptional Prime Alphas. Maybe I was hallucinating, after all?

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt the vehicle stop. It has probably been around an hour since we crossed the border. I am not sure if they are taking me to their packhouse or they could have a separate prison for me.

I squinted my eyes when the door of the carriage opened. It was still late at night but the constant darkness made my eyes hurt with just a little light.

“We have arrived,” I stared at the person speaking to me. I have noticed that they are wearing a cloak with the hood over their head now. I am certain that they didn’t wear one before.

Why are they trying to hide their faces from me? Do they think I am a spy sent here?

The cloaked person offered their hand to me. I was hesitant for a second but my weak legs and knees pushed me to take it. Slowly, I stepped down from the carriage.

I stared at my surroundings. The cold was biting my skin the moment I stepped outside. My eyes adjusted in the dark and aside from the looming forest trees, the big mansion in front of me caught my attention.

The Helios pack has always been the strongest in the North but the staggering difference became shocking for me to witness firsthand. Our packhouse is not even half as big as theirs.

Suddenly, I heard the clanking of the chains to the floor. I felt my arms lightening, I stared at the red marks from the shape of the chain on the pale skin of my wrists. Then, the shackles on my feet followed. My eyes went wide.

“Wha—” I looked up to the person in front of me who had the keys and unlocked my chains. “Why did… What is t-this?”

I gulped. My voice was hoarse from my dehydrated state and the stammer I let out revealed the fear I was trying to mask and bury deep inside me.

“The chains are unnecessary,” he said. His voice is definitely a man’s. My senses recovered a little from the lack of the chain with the wolfsbane that I could tell as much that he is a Beta.

Thank you, “Okay.”

It is probably pathetic to thank them for releasing me so I just swallowed the lump in my throat. I cannot trust so easily. That is something that is ingrained in me now.

They started walking and he nodded to gesture to me that I should follow him. He walked in front of me while the other two slowed down to my sides as if guarding me.

I trailed behind him quietly. The steps towards the entrance were a bit challenging as I am barely starting to heal. Even my healing abilities could not so rapidly have me recovered in mere seconds. The exhaustion is still too much.

My mind is spacing out. Racing with thoughts of what will happen to me now. Filled with intense emotions and raging overthinking. I cannot focus on one thing that I did not even look around, just mindlessly following the Beta in charge to guide me.

Somehow, we stopped in front of big doors. I am not sure how we arrived here. The Beta turned to me.

“Your room,” he says simply.

“Room?” I asked, head tilting in confusion. I get a room, not a prison?

“Yes. Room. Head inside and do not leave without the guards. Ask them if you need anything,” he pointed to the other two we were with and I glanced at them before looking at him again.

So I am a fancy prisoner.

He started leaving without saying anything else. I turned to my feet and without thinking, I raised my voice to ask.

“The Alpha! Am I gonna meet your Alpha?”

He paused in his tracks and without looking back, he told me,

“You will not meet the Alpha. The Alpha will meet you.”