I told Sheiyan everything that my husband told me, and we didn’t waste any second.We didn’t even bother packing things and went straight to the convoy that Beta Kian arranged for the both of us. My heart was pounding every second that Kian yelled instructions to his men to guard us with their lives, and Sheiyan made sure I was comfortable as she and Kian talked for fifteen minutes as the Beta gave Evander’s sister instructions. I watched how Kian’s face hardened as Sheiyan’s tears rolled down her face, and he dried it with his fingers before he pulled her into a tight embrace.That was how serious the situation was. If we didn’t leave immediately, we would all die in the hands of Irina’s men, and the bloodline of the Wakeham would end. Randalf would succeed in all his plans of kicking my father from his throne.I averted my eyes when Shei finally pulled away from Kian and went running straight inside the car. She slammed the door shut as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand,
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]“Hey! Where are you taking him!”Melinda’s voice echoed all over the prison pit where the enemies held us. Alec was too weak to even yell and glared at the prison guards as they put a collar on my neck and chained my hands together to drag me somewhere.I had a huge feeling Randalf had sent them to get me.“Shut up, hybrid! You disgust me!” One of the rogues spat in front of Melinda. Alec lunged himself on the beast but was held back by the chains that bound them to the brick wall. Melinda was so fear-stricken that her face went moon white. Her eyes widened after the rogue yanked me, and my weary body fell to the ground with a loud thud.My vision blackened for seconds as every inch of me ached. I could end that rogue in a blink of an eye, but it won’t help the three of us. I looked at Melinda and Alec and nodded slightly, telling them I would be okay. Melinda cried, but Alec understood that he had to stay alert to protect Mel if the situation escalate
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]The whole prison pit was filled with the noise of the chains as the prison guard brought me back from Irina’s tent after Irina decided I was too boring to accompany her the whole night.I was so lightheaded that I didn’t even bother looking at Melinda and Alec’s faces. Beads of sweat trailed down my face and body as the filthy smell of the pit overwhelmed my noise, making my other senses dull and numb. Every inch of me screamed pain and my throat and tongue felt like sandpaper in my mouth.Water was all my body pleading while I was chained back against the cold, bricked wall.How many days had we been staying in this cursed place? Three? Five? I already lost track of time. All I knew was we had to think of a plan for how to get away from here before their forces reached Blackwood and other parts of the realm. I miss Holly. Despite my body slowly deteriorating without food and water, my mind fought back as I thought about my wife and my child waiting fo
[HOLLY’s Point of View]Sweat rolled from my temple and trickled down my chin.I opened my eyes slowly, and I found myself in the middle of a burning forest. So scorching hot that I smelled my hair singed from the flames. Embers flew above like fireflies dancing in the wind, and I couldn’t scream; I couldn’t even let out a single sound from my parched throat while watching with horror everything that was being licked by the raging fire. I saw figures squirming, wriggling, and screaming in agony amid the blazing inferno, and I sobbed. I sobbed and screamed, wanting this horrible vision to go away. To stop playing in my head as everything dies and turns into ashes.I closed my eyes, and the crackling noises of burning trees stopped. The shrieks and the terrifying uproar of death disappeared just as much as the scorching heat. The first thing I did was check for any burns on my skin, and I found nothing. Then I realized I was in a different place. A place where it smelled so rancid and d
[HOLLY’s Point of View]Kian did just as he promised. The other morning, while we were having breakfast, he told me the convoy was already waiting for Shei and me to transport us straight to the Snakewood Palace.I smiled at him and pretended everything was normal—that nothing despicable was playing in my head as I ate my normal breakfast and drank a glass of milk. My baby moved in my belly as if delighted by the delicious meal and I smiled sweetly, knowing that the pup and I would be going to have a little adventure together later.To complete my plan, I packed some things, telling Kian and Sheiyan that I wanted to stay in the palace for a few days. I packed a suitcase and a small string bag, which had large shirts and stretchable leggings for my growing belly. Kian eyed the bag, curious why it was separated from my things but I told him I separated my underwear and packed it there and he didn’t ask any more about it.Shei looked hesitant to leave. I could see in her eyes how she wan
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]I felt like I was going to collapse at any moment.The silver chain that they used to bind me was not an ordinary one that could only burn the skin. This one had the effect of draining power and strength from anyone that has contact with it. I didn’t know such a weapon existed, but knowing that it was from Randalf, I shouldn’t feel surprised at all. He had been smuggling and breaking so many rules that I would even think he was also possessing guns with silver bullets that had been banned inside the realm for almost a century.It was drizzling, and the cold rain felt soothing on the skin. Goddess help me, the foul smell from the prison pit that was stuck on my skin dulled my nose—it confused me to a distinct smell as the prison guard dragged me again outside to a tent. It was larger than Irina’s tent, though, and was surrounded by guards wearing brown linen, all barefooted.The rogues—it was as if modernization from other societies never reached them—or
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]The lightning illuminated the foul-smelling prison cells and I found my way to where my friends were.[Suck a dumb idea!] Leo, my wolf, snarled in my head as I grappled my way down the wet stairs. I cursed when my foot slipped and the sharp rock cut my ankle.[Shut up, Leo. I am not leaving without them.] My jaw tightened as I snarled back on my wolf. [I will never forgive myself if anything happened to Mel. I promised Holly I would take her back alive.][You can save them once you return here with reinforcements, fool!] Leo scowled at me. [It's your only chance to go back to the pack—]My eyes glinted red through the darkness and Leo pursed his mouth against his teeth as he sensed that great rage in me. I sighed when he finally went silent and I glared as I went down the dark hallway towards the sound where I heard the echoing of Mel’s small sobs.The rainwater dripping from the ceiling of the cavelike prison sounded like a ticking clock, which reminde
[HOLLY’s Point of View]I couldn’t believe my eyes.I found a small cave near the stream before nightfall, a blessing for Alec and me to protect ourselves from the predators roaming in the mountain. I gathered bushes and branches to cover the mouth of the cave, thankful that the moonlight was bright enough to illuminate the area while I forced him to drink water.“Alec…” I murmured while watching his bare chest move—his breath was shallow and fast. He wasn’t sweating, and I was scared because he was burning like hell.I took a shirt from my backpack and drenched it with cold water from the stream to wipe the grime and filth on his skin.“What happened Alec?” I asked, my voice croaking as I studied the pain on his face. It was as if they were tortured for so many weeks after they were caught by the mountain rogues. “Where is my husband? Where is Mel? What happened to the three of you?”Alec groaned as his back arched in pain. There was something in him that brought agony to his face, a