[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
[HOLLY’s Point of View]It took me almost five days and four nights to let Alec heal and convince him to go with me to the camp of the Ambroses.My hand rubbed my round belly. I finally felt that pain on my hip as I walked under the tall old trees of the forest. Thankfully, the weather was nice when we decided to start finding the camp. I had to take advantage of the determination that was in Alec’s eyes while the fear wasn’t there. I could tell that his guilt of leaving Mel brought nightmares to him, and to save himself from the guilt, he had to go back and save his mate while it wasn’t too late.And that would be the same with my husband. I had to go there and find him and take him back to Blackwood before the war broke in the city. Beta Kian needed him to protect our home. His people needed him. I needed him.Bullets of sweat covered our faces as we caught the scent of what Alec had told me was the scent of the rogue folks. They smelled like old clothes. Of someone who never had a
[HOLLY’s Point of View]“Mel… Mel…”“Evander,” I breathed after I couldn’t feel my husband anywhere through our bond. “He’s not here, Alec. My husband is not here!”Alec’s jaw tightened as he snapped the silver chain from Mel’s limbs and carried her in his arms.[Holly, I can detect enemies on the surface. You have to go out with your friends before these people go down the pit.] Lily’s voice surprised me as she gave me the warning.[But what about Evander? We have to look for him?] I answered sharply. [There is no way I would go out here without him, Lily!][You will all die here, Holly!] She fumed at me and I never heard Lily speak at me angrily before.Alec looked at me as he stood with Mel still unconscious in his arms. “We can’t stay here any longer, Holly. We have to go and call for the reinforcement now that we know where this camp is! We will get Evander back once you and Mel are safe.]We stared at each other for seconds as if weighing the situation. My heart told me I had to