LucianI was right all along, my suspicions about maddox. He definitely had a hand in this. I was lost in thought that I didn’t know my focus had shifted. One of the rogues quickly lunges at me, full of claws and teeth. I braced myself for a counter attack but before I could move, a blur of motion moved past me. My head-warrior, Gareth, clashed into the rogue, ripping his claws at its stomach. “Not today,” he growled, working his claws into the rogue’s stomach and chest. I gave Gareth a quick nod of thanks before shifting my attention back into the fight. The odds were totally against our favor. My eyes darted to Maddox again, who was eerily calm on his horse. “Maddox, is this your doing?” I roared. Maddox turned to me, his face stone cold. “You think I’d let the rogues kill me too? At least just trust me for once.”Before I could give him a response, Maddox tilted his head backwards and let out a terrifying howl that echoed throughout the forest. The sound was so powerful that I
LucianThe rogue’s blade glistened under the sunlight as it pressed dangerously against the girl’s throat, drawing a thin line of blood that bead from where the blade broke her skin. The little girl whimpered, her big eyes wide and full of terror, and at that moment I felt my confidence waver. “I said drop your weapons,” the rogue snarled again, his voice dripping with malice. I clenched my fist tight beside me, my claws begging to free themselves between my folded palm. For a moment, I felt the urge to lunge at the rogue and save the poor girl. But then again, one wrong move could cost her life. My eyes darted around, my heart racing as I analyzed the scene before me. Alpha Maddox, Gareth and our warriors were all ready to fight, their bodies tense and beads of sweat rolled down their faces as the sun bathed us with its scorching glow. Everyone was ready, but the girl’s life was the weight I couldn’t ignore. I can’t afford to fail this sacred pack on the first time of meeting t
FionaHours stretched on into eternity as I was forced to witness the nightmare unfold before me. The warriors were breathing slowly, their bodies were unrecognizable under the layers of blood and bruises. Their groans and muffled cries pierced into my soul. But I just couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me. The rogue king watched with sinister satisfaction all along, waiting for the moment when they would give in, his cruel eyes shimmering as that of a predator messing with its prey. He was also trying to break me. That by forcing me to watch the warriors being tortured in horror, he would force me to reveal the truth. But I just couldn’t, I couldn’t allow myself to be responsible for the destruction of my pack by giving him information he wanted. I clenched my fists tight behind me, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to keep myself composed. The warriors still didn’t talk. Despite the searing hot rods pressed against their skin, relentless beatings and blades be
FionaMy vision blurred as I blinked my eyes hard, drifting back into consciousness. My neck throbbed with intense pain from where the rogue king’s claw had dug into my flesh. The pain gradually began to dull as I peeled myself from the cold ground, my wolf’s healing was slowly kicking in. The sound of battle was still raging outside—snarls, howls, the clash of body and metals, the harsh mixture of sounds that finally pulled me awake. My head felt heavy as I planted my feet into the ground. My eyes scanned the room to see that the rogue king was gone. However, he wasn’t the top of my worries nor was the loud noise of battle erupting from outside. It was the name that had filled me with hope and anticipation right before everything went black. Orion. My brother who had been missing for so long that he was presumed dead by some silver fang pack members and elders. I could remember Lucian also losing hope on ever finding him. Could it really be him? Hope and fear warred within me at
FionaHis arms pressed against my neck, squeezing breath out of my lungs. The icy contact of his dagger ate at my skin. My blood trickled down in a thin, warm line as the blade made a slight cut on my neck. “Stay back!” He ordered Orion, who attempted to take a step closer. I dared a glance at Orion. My brother, tall and unyielding, his eyes blazed with fury and his growl shook the ground. But there he stood, frozen, unable to help me from the hands of this madman. His warrior wolves stood at a distance, their entire fur bloodied with victory, their gazes locked on me and the rogue king with helpless anger. “Let her go,” Orion growled once again. “ she’s not a part of this,” he said. The rogue king laughed in a dark manner, his breath hot and irritating to my ear. “Oh I think she is, isn’t she? You have given me the perfect chance for my escape, Orion. Her precious life for my escape. That seems very fair, doesn’t it?”“You’re never going to go free, darmacus.” Orion replied thro
LucianThe chain bit at my wrist like acid as we trudged further into the dense forest. The rogue wolves held out their sharp blades to ensure that nobody fell out of line. I glanced at Maddox who walked ahead of me, his face had been masked in restrained anger. He had barely said a word ever since we had left the sacred pack. Curse those wolves. However, Maddox’s anger wasn’t even directed at the rogues. It was directed at me, I knew it even if his eyes were staring at me. I had made the deadly mistake of trusting a stranger, a gullible move that wouldn’t have been attempted by even a pup. I kept drowning in my own thoughts or failure. The death of Maddox warriors and mine weighed on me just as much as it weighed on him. But I knew that this wasn’t the time for guilt or apology. We needed to focus on our survival. Ahead of me, my head warrior Gareth walked under the rogue’s command, his step measured. He was also a bit disappointed in me and I could feel it. The feelings hurt e
LucianAfter all that had happened here, I could only hope that she was safe in the hands of that person that have taken her. “We need to distract Maddox, and try to find her before he does,” Dexter suggested. “You’re right, but what if she’s not alone? What if facing another army of rogues alone?” I asked through mindlink. “Then we fight for our mate,” Dexter growled, and suddenly I realized how much of a coward I was to have thought like that. I sighed and then replied, “and that’s what we will do.”“Good.”I turned to gareth wh was still examining the dead bodies and gestured for him to come over, doing my best not to attract Maddox attention. “What’s the matter alpha?” Gareth asked as soon as he got close to me. “I need a favor,” I replied, my eyes darting around to see if any of Maddox’s warrior was watching my conversation with Gareth, but fortunately they were all too busy searching the area. “You have me at your disposal, alpha,” Gareth bowed his head slightly. I nodde
Lucian“I suspected,” I said carefully, trying to keep my tone even. “The scent……her scent was faint and I did want to say anything until I was sure.”Maddox narrowed his eyes down at me, and for a moment I thought he was going to accuse me of something outright, but instead he turned to his warriors. “Double your efforts, we might be onto something here.” He said, his lips curling into a smirk. I shook my head in disbelief and I watched the warriors obey immediately and started combing out the area. My stomach churned with unease, hoping that Fiona wasn’t anywhere close to this area. Maddox knew she could be close now, he had a chance to punish her for what she did to his daughter and I was positive that he would take that advantage at any chance he got. I took another look at the fall from the cliff’s edge. The blood confirmed that she had definitely been here, but where could she have gone? The cliff was too high for anyone to survive a fall. And yet, her scent had ended abruptl
LucianI took another swig of the horrid whiskey. I wasn’t a drinker—I never was, but the burning sensation in my throat is exactly what I needed for now. I need to make myself forget about her—about her betrayal. I was going to talk to my elders about why the secret of our mission to the sacred pack was exposed to the pack members, but as soon as I received that letter on my warrior’s dead body, the topic had to change. Dexter stirred uneasily inside me, and I was mirroring every pain, anger and frustration he was going through in the space of my mind. How can our mate, who was so meek and gentle, be capable of something so cruel?I fiddled the letter in-between my fingers. I didn’t want to believe that she could be behind this, but there it was. Her scent. Lingering faintly in the air, and clinging into my senses like the talons of a falcon to its prey. I flipped the letter open again for the hundredth time this morning. My eyes carefully scan each word like they could suddenly h
FionaThe woods fell silent, the tension hanging thick in the air. Pius stared at his subordinates dead in their eyes. And I knew it. My plan worked. He doesn’t want to be the only loose end. Deep down he also wanted to involve them in his mess. The moment stretched on for eternity as Pius weighed his options. He looked down at me briefly before looking back at his angry men. And just when it felt like he wouldn't give in, he pointed his finger out. “That one is xais,” he said, pointing to the person on the right. Xais growled, “you bastard,” he yelled, unsheathing his sword. Pius didn't seem to be bothered or even slightly moved by his outburst. He simply just pointed to the person on the right, “and this is Damiel,” he revealed. Damiel expected it. He didn’t growl or fidget uncomfortably. He stood calm, but yet his expression spoke of anger at their superior, who had just ratted them out. “I have kids, Pius, if you say my name, the alpha won’t spare my family once he finds ou
Fiona“What’s so funny?” Pius growled, tightening the chain around my wrist, and I winced at the pain. Even with the pain, my smile didn't waver. I couldn’t help it. The joy that was starting to grow inside me. If mera was still inside me, then I can still prevent this war between Orion and Lucian from happening. Pius growled at me for my continuous smiling but later, he ignored me. His subordinates were done unbuckling the horse. Pius shoved me forward once more, and at that moment, it hit me. An idea that can help me keep these men distracted while I find a means of escape. “Hey, pius,” I called, looking over my shoulder. He let out another growl, this time it caught the attention of the other men. His hand found my neck, and in the twinkle of an eye, I was gasping for breath. “Don’t you dare say my name ever again, do you hear me?” He yelled, holding my neck for a moment longer, waiting for an answer. And I nodded quickly. He slightly pushed me back as he released his grip fr
FionaMy eyelids felt heavy as I peeled them open. I blinked hard, trying to figure out where I was. The scent of old wood filled my nostrils, my eyes darted around to see that I was in a confined space—a four-cornered wooden space. My head felt bigger than usual as I motioned to sit up. I winced at the banging headache that welcomed me back to life. The space I was in was so small that all I could do was sit up. Even as I sat up, my head was almost touching the roof. As my senses slowly came back together, I began to hear muffled voices outside the space I was in. There were men talking and laughing, the sound of a horse snorting, and the creaking sound of a rolling wheel. I was moving. I was in a carriage—on a horse. A regular carriage would maybe be nicer, unlike this one. It had no windows, and the only Just as the realization hit me, the carriage went into a gallop, harsh enough to make me fall back on my side. The carriage came to a sudden stop, jerking violently before slig
FionaMy breath caught and I felt my chest tighten at the sight in front of me. I wouldn’t have had a problem with the beta making out with the pack doctor, but it was what Rhena had just said that made my stomach churned. My mind reeled back to the not-too-long moment when she had brought the pills. Without thinking much of it, I peeled myself off from the wall, slow enough to not make a sound, but fast enough to get myself back to my room. I needed to vomit those pills before they fully dissolved inside my system. Even though I had no idea what kind of pill she had given me, the way she spoke and laughed with Beta Nox, made me think—it was definitely something not good. My legs moved fast but quiet on the cold marble floor. I shuffled back into my room, my chest tightening as a wave of panic washed over me. My mind spirals with a series of thoughts and questions. Why in the goddess name would Rhena want to take me out?I stumbled into the bathroom, and I could feel my limbs slowl
Fiona“Are you threatening me now?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. My stomach twisted disgustingly at where this conversation was heading. “No,” he answered, his tone sharp as he began slowly pacing the room, “if anything, I’m trying to help you, Fiona.”“Don’t say my name like it belongs on your tongue,” I snapped, but my voice was controlled in order not to draw any attention from outside. “What’s coming is far more important than your name—far more deadly,” he said while still pacing the room without bothering to take a single glance at me. He moved more confidently than the last time before I had stupidly spilled my secret to him. That was the weapon he was trying to use against me now. I hated the feeling that was beginning to crawl up inside me—a feeling of being under control. I could end it all—his control or whatever idea he was offering. My brother might not be in a good mood with me but I could still put an end to his scrutiny, and maybe his life cost him along the line.
FionaIt took nothing more than a moment before the footsteps of several warriors could be heard rushing upstairs. My mind began to spin with finding a solution—an excuse, maybe?How was I going to explain to Orion what his personal spy was doing in my room? What will I do when the lone wolf spills the secret about my pregnancy to Orion?My mind was a complete mess as I panicked, not knowing what to do next. And just as I expected, the door bursts open and warriors of different heights and shapes swarm in. All of them looked frantically around the room like their greatest enemy was in here. They passed beside me like I wasn’t even there, checking every corner of the room. That was when I realized. The lone wolf. I whipped around to see that he had vanished from behind me, my eyes darted around the room, checking if he had somehow managed to hide himself away from the eyes of all these warriors. Even though it may seem to be the only logical explanation for his sudden disappearance,
Fiona“How dare you put a dagger up against me?” I questioned calmly, knowing fully well that he wouldn't hurt me in my brother’s pack. “You know very well what will happen to you if Orion finds a single mark on my skin. I’ll advise you to step back and put the blade down now, or you might regret it.”His chest heaved and fell, his nose flaring as he could barely control his breath under the force of his rage, “I won’t regret it if I got a chance to kill Damascus. You should be the one worried about what I’ll do if you don’t let me have my chance to kill him.” He pressed the dagger even more but it didn't draw any blood. In his voice, I could sense the pain—the hurt like Damascus had taken something valuable from him. The way he fought back tears made me even more sympathetic with him but the blade held against my throat was beginning to somehow trigger my annoyance. I let out a sharp exhale, attempting to steady my breath and calm my nerves. I didn’t want to scream and let Orion f
FionaHis words didn’t sound like a request. There was hastiness in his tone, showing that he wanted whatever conversation we were about to have to end as quickly as possible. At that moment he no longer looked intimidating like he once did when I first saw him. My heart still leapt with fear of the unexpected present but I masked my face with ease, forcing a confidence that wasn’t there. I didn’t respond to him immediately, instead I took my time to walk deliberately slowly towards the mirror desk. The chair made a small scraping noise as I pulled it backwards. Tension flashed in the lone wolf’s eyes for a second before he quickly replaced it with his stone cold gaze. I sat, and began to slowly take off my earrings, “I haven’t even accepted your request yet, and you're already talking about getting something in return.”He shifted his posture like he was beginning to get uncomfortable. I enjoyed it, the way my confidence made him twitch uncomfortably. I felt a small rush of adrena