My body swayed heavily but from what, I don't know. Wherever I was, my arms were restrained painfully over my head. I couldn't lift my head to look at my surroundings so I sagged, now staring at my lap as my eyes forced themselves to focus and clear away the haze.
As they did, I noticed I was covered in a bloodstained sheet in which I'm guessing was a large tunic of sorts.
Why is it so bloodied?
Just as the question crossed my mind, warm liquid trickled down the side of my face and down the bridge of my nose; dipping with agonizing speed onto my 'tunic' and thighs.
My blood? Why am I bleeding?
Then it hit me. The flashbacks from the attack hit me like vertigo.
**FLASHBACK**
It had been one autumn since the Battle of Avonbeg. No one had heard from Olufemi or even caught wind of Calder and his pack's movements.
It wasn't until a week before the attack, wolves ambushed one of King Garrick's patrols on our territory. It was unclear if it was from a neighboring pack or skelmar but it was shown as a declaration of war.
A betrayal of high regard.
A peace treaty demolished.
The only warning we got after that was an army. The King never received our letter for our courier was also ambushed and hanged on display for everyone who passed him to see as was the others.
By time Evenora was able to preform the magic it would take to send a letter, it was already too late for the King's army was on their way. Even though it was sent, it had nowhere to now go.
By time they reached our village, it was far too late. The most we could do was assemble and meet the army head on with our own.
Every warrior, shieldmaiden, werewolf, lycan and other race, littered the clearing, trying to keep the army far enough away from the village so that those mothers and nursemaids who had children, could flee from the opposite side, away from the appending chaos.
Once both were facing each other, Alistair, Gavrill and I shared a worried glance as we approached the center of the clearing.
The King met us along with his, I assume, Advisor and Calder.
"Alistair Lejos, Alpha werewolf to Dark Wood, have taken the kindness I have given for your kind and destroyed it by slaughtering my patrol like wild game," King Garrick boomed.
"Your majesty, I assure you, under the Gods above, we did no such thing," Alistair said calmly but his own resolve was teetering upon it's edge.
When the King said nothing, I took a breath and stepped forward, bowing.
"Your majesty, sire, what the Alpha says is true. It was not us who attacked your men. Even our own men have been blatantly ambushed trying to send word to you of the matter."
Keeping my head lowered, King Garrick moved his horse to stand in front of me, pulling my chin up with a gloved hand to face him.
"State your name, rank and species, woman."
"Noir Lejos, mate to Alistair Lejos and Luna to Dark Wood. I'm a halfbreed, much like my husband," I said.
Alistair and I had become unionized moons after the battle with Calder. Still, hearing me claim his name in such a situation brought me pride but also fear for I felt I might have overstepped.
"My Lord, if I may," Calder interjected which resulted in an unexpected growl from me which caused the King to remove his hand from my face.
"This pack has brutally attacked members of my own pack, myself included and disrespected you by attacking and slaughtering your soldiers. This one in particular is dangerous. If we do not kill her, might I suggest imprisonment?"
Fear rolled down my spin and into my gut followed by Alistair's.
How could the King believe this nonsense?
After a moment, much too uncomfortable for anyone's liking, the King once again spoke.
"I've heard all about the rampaging, murders and attacks that has stained this pack's once stainless reputation due to your wife. I will make a deal with you though that I think will benefit us all, Alistair."
When no one spoke, the King continued.
"In an exchange for mercy on yourself and your pack, you will hand over this woman."
Fear.
Anger.
Hurt.
Emotions hit me like a ton of cobblestone as I shook under the lies and the deception before being yanked back into a hard chest.
"No. If you want her, you will come through me," Alistair shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"And me," Gavrill spoke up with equal measure before the entire army erupted into angry shouts.
"Very well," was all the King said before retreating back to his own army, his advisor and Calder in toe.
"Running back to our own army, Alistair spun me around, crashing his lips into mine.
"Whatever happens, survive. I will find you," was all he said before the warhorn cleaved through the chaos.
Evenora was struck down and vanished. When I saw that Triaa was in trouble, I shifted, letting Faelen take over before a voice over the madness caught Faelen's attention.
In the distance, Shiloh screamed and when I followed her line of sight, Olcan and Hael were cornered.
Faelen howled before rushing towards them, the smell of blood, sweat and smoke, almost gagging us. Faelen crashed into a soldier, her massive jaws repeatedly biting and ripping at the mans helm before it was gone and nothing but crushed bone remained in her mouth.
Blood dropped from her jowls while her tongue flicked over her gums and teeth as she turned on others. Their fear gave opening for Hael and Olcan, immediately greeted by Eskil, to eradicate the remaining soldiers in thecircle.
Throwing her head up again, Faelen howled once more and this time it wasn't a warning but a plea for help. If Haaken or Bjarke were nearby, they would hear it and bring reinforcements.
But before the howl was finished, an arrow hit Faelen in the shoulder, then another and another.
It didn't seem to phase her until she began to shake before falling to the ground, writhing in pain. She thrashed and began foaming at the mouth; she called out but before anyone could help, Faelen vanished and I was left naked and blooded on the ground.
My eyesight was blotching in and out of focus but I was able to catch glances at the carnage around me.
Snowball's once ivory fur was now crimson as he fought to keep Kiba safe, joined by Rayshon.
Olcan protected Fern.
Eskil and Herlief were back to back as Hael looked around in a raged panic before his eyes landed on mine.
Without hesitation, Hael ran towards me but he didn't get far as two arrows pelted his side and another in his thigh.
Much like Faelen, Hael collapsed and thrashed in pain before transforming back into Alistair.
At least he is alive.
I sighed in silent relief and hoped that the King's soldiers thought him to be possibly dead but when a man walked up to him and slung Alistair over his shoulder, I knew that was false hope.
A short time later, someone else approached me, ripping the arrows from my body before jerking me up by my hair.
"I'll see you soon, mutt," was all I heard before I was dropped again and met with darkness as a boot collided with my face.
**END OF FLASHBACK**
Jolting upright, my vision was clear, well, as clear as it could be at the moment as I examined my surroundings.
A cage?
Looking to my right, I saw two men.
A wagon. I'm in a caged carriage.
With that realization I called out to River and Faelen but neither answered.
Panic began to set it.
I was scared.
So scared and the fear became crippling when I realized I was alone in the wagon.
My palms are sweaty and the adrenaline coursing through my veins was shutting down my ability to think logically. I wanted to run or beat the hell out of my captors, either would do but wouldn't happen as I was chained, dangling like meat in a market stall.
I began to thrash, pulling at the chains that held my arms over my head and screamed. I screamed profanities, I screamed for help, to the Gods, I screamed for Alistair— but nothing came except the harsh shouts from the coachmen and the soldier's walking alongside the wagon, reaching between the spaced bars now that I'm awake.
When I bit a man's hand, the wagon stopped and the creaking of a door could be heard opening then I was jerked up by my face as a man shoved a vail in my mouth, forcing a pungent liquid down my throat.
When he backed up, I didn't have time to recover from a coughing fit as a fist collided with my face, spiraling me back into darkness.