Awakened by the sound of something resembling a carriage, Sophia gasped loudly and touched her surroundings with her hands.
Soil…again?
Her fingertips moved from the ground to the uncomfortable material on her body. Her breathing quickened as it finally hit her that the witch had indeed sent her back to the 17th century.
This was Sophia's last shot to save time for the love of her life, and she would take it.
"I need to hide." She got up from the ground and adjusted the thin white dress clinging to her body. The sound of the carriage got closer, and she could tell whoever it was, was nearby.
If there was one thing she had learned from books, it was not to trust anyone at this time of age—so she took the easiest way out and hid behind a tree.
She didn't know how, but she had to find her way to the palace and find the book of the hidden sword. That was the only way to kill him.
Lycan Castiel.
She swallowed her breath as the sound of the carriage grew louder and dug her nails into the wood.
Peeking from the tree, her eyes admired the beautiful wagon and the eye-catching white horse in front.
Behind the carriage were men that looked like knights, accompanied by their horses.
"Stop!" A male voice called out, making the carriage stop instantly.
No, no, no.
Please don't head in this direction.
Her jaw nearly dropped as a tall and handsome male stepped out.
She didn't know whether she was mesmerized by his look or the golden silk robe over his shoulders.
This was a nobleman.
Anyone could tell.
If anything, someone like him shouldn't find her.
"You behind that tree!" Her world came crashing down in a matter of seconds. "You can come out now!" The man who had stepped out of the carriage knew of her presence.
'Don't go, Sophia.' Her conscience kept telling her. Noble people from the past were not lovely. They were always the villains.
Defeated, she took a deep breath.
"Do you want us to get her, sire?" One knight had jumped from his horse.
Sire?
It was the confirmation she needed to know that the man held a title of importance.
A lord, perhaps.
"No." He cracked a smile. "She'll come out and reveal herself."
Not wanting to cause more trouble, Sophia sighed softly and appeared from behind the tree.
Maybe if she wouldn't be a burden, he would be on his way.
He fixed his gaze on her as she carefully stepped closer until she stood in front of him. She flinched as several men seemed ready to jump from their horses, but before they could—the handsome lord stretched out his hand.
"Halt!"
The knights followed his command, and she noticed their long guns, several even carried swords. Yes, she was ultimately here to look for a magical sword to kill the Lycan—but seeing such a weapon in front of her made everything much more surreal.
"Are you lost, miss?" The man smiled, straightening his collar. He blinked his eyes, showing off his hazel-colored iris and chiseled jaw, strong enough to sharpen a dagger.
"Are you lost?" He repeated the question as the sun fell perfectly on his light brown hair. It wasn't her intention, but somehow she ended up staring at him.
"I-I don't know, sir." Her voice was just above a whisper.
"Please—Landon."
"Landon." The name fitted him perfectly.
"Where are you from?" Landon asked, connecting their hands. "Do you wish me to take you back to your village?"
"No." She pulled back her hand. "I think I can manage. Thank you."
There was no need to ask anyone for help.
For all she knew, the man standing right in front of her was a dangerous person. She had to shake him off by any means.
The witch had sent her back in time without any preparations. She hadn't had the opportunity to put a story together and had to come up with everything from scratch.
She had no information or whatsoever about the 17th century.
Were there supernaturals?
Did they keep their identity hidden from humans, the same as the present day?
Were there rules regarding magic?
"State your name, rank, and your husband." Landon snapped his finger.
"W-what?"
"I need to report your name, status, and husband." He squinted his eyes, looking at her suspiciously. "Are you from here?"
Unfortunately, she had to lie her way through his interrogation. "Yes."
"Name?"
"Sophia Hixon." It was the first name that occurred to her. Growing up at the house for orphaned werewolves, she had not been granted a last name—and now that her mate and her pack had been extinguished—she didn't even know if she had the right to that name.
"Hixon…Hixon." Landon tapped his feet, glancing sideways.
He had caught her off guard when he turned his head and held her chin, allowing her to see his hazel eyes turn into a bright yellow color.
Landon was a shifter, and judging by his magnificent color, his ability to shift in broad daylight, and his attire, she assumed he was an Alpha of some sort.
No wonder hiding behind that tree didn't do any wonders.
By now, she should've known. It didn't do anything for that Lycan either.
"What are you?" His eyes changed to their regular color, and he slowly removed his hand from her chin. He must've scented her smell beforehand.
"A werewolf."
"Full-blooded?"
"Y-yes, I believe so—yes." Her answer made her sound stupid. There was no information about her parents and no way to find out where exactly she had come from.
"Full-blooded, and yet until a few seconds ago, I could not pick up your scent." Landon brushed a strand of her hair to the side, sending shivers down her spine.
This would've been the part where she would confess and tell him that she didn't have her wolf or any other special abilities. She was no Mary Sue, more so an extra.
"I'm well familiar with the Hixon clan, but I haven't seen you around." Landon tilted his head, his tone exposing his doubt.
Back in the 17th century, they were no packs but clans. Noted.
If she wasn't so oblivious, she could've guessed that walking around with the Hixon name was not the smartest. Besides learning about it in school, Eli had often bragged about the pack's long history.
"Y-you haven't seen me around because I'm not from here." She held her head high, but truly it was useless as she was only digging herself deeper and deeper.
"You just told me you were." Landon said.
"Did I?"
"Who is your husband?"
Her lips quivered, and she tried to find the perfect answer. Eli wasn't here anymore, he wasn't capable of protecting her, and she had to do it herself.
Saying his name wouldn't be an advantage to her. If this man would search for the records of a man who wasn't even alive yet, it would only get her in more trouble.
"He's deceased, and so is my family." She twisted the truth. "I'm not from this cou…kingdom. After losing my husband, I've traveled from across the rivers and ended up here."
Landon grew a tight-lipped smile as he walked in circles around her. Out of fear, she remained still and waited for his judgment. "Not exactly a maiden, but she's unmarried—so it'll do. We'll take her to meet him." He stopped walking.
Take her where?
Unsure of what was happening, she wrapped her arms around herself. All of this was not going the way she had planned.
"With all due respect, Sire, he has ordered you not to bring him any more women." One of the knights opened his mouth. "I would really not want to test him nowadays."
"I don't care about his orders." Landon kept his composure. "I'm taking her with me, and that's final."
His final verdict made her want to run as far away as possible. She could not have this man delay her plans. This was not how she wanted to waste her time, seeing she only had one year.
Glancing at the knights, she second-guessed her decision. Landon was most likely powerful. He could shift and outrun her while there was a big chance that the knights were also wolves.
"Where will you be taking me?" She faked a polite smile, holding her hands in front of her. It would be for the best to obey, and she would just have to see from there.
"I'm taking you to the capital of Acrasia."
The capital? Maybe this wasn't as bad after all.
"I suppose that's close to the palace, then?" She was out to get more information. Knowing where she had to go would spare her a lot of time.
Landon cleared his throat. "Why do you ask?" He furrowed his brow.
"No reason," she said. "I was just wondering."
Her muscles twitched as Landon smacked his lips, bringing his face closer to hers. "Do you perhaps recognize me?" He made her wonder whether it was one of his lousy pickup lines.
"No?" There was no reason for her to recognize him—a man closer to the middle ages than her own period.
"Very well then," He took her hand, leading her to the carriage. "Most ladies tend to run from the castle."
"Why is that?" She couldn't understand why anyone of this age wouldn't want protection inside the castle walls.
The knights' faces tensed, but Landon's welcoming expression was still present. "Let's say—the king is known to be a cold-hearted monster."