LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
In The Meantime, In The South Pack's Dense Forest...
Just two hours ago, I was still a captive of my ex-husband but thank Moon goddess, I found a way out of the damn castle. I've always known since my time as Jason's wife that the royal palace was full of hidden passages. I was really lucky to quickly find the one in my "cell".
The secret passage has led me to an exit beyond the castle walls, nonetheless I know I'm far from safe. My newly healed body aches with exhaustion, but I push on, driven by a desperate need to put distance between myself and the palace.
My mind races as I navigate the treacherous South pack's forest and my heart beats like a drum as the sound of distant dogs' barking reaches my ears. They're using as usual their infatigable German shepherds to track me down. I need to find a way to mask my scent, and rapidly.
Oh, thank Moon goddess, once again ! Just when I need it, I spot a small stream nearby and make my way towards it, so I can use the running water to wash and neutralize for a while my pungent odor.
I swim softly, knowing I have just recovered from my wounds. I follow the current downstream for as long as I can. After what feels like hours, I finally drag myself onto the opposite bank, soaked and shivering but hopefully harder to track.
As I catch my breath on the muddy shore, my thoughts turn to Eden. My heart aches at the memory of his small arms around my neck, calling me "Mommy" for the first time. I long to go back for him, to explain everything and take him far away from the palace. But I know it's impossible now. Jason will have him under constant guard.
I push myself to my feet, wincing at the lingering soreness in my muscles. Though the magical healing potion had closed my wounds, my body is still recovering from the ordeal. I need to find shelter and rest, at least for a little while.
As I make my way deeper into the unfamiliar forest, a sense of unease grows within me. Something about these woods feels different, more menacing than the territory I'm used to. But I push the feeling aside, focusing on putting as much distance as possible between myself and Jason's search parties.
What I don't realize is that I've unknowingly crossed into the territory of the North pack - sworn enemies of the South pack and notorious for their brutality towards rogues and trespassers. As a lone wolf without a pack, I'm in grave danger.
I crouch behind a thick cluster of bushes, straining my ears for any sign of pursuit.
Suddenly, I hear the ominous sound of branches cracking nearby. Before I can react, two massive wolves burst through the underbrush, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent. I try to scramble away, but without my wolf form, I'm no match for their speed and strength.
One of the wolves lunges forward, its powerful jaws clamping down on my arm. I cry out in pain as the other wolf circles behind me, cutting off any chance of escape. With a vicious swipe of its paw, it knocks me to the ground.
Dazed and bleeding again after my last escape, I can only watch helplessly as the wolves shift into their human forms - two burly men with hard eyes and cruel smirks.
"Well, well," one of them sneers.
"What do we have here? A little rogue she-wolf, all alone in our territory." He then says, rejoicing.
"Looks like we caught ourselves a spy," the other man growls, roughly hauling me to my feet.
I try to protest, to explain that I'm not a spy, just a lost traveler. But a sharp blow to my head silences me, leaving me dazed and disoriented.
The two men drag me through the forest, ignoring my pained whimpers as branches and thorns tear at my skin. After what feels like hours, we emerge into a large clearing dominated by an imposing stone fortress.
"Welcome to the North pack, little rogue," one of my captors sneers. "Hope you enjoy your stay."
I'm pulled through heavy iron gates into a torch-lit courtyard. Warriors and pack members stop to stare as I'm marched past, their eyes cold and hostile. My heart pounds with fear as I realize the full gravity of my situation.
Finally, I'm brought before an imposing figure seated on a carved wooden throne. Even in his human form, there's an aura of raw power emanating from him that makes me tremble.
"Alpha Biansky," one of my captors announces, shoving me to my knees. "We found this rogue trespassing on our lands."
The Alpha, a man in his mid-sixties with steel-gray hair and piercing blue eyes, leans forward to study me. His gaze is cold and calculating, devoid of any mercy.
"A rogue, you say?" he muses, his voice a low growl. "And what pack did you betray to become an outcast, little wolf?"
I swallow hard, knowing that revealing my connection to the South pack could be a death sentence here.
"I... I don't belong to any pack," I stammer, hoping my voice doesn't betray my fear. "I'm just a lone wolf, traveling through. I didn't realize I had crossed into your territory."
Alpha Biansky's eyes narrow suspiciously.
"A lone wolf? With no pack markings or scent? I find that hard to believe." He declares before rising from his throne, towering over me.
Even in his human form, his presence is intimidating. He circles me slowly, like a predator sizing up its prey.
"You're hiding something, little rogue," he growls. "And I intend to find out what it is."
He then nods to the guards. "Take her to the dungeons. We'll see if a night in a cell loosens her tongue.
As the guards drag me away, I struggle to keep my composure. My mind races, trying to figure a way out of this dire situation. But with no wolf, no allies, and no knowledge of my surroundings, I'm at a complete loss.
The dungeon is dank and cold, the stone walls dripping with moisture. I'm roughly shoved into a small cell, the iron bars clanging shut behind me. As the guards' footsteps fade away, I sink to the floor, my body aching from the rough treatment.
In the dim light filtering through a tiny barred window, I examine my injuries. My arm throbs where the wolf's teeth tore into my flesh, and various cuts and bruises cover my body. Without my healing abilities or medical supplies, I can only hope they don't become infected.
As night falls, the temperature in the cell drops further. I curl up in a corner, shivering and trying to conserve what little body heat I have left. The stone floor is cold and damp beneath me, offering no comfort.
In the darkness, my thoughts turn to Eden and Jason. By now, they must know I'm gone. Is Jason furious at my deception, or worried about my disappearance? And poor Eden - how frightened and confused he must be.
I messed everything up.