The man, Cain, certainly had not come to make friends. Not even a greeting was shared before he grabbed hold of her arm and practically hauled her out into the cool night air. She stumbled forward on bare feet and was lucky to catch her balance before she could fall.
"W-What are…you doing?!" Her arms wrapped around herself, fingers running across the goosebumps that'd rose on her bare skin. Her blue eyes met Cain's and despite begging herself to hold his gaze, she couldn't help but falter at the intensity of his stare. She looked to Miss Wensley and was able to manage glaring at her instead. "What is this about? I…I was told not to leave the house, s-so if this can wait then I w---"
"Get moving or I'll fucking make you." Cain's voice was laced with venom.
She trembled, panic coursing through her. He wasn't joking, was he?
The place was as dead as it always was during this time, empty and silent with not a soul roaming about, not even kids playing…
But they weren't actually alone.
She saw the slight shift of the curtains and the almost unnoticeable crack of their doors.
They were being watched, but no one dared to leave their house. Brittany feared that even if they did, it wouldn't be to help her.
"Ma'am…" The low murmur came from Miss Wensley. She took Brittany's hand in both of hers, but she did not meet her gaze when she whispered, "Cain is Master Larson's c-closest companion. H-He's been told to bring you. W-Will you please come with us without a fight?"
Her grip tightened but her hands were trembling. It felt as if she was pleading with her.
"I said get moving." Cain marched by her, his shoulder slamming into hers as he took the lead. He was headed in the direction of the forest, which tripled her anxiety.
Brittany swallowed. If Larson truly called for her and yet, she was being treated this way, then it meant it wasn't for anything good.
She knew she needed to do something…to refuse their demands and return to the house. But how could she defy a man who stared at her with such hatred?
She thought this must be it…the danger Nathan warned her about.
-
-
"We're here."
The sun rays left the land as Brittany came upon a tent. They'd only been walking for a few minutes and hadn't ventured too deep inside the forest. From there, she could still make out the outdoor lighting from the distant houses, like little blinding beams.
The forest was far too quiet. It was as if there was no animals, no life…just the tall trees and the wind. But inside that small tent, she could pick up on a little over a dozen unfamiliar scents mixed together. Their heartbeats were louder than the roar of the wind, yet aside from the quick rattle of chains, they did not make another sound.
The absence of Larson's scent also did nothing to relax her mind, so she stopped for a moment and allowed her eyes to drift through the trees. There was truly no sign of him. "W-Where is Larso—"
"That's Alpha Larson to you." Cain's fingers swiftly curled around her arm before she could react. His grip was excruciating, almost as if he wanted to break her bones. He pulled her along like a rag doll without caring for her feet that walked bare on pebbles, thorns and twigs.
Brittany tugged on her arm, and the second he felt the signs of her defiance, his fingers tightened, sinking into her skin. She felt a sharp sting when he ripped through and blood seeped underneath his nails. "T-That hurts."
Turning to face her properly, he yanked her forward and Brittany who did not expect it, slammed into his chest. She quickly went to back away but his hand latched onto the front of her dress and pulled upward, lifting her heel off the ground. As the wind flew by and the scent of leaves and rain drifted across her nostrils, a clump of Cain's hair shifted, exposing the void that'd replaced his right eye. It looked as if it had been gouged right out.
"As it should." His face was inches away from hers and fury was blazing in his gaze. Even a blind woman would be able to sniff him out from a crowd by just the stench of his malice. He despised her despite it being their very first meeting, so unless she was mistaken, it had a whole lot to do with Nathan.
"That piece of shit won't come to save your pathetic ass. He doesn't belong here and neither do you!" With a harsh shove, he sent her colliding with the forest floor. "No matter how hard he tries, one man cannot survive an army. This time, this time we made sure he's gone for good. But I heard he told you he'd return…"
Brittany clutched her bleeding arm, her gaze finding Miss Wensley. Ever since they had left the house, she had followed behind them without squeaking out a single word. But she seemed agitated, and much too aware of her surrounding. The signs of her betrayal was clear in her behavior.
"Don't be stupid. It's all a load of fucking bull. " He gave a low, wicked laugh. "Oh and don't worry…" Cain's hand reached out, latching onto her ankle. In one hard pull, she slid across the ground, the end of her dress riding up her thighs. "Should no one choose you…" His gaze traveled her bare legs, disgusted but filled with a thirst to torment her. "I might just pound your holes if you beg me to."
Brittany writhed and with a hard yank, her foot escaped his hold, slamming into his cheek before quickly retreating. "Don't touch me!" Digging her heels into the damp soil, she scurried back, trembling when her back hit a tree. Miss Wensley stood at a distance, her clammy hands clasped together and her eyes still trained on the ground.
Cain rolled his jaw, his lips curling, "When I'm through with you, you'll never forget the shape of my co---"
"Now now, Cain." A familiar voice filled the air and Brittany's head snapped around, watching as a smiling Larson approached them. His top was completely bare this time and only a sweatpants sat low on his hips. A hand combed through his hair, "I promised you my brother's head, not his woman. Unless you're willing to hand over a treasure chest in exchange for the oh-so-great warrior's wife, then keep your filthy hands off."
Cain bowed his head, then stood properly. "Apologies, sir."
As her hair stuck to her sweaty skin, Brittany sunk her claws into the tree behind her and picked herself up from the ground. Her legs wobbled as she steadied on her feet, eyes drifting warily between the two. "S-Stay away."
"Hmm." Just a few feet away from her, Larson stopped in his tracks and tilted his head as he examined her. His eyes ran over her face, down her body, and over her face again. Then…he laughed.
"Fuck sorry." His hand flew to his chest and his shoulders slumped slightly as his loud laughter burst into the air. "Its just…" He struggled to catch his breath. "Your face truly cracks me up! So this was it?! This was the secret?!"
He met her horrified gaze and a grin settled on his lips. "You're a white wolf too, aren't you?"
Brittany froze.
"I hit the nail on the head it seems. Interesting…"