"A selfish heart has no room for hate..."
In seconds the room was cleared out, Adrianna dropped to the floor, chin first, bruising her jaw. She struggled to get up, but her arms were tied behind her back. "Help! Someone help me!" she yelled, her clothes dampened from the snow underneath as she wriggled towards the exit.
"Thank goodness you're awake!" she heard a familiar voice ring out. She raised her head to see elder Jael charging towards her.
He reached inside his boot and took out a small dagger, cutting through the ropes, he asked, "Who did this?"
"I don't know." she said, "But I recognize one of them, I've seen him next to Ryker a few times." She brought her arms forward once she was free, and held onto her sides, fighting off the cold.
Jael reached for the nearest coat and draped it over her shoulders, he helped her to her feet and led her to the lonesome bed. "Are you certain about that? None of the protectors would act this way without good reason to."
Adrianna snapped, "So it's fine to act this way if reason permits?" she scoffed, "I was right not to trust your so-called protectors. If this is how they treat people, I want no part of this camp!"
Jael shook his head, "Don't say that, especially after Ryker risked his life to save you-"
She laughed, "Risked? Don't make me laugh, he only went there to make sure I didn't lead the Lycans back to the camp, he didn't care about me."
"No! That's not true, he wouldn't go to such lenghts, he did it to save you-"
"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but your protector isn't who you think he is." Adrianna could not bring herself to tell Jael that Ryker and his people had not only stolen from the Lycans, but burned down one of their storehouses. No one who cared for his people would do something to endager them so badly.
To herself she reasoned, "I have to find the weapon Orion mentioned, the one that can kill a Lycan. The more time I spend here, the longer Eira will suffer at the hands of the Lycans." she continued reminding herself.
"I can't change your mind on how you feel about him," he said in defeat, "But, I hope from now on you'll be careful, outside the camp borders is dangerous, for us and for yourself. Ryker knew this, and still risked it all to save you-"
"I'm tired okay! I don't want to hear anymore about how amazing Ryker is!" After all, he was a strong warrior, and he led a ruthless band of rebels. The same rebels that mercilessly attacked her carriage, and sent Eira down a snowny cliff. She did not want to be indebted to such a person.
"You want me to say thank you, right? Fine! I'll tell him just that. I'll dance to his tune." she told him.
"Freya..."
Her heart skipped a beat. It had been so long since she last heard the name uttered out of anyone's mouth. She deeply regretted telling him that name.
She turned to the troubled old man, and flashed him a weak smile. His features lit up, perhaps his words had gotten through to her. "Ryker is a kind man-"
"Take me to him, so I can say my thanks." Her tone dropped, "But after that, I'll bid him and this camp farewell."
*****************
Eira woke up to an empty bed, and a discomforting prodding at her lowerback. Frowning, she reached behind her and pulled out a wooden piece from underneath her. She brought it to her line of sight, her fingers roughly caressed it's jagged edges, observing it.
It was a piece from the basket Thalassa had gifted her. A stark reminder that last night was no dream. The Lycan King had come into her chambers and nearly had his way with her.
She turned to the empty space on the bed next to her, she thought, "He left no trace of his pheremones behind, how convienient." she observed. Her eyes scanned the room, the shards from the broken jar were scattered around, all traces of her struggle left untouched.
She grabbed the blanket and covered her chest, weakly, she approached the dresser and glaned at the bite marks left across her chest.
"How merciless." Tracing her fingertip across each mark, Eira's mind wandered to the events that happened last night.
She narrowed her eyes, "Why did he act out like that? Was that a natural response?" She recalled his rising temperature and his shaky body.
"It's not like I'm a Lycan or even an Alpha, I don't have pheromones that could affect him, I doubt the Lycan King was reacting to omega pheromones." She pinched her chin.
"And what was all that about? Why did he suddenly lose consciousness?" She recalled the king collapsing into her embrace.
It came as a stun that the all powerful Lycan King would feel vulnerable fall asleep in the arms of an Omega slave.
Something just did not add up-
"Open up! Right this instant!" An authoritative voice rang from the door, accompanied by violent banging.
Eira frowned.
A man? Why was a man in the harem quarters so early in the morning?
"I said open this door immediately!" The voice demanded, the banging growing more violent, shaking the chamber walls.
Defeated, she made for the door to answer it, but the door was forcefully kicked open, knocking her down.
"Tch." She hissed, when a piece of the broken jar dug into her elbow!
"I can't believe it! To think that you'd do something so shameful! How dare you?!"
Eira raised her head to see Thalassa glaring harshly at her.
"No wonder she was missing at the banquet! From the state of this room, it's clear as day what the princess was up to!" Sena spat out.
"Mistress don't soil your eyes with her indecency!" Sana retorted, going as far as to shield Thalassa from Eira's view.
Eira didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So this was what Thalassa had been up to? Was the king involved in this ploy? Or was that just an unfortunate coincidence?
Her mind ran these thoughts as she got off the floor.
"Do you not have anything to say?! Where is the man you've shamed the king with?! Bring him out!" Thalassa demanded.
Eira shook her head, she tried to say something, but a sharp pain pierced through her neck.
She couldn't speak, and Thalassa knew that well.
"Guards! What are you waiting for?! Seize this woman!" Sena charged the men.
The guards turned to Eira who had already raised her hands in surrender. "It's no use trying to defend myself, the evidence is too incriminating. If I try to run, I'll just play right into her hands. For now, I should play along." She thought, as the guards binded her wrists behind her back.
"Come on! Move it!" A guard shoved her forward, not caring for the shards from the broken jar lying around.
Eira followed obediently, she walked past Thalassa and her handmaids, who had begrudging looks drawn across their faces.
How unfortunate was she. To get roped in by such an obviously laid out trap. If only she could speak...no, even if she could, who would listen to what someone like her had to say?
Maybe this was better. If she pleaded enough, she might get the banishment treatment, rather than lose her life. And maybe, just maybe she'd be able to find him.
Somewhere on this snowy mountain.
In this unfamiliar place...
"Halt!" Someone yelled from the door, placing a lid on the arrest.
Eira narrowed her eyes, her chest tightened from stun.
That voice....
***************
Jael took Adrianna to the tent Ryker was currently inside. As expected, the entire camp was outside, waiting for him. As they advanced towards the front, nasty glares were thrown at her from all angles.
"What is that stench?" She asked, burying her nose in her inner elbow.
"That is-" before Jael could answer, Wren came charging out of the tent towards Adrianna.
"Why did you bring her here?!" He yelled, earning everyone's attention.
Adrianna gulped, why was he so angry? Ryker was strong, she didn't need her wolf to know that. If he made it back in one piece, that only meant he was fine.
A few scratches wouldn't kill him.
"She came to apologize. Please, let her see him." Jael pleaded.
"What?! How dare she?!"
"She should be hanged for this!"
"Our leader is in so much pain because of this outsider!"
The camp members raised their voices, some even began to throw stones at her.
But the old man stood behind her, his arms stretched out. "Please! She doesn't know-"
Know what? Adrianna turned to Jael, but Wren held her by the wrist, and then mercilessly tossed her to the snow.
He drew a line with his foot and pointed at it, "Take a step across this line, and I'll murder you." He threatened.
Adrianna groaned, "It's not like I actually give a damn about that bastard! He could die for all I care!" She spat out.
The camp went silent at her words. Before anyone could recover, she got off the ground and marched away from the tent, forcing her way through the crowd.
She returned to Ryker's tent and quickly started to pack some things into the satchel she nabbed from the cave.
"That damned Ryker! Those damned rebels! This damned camp! Who the hell cares?! This place can burn to the ground for all I care!" She cursed, taking anything she felt she could use for her escape.
She was so focused on packing that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching from behind her. It wasn't until a hand rested on her shoulder that she snapped and turned around!
"It's me!" Orion whispered loudly, tugging on his cape.
"What are you doing here?!" She whispered back, peeking behind him to see if anyone was coming.
In a rush, he reached into his cloak and pulled out something he slipped it into her hands, "Here, use this."
Adrianna looked down, only to see a crooked looking dagger sitting on her palm. "What is this for?!" She gasped, completely stunned.
Orion cracked a grin, "You're much more cunning than I thought princess, who knew you had it in you to lure that calculating Ryker out of his camp. He's wounded, and vulnerable, it's the perfect time for you to kill him." He told her.
"What? I don't understand! Why would I kill him? Wasn't the plan to find the weapons?" Her heart raced, everything was happening so fast.
"We can invade the camp if their leader is dead. Without him, the rebels will crumble." Orion tried to explain. "Hurry, yer ain't have much time on your hands."
Adrianna shook her head, "I don't understand. Why would I be able to kill him? He's just a little wounded, but even in his state, he can overpower me-"
He cut her off. "Don't tell me yer don't know."
"Know what?" Was what it that everyone seemed to know except her.
Orion leaned in, and whispered, "Ryker has a weakness, he doesn't share the one thing us Lycans and yer wolves both possess."
Adrianna frowned. "What are you saying-"
Orion cut her off with a reveal. "His wolf spirit can't heal his wounds..."