The Young Man's POV
The door slammed open with a violent force. I looked up, my spine going cold as the men stormed in. They weren't here to ask questions, they were here for answers.
"Where is she?" The leader's voice was low, menacing. He was tall, built like a wall, with dark eyes that seemed to see through everything.
I forced myself to stay calm, despite the blood pounding in my ears. "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, my voice steady, though every part of me screamed to run.
They weren't buying it. One of them, a grim-faced warrior, grabbed my arm, his grip tight enough to bruise. "Don't lie to us. We know she came here."
My throat went dry, but I held his gaze. "I haven't seen her. The queen, she's not here."
The men exchanged looks, their suspicion palpable. "Search the place," the leader barked.
They spread out, their heavy boots pounding against the floor as they tossed furniture, yanked open doors, and pulled at curtains. I stood frozen, fists clenched, praying they wouldn't find anything, praying I wouldn't have to fight my way out of this.
Then, a shout broke the tension. "Found something!"
I spun just as they charged into the small bathroom, their voices sharp with triumph. "She was here!" one of them yelled.
I could feel my pulse in my throat. "I swear, I don't know anything about it," I stammered, my voice barely hanging on.
The leader stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You're lying. You'll regret this."
Before he could say another word, I shifted into my wolf form. A growl erupted from deep within me as I tore through the air. My claws slashed, my body moving faster than they could react. I dove for the back door, hearing them scramble behind me, but they were too slow.
Within seconds, I was gone, racing into the night, the wind howling past me as I vanished into the forest.
Lira's POV
At the Castle..
"We need to move him now," I said, my voice tight with urgency, barely holding back the fear gnawing at me. Kaden had been through too much, and I wasn't going to let him fall into the enemy's hands, not while I had any breath left to fight. My gaze darted to the door. They're getting closer. We can't risk them finding him here.
The guards lifted Kaden carefully, but I could see their uncertainty. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. We were supposed to be holding the castle, not hiding our Alpha like a common criminal. But now, we had no choice.
"What are you doing?" one of the guards asked, his voice laced with concern. "We can't just risk exposing him. This place is safe."
I shook my head, my voice low but firm. "We have no choice. We hide him. The rest of us will hold the castle until we regroup."
I was Kaden's fourth mate, the most faithful, but that didn't mean I could let loyalty blind me to the reality of our situation. We couldn't risk losing the Alpha. Not when everything was on the line.
We moved quickly, carrying him through the hallways, weaving through the twists and turns of the palace. The sounds of the battle around us were unmistakable, but I kept my focus on the path ahead. Each step we took felt like a step further from the heart of the kingdom, further from the throne Kaden had worked so hard to secure.
I led them to the hidden chamber beneath the castle, a place few knew about. It was tucked away, its secrecy its only defense. Kaden would be safe here, at least for a while.
As we entered the chamber, the door creaked closed behind us, sealing us in. The silence that followed felt suffocating.
One of the guards stepped forward, worry on his face. "Are you sure about this?"
I didn't answer right away. I wasn't sure of anything. But this was the only option we had. The Alpha was slipping away, and if I didn't do something, it would all fall apart.
I turned to the guards, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Keep watch. No one gets in unless I say so."
They nodded, but I could see the uncertainty in their eyes. The kingdom was on the edge of collapse, and the weight of it pressed down on me more than I cared to admit.
But as I turned to leave the hideout, I felt it, the distinct feeling of being watched. I froze, my instincts flaring.
"What is it?" one of the guards asked, seeing my sudden stillness.
I didn't answer immediately. My mind raced. Something was off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I could feel it.
I glanced toward the door again, a sense of dread creeping into my chest. "Stay alert," I said quietly, my heart pounding in my ears.
I had always trusted my instincts.
And right now, they were telling me that this wasn't over. There was more to this attack than we knew, and whatever was coming next, we weren't ready for it. I stepped outside into the hallway.
Zara's POV
The battle..
The battle raged on, the clash of swords and snarls of wolves filling the air. My claws tore through flesh, each swipe of my hand bringing us closer to victory, but victory felt distant.
"We've got to hold them back!" I shouted, my voice sharp and commanding. The wolves beside me followed without hesitation. I shifted, my body growing, claws extending as I joined the chaos. My fury was unmatched.
But as I fought, my mind raced. Kara hadn't been found yet. If Kaden was out of the picture... that meant I could finally take control. The power I'd waited for, the throne that was meant for me.
Just as I prepared to strike, Maris burst into the fray, her eyes wide with panic.
"Zara!" she gasped. "The Alpha... he's been moved!"
I froze, my claws stopping just inches from an enemy's neck. "What?" I snarled, my anger bubbling over. "Where is he?"
"They took him. His guards, no one knows where they've hidden him," she said, her voice shaking.
My fists clenched, the fury rising in me like a wildfire. "They think they can take what's mine?" My voice was a growl, low and dangerous. "They'll regret this."
I turned back to the fight, ready to strike again, but then it came, a deep, rumbling howl, reverberating through the ground.
The attacking forces froze. I turned my head sharply, my senses on high alert.
"What is that?" one of the wolves muttered, fear edging his voice.
"It's coming from the woods," another guard whispered, his voice filled with dread.
Suddenly, the leader of the attacking party shouted to his pack, his voice tight with fear. "We need to retreat! Now!"
The enemy began pulling back, stumbling over each other in their haste. My heart raced as I watched them scatter, confusion written across their faces.
I took a step forward, eyes narrowing. "Retreat?" I barked. "Why?"
But they were already running, and I knew something was coming, something that had them terrified. Whatever it was, at least it got them running..
Kara's POV
I was weak. My body trembled as I stumbled through the cold, the harsh air biting at my skin, but it barely registered. My only focus was getting inside. I had to find somewhere safe, somewhere away from the chaos.
Hilda, still cradled in my arms, stirred slightly as I finally made it into the small, secluded building on the outskirts of the kingdom. The walls were rough, the air musty, but it was a shelter for now, and it would do.
The woman who lived there greeted me with a warmth I wasn't sure I deserved, offering food and a place to rest. I was too exhausted to question her kindness, too worn out to refuse. Every bone in my body ached with the weight of the last few hours.
"You're safe here," the woman said, her hands gentle as she cleaned my wounds. "I'll look after you."
The comfort of her care was brief. Hilda was bathed, and food was placed before us, but something gnawed at me. The warm smile she gave me felt off, like it hid something deeper. I wanted to trust her, but the unease crawling through my veins told me not to.
As I ate, I noticed it again, the way the woman's gaze lingered on Hilda. The way her smile stretched too far, too knowing. A chill crept down my spine. Every instinct screamed at me to stay alert.
Time blurred as I ate and rested, the weight of exhaustion finally pulling me under. I drifted in and out of sleep, but when the first light of dawn broke through the cracked window, my eyes snapped open.
A cold shiver ran down my spine, a gut-wrenching realization crashing over me.
There, towering over me, was a full-bodied werewolf. His massive frame blocked the doorway, his eyes glowing with fury, his claws extended like deadly weapons. His fangs gleamed in the dim light.
"No!" My voice barely escaped as I gasped, my body instinctively tensing, my arms tightening around Hilda. The wolf's growl vibrated through the room, sending waves of fear into my chest.
I shifted, ready to protect him, my claws already extending, but the werewolf only pulled back, his snarl vibrating in the silence before he turned and left without a word.
I froze, unable to breathe. Fear spread through me like wildfire, every fiber of my being screaming to run.
I looked down at the woman, the one who had offered me shelter, but the sight made my stomach churn. Her body, what was left of it was torn apart, shredded into pieces. The werewolf's claws had ravaged her, leaving her lifeless on the floor.
I felt my breath catch in my throat as the realization hit. I wasn't safe here. And whatever was coming for Hilda was closer than I thought.