9

《 Aurora's pov 》

The name of the alpha every wolf seemed to fear made me feel as though I had just walked into my own death. My heart pounds quickly with no indication of slowing down soon.

How could this be? I followed what Peter had told me......

Unless he lied and betrayed me.

Oh, Cas. 

I only hope that you're okay.

Feeling the tears blur my vision, I stagger back in shock and fright. "This must be a mistake. A terrible mistake." I whimpered, looking between the wolves.

Would they spare me?

Probably not.

"Please. I mean no harm." I pleaded for them to listen but knowing wolves, they'd not listen. They were vicious animals and from what I've heard about the pack members of the Crimson Moon, they were evil just like their Alpha.

Ignoring me, Samuel turns to Eli. "She smells like a familiar pack. She must be a spy. We'll take her in for questioning. If Alpha finds her useless we will get rid of her instantly."

Rid of me? Did he mean to murder me in cold blood?

Dying by the hands of wolves wasn't really on my to-do lists.

"Bring them both," Samuel commanded, his eyes glowing blue to show his Beta rank.

The other wolf who had not shifted as yet, did. He looked younger than the other two but as he came forward to grab a hold of my upper arm, I noticed he was as brutal as Samuel.

"Wait please-" I whimpered, dread settling in my stomach.

"Shut up. You will only speak in the presence of our Alpha." Samuel sneered as he shifted back into his wolf form and sprinted forward.

Fighting them would only make matters worse. If I want to survive for a few more hours, I will have to comply. Pressing my lips together, I let the wolf lead me through the woods.

________

I sobbed when the wolf harshly throws me to the ground. I had time to block my scrapped knee from touching the earth. "We don't let things like you in our packhouse." The wolf grumbles.

I gasp when his fingers grip a fistful of my hair and drag me towards a tree. "Easy on the girl Chris," Eli shout as he witness me being dragged by my hair.

Chris only grunts and finally lets me go. My eyes scan my surroundings. The tree where he dragged me to had big metal chains. They were certainly made of silver.

I noticed Eli was also leading the rogue woman to another tree a few feet away from mine. It too also had chains.

Chris suddenly jerks the bag away from me and throws it further away from me. I don't dare protest as I watch the bag fall to the ground.

Was this where they kept their captives? Outside like stray dogs? Chained to a tree?

"Give me your hand," Chris demanded and I obliged without hesitancy. It was very clear I was no match for these wolves.

Chris chained my hands to the tree and I was thankful that I wasn't a wolf. The silver would've surely burned.

I watch him in fear as he did not once flinch as he worked the silver chain around my wrist. Was this not hurting him?

"Can I have some water please?" I asked, hoping he'd at least make me have a drink of water.

Ignoring me, Chris rises to his feet and stares down at me in disgust. "Our Alpha rest around this time so we won't disturb him. When it's morning we will notify him of you. In the meantime, swallow your saliva because you'll only be getting some water before your death."

With that, he turns around and disappears. Eli follows after him a few moments later.

Alone now, except for a rogue nearby, I finally cried. I had only wanted freedom, but now I had stumbled into the lion's den. Or should I say, the wolf's den?

I was going to die here. There was no doubt about it.

The sound of chains rattles in my ears as the rogue tries to break free. Her efforts were pointless. If she managed to get out, I was sure the werewolves were ready to hunt her down and kill her.

Lifting my knee to my chin, I pushed my head between my knees and sobbed. That was the only warmth I could find.

______

I blinked when I felt a drop of water trailing down my eye to my cheek then down to my neck. Then another, then another, until now it was clear that it was rain.

I shook my head as I peeled my eyes open. The sun was blocked by dark grey clouds but it was morning. I lift my head to the sky and opened my mouth. Even though I was getting drenched, right now the rain was a blessing to me as it quenched my thirst.

I shivered, the cold of the rain seeping into my bones. I couldn't do anything but pull my knees close to my chest. With my hands chained, I couldn't wrap them around my knees to warm myself more. 

The sound of chains rattling had my eyes drawing to the rogue who looked restless. She had been doing that the entire night. Her relentless actions of trying to escape prevented me from getting some sleep. Well as much sleep as I could get while chained to a tree. 

She snaps her yellow eyes at me and sneers. I flinched, ripping my eyes away. 

I held my breath when I noticed a shift between the bushes. Was this the Alpha coming to kill me? 

Was it another wolf?

My heart hammers in my chest and my body grows numb with fear. Wolves were unpredictable. And stumbling into one's territory surely was a sentence for death. I was lucky they hadn't killed me on the spot. 

Swallowing the cry of fear in my throat when Chris appears in my vision, I looked at him silently. I shouldn't show fear, he'd eat it alive. From my peripheral vision, I noticed Eli walking over to the rogue woman. 

It's morning, which means he was bringing me to his Alpha. Alpha Xavier. My lips trembled as I blinked away the rain on my lashes. The rain was heavy, and the earth beneath me had now turned to mud. I was sure my old dress was ruined from behind. 

Chris wordlessly crouches to remove the chains, not once flinching. Watching him with a painful pounding heart, I asked softly hoping he'd not tear my throat open. "Where are you taking me?" 

I already knew where he was taking me, I just wanted to be sure.

The sharp look Chris gave me nearly had my tongue falling off. I should've kept my mouth shut. When the chains were removed from my wrist, he harshly tugs me up. I slam into his chest, gasping as he glared down at me. The rain weighed down on his blonde hair.

"I'm taking you to my Alpha," Growling, he starts dragging me. 

Dread made my stomach heavy and I fought back the bile that threatened to come out.

I counted the steps I took as I am being dragged. Forty-eight steps until the biggest packhouse I have ever seen kisses my vision. I might be wrong, I haven't seen many packhouses only that of the pack I run away from. But I can say that the Crimson Moon's packhouse was fairly bigger than that of the Crystal River's.

It was a stone castle with lush green vines crawling on the sides. It was scary but I'm certain that it was my fear of the Alpha which have painted the house as frightening.

Chris suddenly pushes me on the muddy ground and my knees smack the puddle of dirty water. I gasp, tired and hungry as my head drops. "Stay there." Chris orders and shifts to walk behind me.

I don't nod, nor speak. I stiffen when I hear the splash of water and a growl beside me. I peeked between my wet light pink strands to see that it was the rogue woman. She was in the same position as me, kneeling.

Was this the part where they rolled our heads off our shoulders?

Or tear us limb from limb?

The rumors of how they treat their prey and enemies were sickening and I was certain I would suffer the same fate.

Everything seems to go quiet after a while. Even the rain seems to have lessened as a powerful presence nears. My heart thumps and I am deeply aware of the blood rushing through my veins. I may not be a wolf, but the presence of an Alpha was something you couldn't miss. It was like an aura, so strong that it could have the gods on their knees.

I keep my head lowered, my eyes on the muddy ground as the rain beat down on it. But suddenly black combat boots enter my vision and I'm forced to lift my head by his command. By the Alpha's command.

"Show your face to me."