CHAPTER FIVE

Liana’s POV

I am set to be married tomorrow, and sleep eludes me. I lie in bed, the blankets drawn up to my chin, listening to the wind howling outside the window.

Shadows flicker across the ceiling, and the air has a chill now that only embers remain in the fireplace. I was prepared for this.

I was taught to be beautiful, quiet, and obedient. I constructed a cage for my wild and furious spirit and awaited the day of my wedding.

A small part of me fantasized about falling in love like the princesses in my mother’s tales, dreaming of a day when I would be free.

But deep down, I always understood that a happy ending was not in my future. So, I waited and I feared. And now the moment has arrived.

Tomorrow, I will marry a man who makes wolves fight as if they were mere dogs. A man who threatened to treat me like a stray. His predatory gaze sends shivers down my spine.

A man I do not know, a man I do not love. He won’t harm you.

The alpha’s vow echoes in my thoughts. I ought to inform someone of his words. I should warn someone that he intends to escape. I should tell someone he has threatened the lord, my fiancé. He is a wolf. A foe.

Yet here I lie in the darkness, listening to the wind howl outside the castle. And I remain as silent as I was trained.

It was merely an empty threat, after all. There’s no chance he can get away. We are both confined within these walls.

Yet, I find myself looking at the silver letter opener resting on the bedside table before sleep finally claims me.

At times, I envision myself as a statue in the palace gardens. People stroll around me, discussing my shape and form. Eyes appear almost alive, they remark, when the light catches them.

And throughout it all, I’m imprisoned within myself. Screaming. But my lungs are made of stone, my lips are rigid, and my mouth tastes of ancient graveyards. So no one hears me, no one cares.

At other moments, I find myself back in that church, paralyzed with fear, thinking I might faint.

I don’t shed tears, though. Father disapproves of my tears. And the priest stands before me with his whip.

I didn’t sin, I argue.

Oh, child. All women are sinners. Your mother was a sinner, and you are a sinner as well. Do you wish for the Sun Goddess to be angry? No? Good. Turn around.

In other instances, I’m fleeing. I’m sprinting through the forest as swiftly as I can. The wind dances through my hair, and twigs crackle under my bare feet. I am liberated, yet I am terrified. Because something is pursuing me, and I dread what will occur if it catches me.

My mother’s voice echoes off the trees as I burst into the moonlight.

Wake up, Liana. Wake up!

My eyes snap open.

Rain pounds against the walls, and the fire in the grate has completely died out. As my sight adjusts to the dimness, I understand what disturbed my sleep. There’s faint shouting echoing from somewhere inside the castle.

I frown, my breath forming mist in the chilly air. Outside, something howls. Is it the wind?

The door to my chambers swings open violently, and I sit up straight, clutching the bed sheets tightly.

"What is the meaning of this–" The words falter in my throat.

The terrifying dark-haired man from the kennels stalks into the room. He still wears the green kilt from earlier, but now he has on a linen shirt and boots as well. He carries a foul odor, a mix of sweat and something even more unpleasant.

His eyes lock onto mine, and there’s a predatory glint in them. "Hello, sweetheart."

Images of his twisted, red face as he assaulted the woman in the cells flash through my mind.

Two other men stand beside him, both clad in the same green tartan. The bald one is tall and muscular, sporting a dark beard and a serious demeanor. The other has rat-like features and mousy-brown hair that falls to his chin.

Blood drips from their daggers onto the stone floor.

My heart stops. Time seems to stretch. One of them—the muscular one—shuts the door behind him.

"You were right about her, Vladimir," the ratlike one remarks. "She’s truly a beauty." He inhales deeply and grins. "Mm. So sweet and innocent as well."

"Aye." Vladimir’s thin lips twist into a sinister smile. "But not for long."

I leap from the four-poster bed, nearly tripping over the covers. I snatch the letter opener from my bedside table and hold it out in front of me. Despite being made of silver, it’s a feeble weapon against three bloodthirsty Wolves.

They are aware of this too.

The ratlike one snickers as Vladimir approaches.

"Leave now," I command, my voice trembling. "And Lord Marius will spare you."

"Your lord is a bit preoccupied at the moment," Vladimir replies. "It’s just us, and you. I thought we could take a moment to get to know each other better. What do you think?"

I want to wrap my arms around myself as he inspects me, but I refuse to lower the small blade. My nightdress is too sheer, and the ratlike one leers at my breasts. The cold has made my nipples hard.

"Get. Out," I spit.

Vladimir laughs. "Come on, sweetheart. There’s no need to be like—"

Suddenly, the door to my room swings open.

"Out." A deep growl emanates from the doorway.

The three men freeze.

The alpha stands there, clad in a wrinkled white linen shirt, high boots, and a red tartan kilt. His face appears chiseled from thunder and stone. "Out."

Vladimir swallows hard, but a smile quickly returns to his face as he turns away. "It’s just a bit of fun—"

"Now," the alpha commands.

The alpha is larger than the other three wolves, and there’s a deadly promise in his eyes. Vladimir seems to sense this and shakes his head.

“Come on, lads. It’s time to get the hell out of here.” He flashes a grin and gives me a sarcastic bow. “Until we meet again, Your Highness.”

The alpha closes the door behind them. My mouth feels parched and my mind is spinning. Is he my rescuer? Or does he have something even more sinister planned?

“Are you injured?” he inquires.

I raise the letter opener and curse my unsteady hand.

“I apologize for them. Their entire clan—” His green eyes darken. “They will face consequences later.”

“You must go.”

“Aye. I must.” He swallows hard, his gaze shifting from the wardrobe to the crescent moon visible through the window. As silence stretches between us, I hear more shouting echoing through the castle. “Do you have a warm cloak?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s chilly outside.”

“I don’t understand why that matters to me,” I reply, my voice rising higher than I intended.

A brief look of regret flashes across his face. “Aye, it does.”

A humorless chuckle escapes my lips as I take a step back. “You can’t seriously believe I’m going with you.”

“You are, Princess.”

“You... you won’t harm me,” I state.

He exhales deeply. "That’s where you’re mistaken. I won’t take your life. And I won’t touch you in the way those scoundrels threatened. But you will accompany me. And if I must force you to do so, I can’t guarantee it won’t be painful."

I squint, lifting my chin defiantly. "I helped you earlier."

"Indeed, you did. And I’m grateful for that, Princess. Truly. However, it doesn’t alter the fact that I’m taking you with me."

As he advances, I brandish the letter opener in front of me. "Keep your distance."

The blade seems almost comical against his massive frame, yet he raises his hands in a calming gesture. "Please, calm down."

Feelings that have been buried within me for years begin to stir.

"How dare you tell me to calm down."

Visions of my father, the priest, and my brother dismissing me for expressing emotion flash through my mind, fueling the tempest within me.

"You invade my chambers in the dead of night," I slice the air with the blade, "thinking you can abduct me from my bed." I close the gap between us. "And you act as if I’m overreacting?"

I thrust the letter opener towards his abdomen, and he seized my wrist.

I freeze. His grip is rough and firm as it encircles my wrist.

"Let go of me," I hissed.

He twists my wrist, causing the small blade to clatter against the stone floor. Crouching, he retrieves it, wincing as the silver touches his skin.

"You can have this back once you start behaving."

As he slips it into his pocket, I deliver a kick to his chest. He seizes my ankle, placing a hand on my lower back for balance. Our gazes lock, and I feel my breath catch at the depth of his look.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“I believe you can help me in bringing this war to an end.”

I respond with a shake of my head. “Abducting me will only escalate the situation. You’re putting your life at risk, you fool.”

“If that’s the cost I must bear to protect my people, I will accept it without hesitation. So, what will it be, Princess? Will you take your cloak and leave this room with me? Or shall I carry you out? You have a choice. It may not be a great one.” He echoes my earlier words, a grim smile playing on his lips. “But it’s a choice all the same.”

“You jerk.” I shake my head in disbelief. “You can’t seriously think you’ll make it out of the castle.”

I hear shouting and the sound of hooves thundering on the ground below.

“See? They’re coming for you.” I nod toward the window, and a strand of my red hair gets caught in my mouth. “If you leave now, you might have a chance to—”

Before I can process what’s happening, he’s on his feet, and I find myself thrown over his shoulder. I scream, hitting his back in protest.

“Are you out of your mind?” I hissed. “They’ll tear you apart for—”

He flings open my wardrobe, and my threat dies in my throat at the most inopportune moment.

In this situation, I shouldn't feel such overwhelming guilt in my chest when I see the wolf coat hanging there. I also shouldn't have this intense urge to tell him it was there when I first came in.

The Wolves have been a threat to my people for centuries, yet I struggle to support some of Marius's more savage methods.

He freezes, the muscles in his back tensing up. Then he picks up another fur and leaves my chambers.

I hit him lightly between the shoulder blades again, but I hold back my full strength. Maybe it's because his mood has soured and I'm scared. Or maybe it's because a small part of me feels relieved to be taken away from my destiny with Marius, even though this wolf is terrifying.

"You won't get away with this," I snarl, no matter what.

"I will. Now be silent."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Home."