4 - let me go!

IRA'S POV

"Here you go," Tamara said, handing me a black overall.

My eyes narrowed at the sight of it. "What is that?" I asked, looking it over.

"A cape?" she said in an incredulous tone, unpleased with my constant questions.

I knew it was a cape. What I didn't understand was why I needed it. Tamara saw the devoid look on my face and launched into an explanation.

"We are going through a tunnel," she said, heading towards the front door. "Trust me, you'll need it."

I blinked, and she threw the door open. "Follow closely and try not to put us in trouble."

Tamara stepped out of the room without another word. I quickly put on the cape, which smelt like it belonged in the fiery pits of hell, and followed suit.

The servants' quarters felt like a graveyard. The hallways were swept in silence, so much so I could hear my own breathing.

"The guards change at midnight," Tamara whispered upon getting to a cross-section. "We have a few minutes to get through the quarter gates."

We continued on our journey, slithering through the servants' quarters until we sighted the gates.

Some guards were situated there. My breath seized as we stood with our backs to the wall.

"They are still there," I pointed out the obvious. "What do we do?"

"Wait," Tamara said without sparing me a look.

I didn't like the sound of that. What if they never left? What if the darned Elias forbade them from moving an inch?

What if the king was still searching for me? I couldn't afford to get caught. There was so much at stake.

"Maybe you should quit running and present yourself to our mate," Khanos said in a surly tone.

I ignored her as usual. We'd have enough time to make peace when I was a thousand kilometers away from here.

"You mean away from our mate?" she sassed, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

I was literally battling for my life, and she was throwing a fuss about getting separated from a man she barely knew.

I sensed a revolt coming, so I set up a mental block between us. I needed all the concentration I could muster right now.

"Now!" Tamara whispered, getting off the wall and almost sprinting towards the said gates.

As expected, the guards stepped away for some time, giving us enough room to slip away before they noticed anything.

I went through the gates with my heart in my throat. I barely heaved in relief before following Tamara into the palace grounds, desperately avoiding the guards.

After what felt like several hours, we got around the palace walls and she took me to the tunnels.

"This is it," she said, painstakingly removing some thorns and bushes kept above the entrance. "This tunnel will lead you very close to the borders."

"It's a long crawl," Tamara whispered. "If you make it out before the light of the day, walk carefully ahead until you are out of the pack lands."

She hands me a small knife. "Do not hesitate to kill anyone that stands in your way."

"And if not, don't leave the tunnel until midnight." Tamara dug through her cape and handed me a torch. "Keep your eyes peeled for the border changes and make good use of it."

"Good luck," she said and turned to leave, but I held her back, shocked at the amount of information she gave.

"Have you done this before?" I asked, and she rolled her eyes. "How do you know-"

Tamara interrupted me. "I'd love to explain, but I reckon you don't have enough time."

The distant sound of footsteps reached our ears, and her eyes widened. "Go!" she whisper-yelled, and I sprang to action.

I got into the tunnel the next second, and Tamara moved to seal the entrance with the thorns, but I stopped her.

"Thank you," I said, meaning it. "I won't forget this debt."

I turned around and continued my crawl without waiting for her answer. The last thing I needed was anyone getting in trouble because of me.

Never again.

I crawled inside the dark tunnel, and when I was confident I'd gone a long way from the entrance, I flicked on my torch.

I spent the rest of the night in the slimy tunnel, digging my way out of the palace without rest.

My arms and legs ached, but I didn't stop. I couldn't get caught. I just couldn't.

After what felt like a painful lifetime, I got to the other end of the tunnel. It was blocked with some thorns covered with leaves.

I pushed off the thorn, injuring my fingers but unrelenting as I crawled out of the tunnel.

My hair was a mess, the cape was torn, and I smelt like death itself. As soon as I came out to the land, I took in a breath of fresh air and painfully continued my journey.

It was the early hours of the morning. I'd long mastered the art of reading the time through the skies.

My legs shook as I trekked down the path, headed towards the borders. My stomach growled in pain, and my throat was parched.

I desperately needed some rest, but I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk letting him find me. I continued with a raw determination until I got to the borders.

There was not a single guard in sight. My stomach tightened, and dread pooled in my guts. Something was wrong.

I'd passed through the borders on many occasions with Denmark to know that guards were always situated on the borders.

I continued my journey with caution, eyes peeled for any unforeseen circumstances. I limped towards the border, ready to cross over until I heard the chilling voice of a male.

"There you are."

My heart skipped, and I slowly turned around and met the fiery eyes of the chief guard.

The bushes around me shook, and more wolves emerged, surrounding me. My heart banged against its cage. It was a trap.

There was no way I could take all of them. Not in this state, and definitely not without my wolf.

A deep, unsettling feeling rested in my guts at the realization that there was no way out of it.

"Remove your cape, raise your hands, and go on your knees," the chief guard commanded with a fiery look in his eyes.

I pulled open my cape and raised my hands. "I mean no harm," I croaked. "Let me go."

"You can tell that to the king," he growled. "On your knees, traitor."

With my hands up, I slowly bent my knees, feeling the weight of the pocket knife strapped to my thighs.

A few meters to the ground, I unstrapped the knife on my thighs with a threatening look as I said,

"This knife is made of silver," I gritted, holding it out. "A little stab is all it takes, and poof... you're gone."

"Let's try that again, shall we?" I said with fiery eyes. "Let. Me. Go."

The chief guard smirked, not at all threatened. "Spoken like a true traitor," he said, then turned to the men. "Grab her!"

The next second, I was attacked by a dozen wolves who kicked off the knife, sending me painfully to the ground.

For the first time ever, I wished, hoped, and wanted my wolf to help me. I could feel her anger as she banged against the block between us.

It was too risky. I couldn't let them find out. I laid on the ground as the guards rained kicks and punches on my body.

With each punch, I grew weaker and dizzy. Was this the end? I thought as they beat me up like a thief.

My heart slowed, and I felt my wolf pacing restlessly in my heart. I could feel her fury and anger.

I couldn't tell if it was directed at me, them, or something else. I spat out blood, wheezing, but they didn't stop.

Just when I thought it was over, I heard a powerful growl that shook the grounds of the forest.

The beatings suddenly stopped, and I took in a painful breath, barely alive. The men suddenly stepped away from me with scared looks on their faces.

What was going on?

A cool sensation spiked through my insides, and my heart picked up pace. Khanos grew more restless, pushing back the barrier between us.

I couldn't fight her. I was too weak.

The chief guard went on his knees, as did the others, each bowing to something behind me.

My heartbeat increased, and I painfully turned my head to see what the fuss was about.

My heart stopped as soon as I saw him. Gray hair, broad shoulders, dominating eyes, and a deathly aura around him.

His intoxicating scent reached my nose, driving me crazy with need. Who was he, and how... How was it possible?

Just then, Khanos broke the barrier between us and growled a word that affirmed my greatest undoing.

"Mine."