*Arken's POV*Over the days Ellia had become less grumpy which meant my fun had begun to run out. Her reactions and overall human oddness had kept my mind off things, now… well now my guts churned. Sila was pissed, no doubt about it, and by now the council would have either disowned me from the pack or sent hunters after me. And honestly, I'm not sure which would be worse.Losing my home and my sister, my friends and mentor? The very idea felt like someone was chiseling away at my heart. Yet belonging meant obligations, marriage. Having my freedom all but ripped away and my feelings about it were clearly inconsequential in Sila's grand plan for the pack.On the other hand, if she had sent hunters to fetch me than if I didn't surrender… Sila's cunning. It's not like she'd send Abden or Cyd, or someone else I'd be happy to take a bite out of, she'd send at least one person I'd hesitate against, maybe even Balt himself. Even I'm not dumb enough to think I'd win that battle.It's like I'm
*Jaron's POV*Saying the past few days had been odd would be an understatement. Following princess Irellia's disappearance I'd been made the underling of Riol, a knight of great accomplishment yes, but one whom had grown… lax over the past few years.I'd heard the rumors about him, gossip spread quickly through the castle and, truth be told, it was one of Irellia's few guilty pleasures, yet I'd never believed them. After all, how could a knight of the king become infatuated with one of them? And yet, he and the chieftain had barely strayed from one another since we'd reached the packlands- even less since we set out!My gaze flicks to the man in question, he smiles lazily at the Wolf-man… Wolf-Lady? Whatever the proper term is. She grins up at him, rises up on her tip toes and starts to say something to him only to stop and shoot me a glare instead.She turns her body to face me and takes two determined steps forward before Riol catches her by the elbow with a light chuckle, "Relax, S
*Irellia's POV*We'd made it to Likuna just after the sun had set, dashing my hopes of drinking the city in. It was strange how dark it was here at night, the castle would be cast in the soft glow of moon-lamps freshly recharged by the royal mages shortly before the sun had begun its descent. Yet her the moon and a few speckled torches were all that served to light the way. I wonder if Saffron itself looked the same at night? I wish I'd paid more attention while I was there.Arken takes the lead, a bundle of nerves knotting in my stomach and adding weight to my legs as we follow the sounds of laughter and mirth toward a small cottage of sorts with a broken door sitting off to the side.Our footsteps creak as we make our way across the worn wooden floor of the eatery, the chatter we'd heard from outside had come to an immediate halt the moment we stepped inside. I find myself hiding behind Arken, who doesn't seem to care about the appraising and somewhat hostile looks were receiving fr
*Irellia's POV*We step out into the brisk, night air and I hug myself on reflex. I hadn't realized quite how thin and cheap the fabric of my new new dress was until this very moment with the wind seeming to blow right through it. I catch a flurry of white to my left and turn my head just in time to see Arken drop his thick furs over my shoulders. I'm surprised by how heavy they are, it's like a warm weight has been placed on me.He gives me a quick smile, moonlight twinkling in his eyes and sending butterflies dancing in my stomach before speaking in a hushed tone, "Water makes it windy, or that's what Balt says anyway. I've never been this far from the packlands before.""Thank you," I tell him, averting my gaze. Voices spill out from the eatery, I get the distinct feeling they're talking about us and while I'm curious as to what they're saying, what their problem with us is, Arken takes my hand with a sour expression half dragging me down the street."Just ignore them." He tells me
*Arken's POV*Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Not only did she come herself but she brought knights with her? Gods-dammit Sila! Just pick somebody else! I don't dare to look back, if I do she'll make me submit. But the docks? I've never even been on water, let alone know the first thing about steering a whole ship. The wind is blowing my scent right at them so it's not like I can veer off, try to circle back to the city gate, they'll know my every stinkin' move. On top of that even if I do get tricky and get around my stupid sister, Ghost might lose track of us and then Ellia will be upset all because of me. But how am I gonna let him catch up without them getting on my heels too? I'm faster than Sila and the others won't dare try to outdo her even if they could, and that's about all I've got going for me right now. I have no choice but to keep moving forward so that's what I do.I plow my way straight through the city leaping over carts, signs, even knocking the occasional person out of my way wi
*Irellia's POV*I roll onto my side and pull a bulky pillow to my chest. I'd forgotten how wonderous a bed could be. It made me aware of just how much my back had suffered all those nights in the forest. But this sleeping arrangement does bring with it some concern, namely exactly how I'd gotten here.A soft knock at the door jerks me up into a sitting position, eyes darting around the plain little room. Aside from the okay sized bed itself the only furniture in here is a small desk in the corner with papers scattered about. I see the rounded top of a chest peaking out from the end of the dark green blanket someone had haphazardly thrown over me, and it in the process.I bury my face in my hands as the events of last night come flooding back to me. They'd found me with the help of Arken's people, that was the most reasonable explanation. I should have known they'd be eager to retrieve their unwilling bride. I was stupid, and gods know what trouble I'd brought on Arken because of it. A
*Sila's POV*My nails dig into the palms of my hands, frustration erupting from my chest in a growl I pray my foolish brother can hear on that damnable ship. I'd been so close to catching him, had the knights not been slowing me down with their weak stamina and Jaron's attempts to wrangle that pale horse I'd surely have my little brother on his knees before me right now.The two knights had split up and sought out captains in hopes of gaining a vessel to pursue them, but I knew enough about Likuna to know they'd have a hard enough time with the locals themselves let alone with a group of wolves along. The odds of them striking a deal were probably as good of Arken suddenly diving into the water and swimming back here to me."He flees to avoid marrying the woman he's traveling with anyway. It doesn't make any sense," I hear Kita from my right.I'm about to agree with him but Balt speaks up first, "I don't imagine the princess would be foolish enough to disclose her identity, and Arken
*Irellia's POV*It's our second evening aboard this stolen ship and I haven't spoken to Arken since that first morning. Part of it's because he's been avoiding me, I'm pretty certain he has been anyway. Whenever we see each other in the corridor he's inexplicably ducked into whatever room was closest, or marched right back in the direction he'd come. Each near encounter has left me with mixed emotions- which is the main reason we haven't talked. I don't know how to face him when I can't even comprehend what I'm feeling.I'd felt it first several days ago when he'd fled from me like a frightened animal. At that time it was a flood of concern that washed over me, souring me after him. I had wanted to help, to sooth him, but underneath that there'd been a selfishness. A fear that he would disappear into the trees and I'd never lay eyes on him again. The relief I'd felt once he'd finally calmed down had been immense and I'd been able to dismiss my strange attachment to a man I barely kne