Chapter 5

SELIORA POV

I couldn’t believe I was on the run.

Not of the sort that's too dramatic, pursued by the entire world and everything. But still, I had run. 

Now, I was perched high in the thick branches of an old oak, my body pressed against the hard trunk as the thick leaves hid me. I had used a concealing paste of my own making on my neck, arms, wrists, and elbows, hiding my scent from the keen noses of Kaelion's soldiers.

And now, I waited.

Frustration gnawed at me.

I needed to alert my parents. They were going to return late tomorrow, but anything could happen before then. I needed to tell them, explain what had happened, what was happening.

My heart knotted at the thought of my little brother.

Thalric.

I’d searched for him. In the packhouse but he hadn’t anywhere.

I had failed.

Guilt hung like an anchor in my chest, weighing me down until I could barely breathe. It was my fault he was in danger. My responsibility. My duty. I was his sister.

And yet, I’d failed him. He could be dead. 

My teeth clenched as I massaged the pain in my chest, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat. I was at a loss for what to do. 

There was a rustling noise.

I froze every muscle in my body tense.

Voices.

They were close.

Kaelion's men.

I could pick up pieces of their conversation as they pushed through the underbrush below.

“…Couldn’t have gone far…”  

“…Alpha Kaelion could take over all the were-packs if he wanted to…”  

“…We’re the strongest and most dominant pack after all…”  

Then, a sharper voice, laced with annoyance:  

“Where the hell is that bitch anyway? You’d think she’d have more sense than to run.”  

My fingers curled around the branch. Bastard.

Another voice yawned, "Yeah, well, doesn't matter anyway, does it? Heard the Alpha's got her little brother."

What?

My breath hitched, and my entire body locked up.

The speaker continued without compassion like they weren't discussing the one human she'd burn the world down for.

"Yeah, discovered the kid hiding somewhere in the packhouse. What’s his name again? This? Theric? Turmeric?" A laugh. "Eh, doesn't matter. The Alpha's got him now."

"I reckon he'll kill the brat," another grumbled. "Kid's got no one left to protect him anyway."

The words were lost as the men disappeared deeper into the forest, not knowing that what they had just said had infused hope into my veins.

Thalric.

He was alive.

Relief flooded me, so overwhelming that it nearly brought me to my knees. But relief was quickly overpowered by fear.

Kaelion had him.

And Kaelion was cruel.

My fingers dug deep into the tree bark as I forced myself to focus. I had one chance at making this right. One chance at catching Thalric in time.

I would not fail again.

Certain the coast was clear, I came down, landing lightly on my feet before vanishing into the cover of darkness.

——-

The packhouse lay unguarded.

Kaelion's men were too occupied with drinking and joking to worry about security. Their coarse voices and boisterous laughter made me ill.

I gritted my teeth and crept around the back of the building, taking advantage of the lack of light to slip in.

In measured, trained strides, I searched for Thalric, my heart racing at every door I opened.

And then I came upon my father's office.

I hesitated once more.

Something in me yelped for me to turn back, to keep away from this room. But I had to find Thalric. 

Slowly, I pushed the door open.

And there he was.

Chained to the great desk, his small wrists in icy iron shackles.

I gasped for breath. "Thalric."

His head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. "Sel—"

A sharp, cold blade at my throat.

I stood stock still.

Out of the darkness before me, Kaelion moved forward, his amber eyes aglow in the dim light. 

In one hand gripped a blade, which he pressed firmly against Thalric's throat.

Fear covered my brother's face.

My hands clenched into fists. "Let him go, Kaelion."

Kaelion cocked his head, regarding me with an almost smiling face. "Will you cooperate, Seliora?"

I gritted my teeth. There was no other choice. I had to keep Thalric alive. 

I pursed my lips before I gave a small, unwilling nod.

Kaelion's smile grew wider, hard and knowing. "Good."

He moved back from Thalric, and my brother slumped in relief.

I hardly had time to feel the same before Kaelion issued one command:

"Take her to the dungeons."

Hands closed around me from behind.

Thalric gasped in shock, calling out, "Seliora!" but I didn't struggle.

As they dragged me off, I caught my brother’s eyes and made a silent vow.

I'll save you. I swear it.

——

I didn’t know how long I was in the dungeon.

The walls were damp, the air thick with the stench of rock and old blood.

Then, at last, Kaelion arrived.

A chair had been pushed in front of my cell. He sat, looking down at me as if I was amusing.

"I took a little tour around your father's office," he told me carelessly. "Thought that was preferable to burning it down.”

I scowled at him. "How very generous of you."

Kaelion disregarded my sarcasm. "And during that time, I learned something… interesting." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Your father? He has been involved in some dark things. He had help infiltrating and killing part of my pack."

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t show it. "What does this have to do with me?”

Kaelion's grin was cruel. "You're going to help me ruin him."

My own father? I sneered. "And why the fuck would I ever do that?"

Kaelion moved closer, our faces inches apart.

The mate bond stirred awake. 

I took a deep breath, my body betraying me with the need to close the distance. But Kaelion's face tightened, his features twisting into a snarl.

"Then I will kill your brother."

My heart stopped beating.

Kaelion’s voice was quiet. Lethal. Certain.

“I will torture him, over and over again,” he murmured. “And he will suffer for your sins.”  

My fists trembled.  

“Let him go,” I whispered. “He’s innocent.”  

Kaelion tilted his head. “Then let’s make a deal.”  

I held my breath.

“I'll release your brother," he said to me, "and I won't kill him. He'll live. He'll be safe. When your parents return home, they will find him alive." He smiled, slow and cruel. "It's a mercy on my part."

My stomach churned.

I already guessed what he was offering.

“And in return, you’ll follow me back to Obsidian Fang, where you’ll help me get to the bottom of everything. So?" Kaelion's voice was soft. "Yes or no, Seliora? Choose wisely.”

It wasn't a choice, not by any means.

I’d pick Thalric over myself a thousand times.

My tone was grim when I finally spoke.

"You'll leave my brother alone. You'll keep him safe until my parents return. And I'll go with you to Obsidian Fang."

Kaelion stared at me for what felt like an eternity.

Then, finally, his tongue darted out, tracing over his lower lip.

And he smiled. 

"Deal."