Chapter 3

Ava's pov)

The trip from silver claw pack to Blackthorn was expected to take three days. I have never left the pack's boundary as it wasn't particularly safe for humans to travel.

The trip was a bumpy one, we were all cramped in so I occasionally got an elbow to the side or a stomp on my feet. Sleeping was difficult, I'd place my head on one of Sylvia's shoulders to sleep and she'd do the same with me.

We weren't let out of the carriage all through the trip. During the three days we spent on the road, a warrior would come to open our door three times a day to give us meals.

At least they didn't starve us…I thought.

They would also bring us out twice a day to do our business, although we were blindfolded.

As I woke up today the ride was silent, I didn't hear the usual chatter of the warriors. The air was warm, meaning that we were far from the north.

The warmth, body heat and the heavy layers of winter clothing we all had on made inside the carriage a burning furnace. My clothes are drenched in sweat at this point, I can't take off my coat due to the rope that binds my wrist.

The more we moved the more civilian chatter could be hard. Shouts at the market, kids running around with their mother's yelling after them and men talking.

We must be at the capital… I thought.

Soon the chatter of our carriage faded and the sound of hooves breaking twigs could be heard. We were moving through a forest.

At this point I was tired so I decided to rest my head on Sylvia's shoulder and sleep.

“Alright, we are here. Wake up!” A voice boomed, jerking me out of my sleep.

Turning I saw the source of the voice, it was one of the warriors who had opened the door to our carriage and began leading us out one by one.

My eyes stung as I stepped out as it had been three days since I last saw sunlight, plus the sun here has an intensity far more than that in the North where she grew up.

I was happy to finally be able to breathe fresh air and not the smell of sweat. I could feel a pair of eyes on me but couldn't look at the source because my eyes hadn't adjusted.

My eyes finally adjusted, I decided to take a look at my surroundings. My eyes widened as an enormous castle stood strong and formidable before me.

My breath caught in my throat as I had never seen something so large. The castle looked above us all, it made me feel so small and in the depths of my mind I fear what lies behind those doors.

The castle alone was a lot to take it, finding myself unable to take my eyes off of it to take a look around.

I stumbled before realizing that the line was already moving. A warrior happened to notice this and walked over to me, it was the captain.

He disconnected the ropes that bind my wrists. I sighed in relief as blood began to flow properly there, my wrists were bruised and slightly bleeding due to the roughness of the rope.

Confused as to why he untied me, I turned, face etched in curiosity and saw that it was the captain. He had a wicked smirk on his face, the color drained from my already pale face at the sight. He noticed my reaction and his eyes gleamed in delight.

Taking one of my bruised wrists in his hand he began dragging me into the castle. Everyone stood and watched.

“Next time, pay attention. Don't stumble, don't delay us.” He said. “I'll teach you a lesson for losing focus.”

I could barely keep up with him as he continued to drag me further into the castle, my feets stumbled and I fell to my knees. This didn't stop him, he continued to drag me. We went up a small flight of stairs, my knees bounced against the stone steps with each step he took.

I caught sight of some human servants who watched in a mixture of both pity and fear. I have had enough.

I am Ava Sinclair and I will not let this monster have his way… I thought.

With newfound determination, I began to resist his hold. Thrashing, kicking and screaming. He blinked in surprise as he wasn't expecting me to fight back, his face contorted into a snarl as he grabbed my other wrist and pulled.

At this point I didn't know where we were or who was watching, my focus was on freeing myself from him. His grip intensified the pain on my wrists, leaning forward I bit down his hand hard.

“What the hell!” He shrieked, letting me go to cradle his hand.

I bit hard enough to draw blood, I spat his blood on the floor then proceeded to cradle my wrists as well. His face turned more deadly and furious as he spotted the victorious smirk on my face.

His claws came out and just as he was about to strike me a commanding voice yelled.

“Stop!”

The command reverberated through the castle, halting the captain instantly, I felt the command deep in my bones. The castle went eerie silent.

Standing behind the captain sat the alpha king, Xander Blackthorn, right on his throne. We had both been too focused on our brawl to realize that we had reached the throne room.

His throne was big, it had swords sticking out of it. It was black, shiny and littered with swords, knives and…a skull.

At the sight of the skull my stomach sank, blood completely draining from my face, the hairs at the back of my neck stood, my body shivered.

That could be me… I thought in horror.

Drawing my gaze from the throne to the figure seated on the throne, my breath caught in my throat.

He was stunning and huge. Jet black hair, steel grey eyes that pierced through the captain and muscles that could crush me like a twig.

“What's going on here?” He asked, his voice eluding volumes of authority.

“Sir..” the captain started but couldn't finish. I could see the slight tremble in his hand.

The air was thick with tension almost as if no one was breathing. The castle was in pin drop silence

Suddenly, King's gaze slid to me, pinning me with his cold, sharp and predatory gaze, piercing through me down to my soul.

I suddenly forgot how to breathe, my composure crumbled under the weight of his gaze.