TWO: NO TURNING BACK

ELIZABETH MILKHART

Ice-cold rain hammered into my head like nails as I dragged my old suitcase toward the string of guards outside our small front door.

“Make it quick Miss Milkhart, we haven't got all night.” The rude, wide-chested guard huffed as I paused before the brilliant gold carriage parked outside our shabby house.

It looked out of place on the run-down street the high wolves had given only to humans.

The guard could have been seven foot tall! So big he was almost about the same size as the goddamned carriage!

His bright orange eyes burned down on me with unfriendly intensity as I read his name off his golden chest plate. Rudolf.

Was this what all the werewolves looked like?

I felt the moisture dry from my mouth as I hurried to meet up, shivering when the rain soaked through my light cotton dress as the guard parted the curtains.

“Inside please, try not to drag mud all over the place.” His stern face had contorted into a tight scowl that made my cheeks warm in embarrassment.

“Well, look what the wolves dragged in.” The blonde woman’s sultry voice was tinged with disdain and her small blue eyes glittered proudly as I blinked back stars from the bright yellow light that washed over my eyes.

Wolves. All three of the women sitting opposite me were werewolves, with sleek long hair and glassy olive-white skin that made goosebumps break on my body.

I sucked in air reflexively, not daring to move as they raked their hot gazes up and down my body like needles.

“Be good Elizabeth! Remember everything I've taught you, dear girl!” My mother’s shrill scream came from outside suddenly and I winced with embarrassment as the classy women snickered again.

“Wait, was that your mother? How pathetic.” The curvy wolf lady snorted to the blonde woman who was watching me intensely and I tried to pretend I couldn't hear them two feet away from me.

“Alpha Blackwood sure is picking them from the dirt these days since his barren bitch of a Luna can't give him an heir,” Sarah sneered, and my heart jumped harder inside me.

Heck, why had I thought this was a good idea?

I curled in on myself even more, realizing how I was really no match for the elegant women. I had seen their exquisite faces in the bright light, small and chiseled with raving masses of hair that fell in pin-straight fashion to their shoulders.

I looked like Shrek’s Bride while they looked like freaking Cinderellas!

“Why did my mother have to be so obnoxious about stuff like this? Ugh!” I thought, then immediately felt my heart pinching with guilt…

Of course, she would be sad! I was all she had left! And now I was being hauled off to some bum-fuck Castle for the dreaded Alpha’s council to pick me apart like dessert.

I tried to close my eyes and listen to the hard squeaking of the carriage underneath as the women wolves carried on gossiping and the walls in my head pressed tightly together.

It felt like an eternity had passed before I felt the carriage violently jolt to a stop, damned near throwing me out of the sleek gold cushions I’d been sitting on.

“Watch it human! I don't want your weak scent on my dress!” Sarah barked, throwing me a blue-eyed glare as she sashayed out of the carriage with her string of omega wolves.

I gazed out at the stunning view of the castle before us, the wide granite foyer with a large clear blue fountain at the center. It was breathtaking. The rows and rows of chiseled gray buildings formed the Blackwood’s powerful Fort.

The scent of moss and wildflowers rose in the air as the crimson sun set on the horizon.

It was perfect, And yet, every nerve in my body screamed at me to leave. To disappear from here before it was too late!

Maybe it was the hushed whispers from the crowd as we descended the carriage, or the wicked stares of the guards that seemed to pin me with their intensity.

There were wolves all around me! Their scent so overpowering I felt the walls in my head closing in on each other.

“…A human? Just wait till Luna Blackwood picks her apart.” One wolf snorted from the crowd, face hidden in the shadows.

That was it! I had had enough!

I had to leave! I had to!

“Coming here was a mistake,” I whispered to myself, feeling my cheek burning with embarrassment and shame as I turned away from the queue of women.

There was simply no place for me in Castle Blackwood!

“E-excuse me? Excuse me!” I stammered, before raising my voice with a firmer tone and watching the mean-faced guard from earlier turn to glare at me wordlessly.

Asshole! I swallowed a hasty breath, jutting my chin to meet his unfriendly orange eyes.

“I demand to seek counsel with the King Alpha!” I declared boldly, watching his thick black eyebrows rise with surprise.

“You will do no such thing.” He deadpanned in a voice that was so icy it sent chills rocketing up and down my spine.

“I can and I will! I, Elizabeth Milkhart, reject this summon! I no longer wish to be the King’s surrogate!” I shouted, turning in a messy half-circle to face the long gaping buildings that surrounded us on each side.

I couldn't shake the feeling that the dreaded Alpha was in one of them, that I could feel his hot penetrating gaze burning holes in the back of my neck, and yet… the windows remained dark…empty.

There were gasps and murmurs of disgust in the crowd that gathered as I whirled around to march toward the gates, fighting the angry tears that pooled in my eyes.

“Your rejection is denied Miss Milkhart. Please join the queue.” Rudolf grunted in a bored voice that made me grind my teeth in rage as the guards I had seen earlier started to inch toward me.

Who the hell did Ezra Blackwood think he was that I couldn't resist him?

“No! You can't make me do this! Do you hear me? You can't!” I screamed in a shrill voice as the men’s iron hands clamped down on my shoulders almost painfully.

I screamed as panic burst in my chest before I flew toward the huge gates, feeling my mouth fall open in horror when it slammed shut in my face.

Trapped. I was trapped in the dreaded Blackwood Castle.

Dear god! I fought desperately against the guards, feeling the weight of something bash into my head before darkness wavered in my vision and I felt my body give out from underneath me.

Falling…I was falling into the endless sea of darkness that was Castle Blackwood.