Sabine
For the first time in months I woke up with a big smile on my face. All my muscles were sore but at the same time I was feeling refreshed.
I stretched my limbs before pushing away the animal skins that were serving me as blankets thinking about the dream I had. Everything felt so real.
“You know the wolf was real…” Inna’s voice echoed in my head but before I replied mom's voice brought me back from my thoughts.
“Sabine, are you awake?” She asked me softly
“Yes mom, I am” I replied yawning.
“Hurry up outside, dad and I have something to tell you” mom said seriously, peeking through the wagon slit.
“I’ll be there in a few” I mumbled as I saw her smiling before leaving me to get dressed.
I quickly replaced the nightgown I slept in with my green dress that had purple and yellow flowers on it. I just love how the soft fabric embraced my skin keeping me warm. I hurriedly put on my boots and grabbed my coat before I left the wagon. I didn’t know what my parents wanted to talk to me about, but something was telling me that I was not going to like it.
As I was coming down from my wagon, flashes from my dream with me taking the path towards the woods were rushing back. It was like something magical was pushing me to go further, deeper into the dark forest. With no destination in mind I started wandering with no guidance other than the Moon. At first I was afraid but as I got used to the dark, the silence became my friend. As the icy breeze brushed my face I facepalm myself for not being dressed properly, I was naked but I couldn’t feel the cold, even my bare feet were not disturbed by the frozen ground I was stepping on.
I don’t know how much I walked, maybe a mile, maybe ten or maybe more. All I knew was that I had to keep going. As I was strolling through the forest a powerful pine scent mixed with rain hit my nostrils. For a second my heart skipped a beat and I knew I had to find the source of the smell.
I somehow felt revived so I started running towards the direction I believed the scent was coming from. After taking some turns and changing direction a couple of times I found myself standing in front of something that looked like building debris and a big black wolf appeared out of nowhere in front of me.
I know I should’ve been afraid, but something about the wolf made me stay on my tracks and wait. There was something in his eyes that told me he was not going to harm me and I felt the need to get closer to him.
I reached my hand to pet him and that’s when I knew the mix of pine and rain scent was coming from him. We played together, we ran together…it’s weird now but I felt like he was the missing puzzle of my soul.
I sighed looking towards the forest. Something inside me already missed the wolf and wished that the wolf was real like Inna said…
“Sabine, we are waiting for you” dad’s annoyed voice filled the air.
As I turned my head and started walking towards my parents, I could see everyone’s eyes on me. Some of the women were actually smiling at me while the men were nodding approvingly.
“Take a seat” dad said, filling his pipe with tobacco without looking at me.
“Here” mom pointed to the seat next to her on an old stump.
“Sabine, I have been talking to your mother for a while now, trying to figure out what is best for you. As my daughter you have a duty to fulfill towards your family and our group. We know that when you turned sixteen the idea of being married was too much for you, but keep in mind your mother and I got married when we turned twelve.” Dad paused for a moment choosing his next words. “Because you are almost eighteen, it was hard for us to find you a good husband. Nobody wants an old bride” dad continued shaking his head.
“But dad, I…”
“No. It’s been decided.” Dad interrupted me. “You’re going to marry Mika. He is one of my best commanders, the group knows and respects him so he will be a good leader” dad added in a stern voice.
“He is old” I barely heard myself saying.
“You are not young anymore either.” Dad shook his head. ”I know he is experienced but he would make a fine husband. He will take care of you and our pack will follow. “ Dad continued looking at me.
“He has a big wagon, nicely decorated,” mom added quickly.
“And if I don’t want to marry him” I blurted out trying to come out strong.
“You have no say in this. The elders approved this union. You’re going to marry Mika and I suggest you to be on board. You are my daughter and like I said earlier you have a duty to fulfill. Tonight we will announce the good news to the group and celebrate the engagement. The wedding will take place after we reach the caves and settle down.”
I could see my dad’s lips moving but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I was feeling numb. Nothing was making sense to me. I know It was my duty to get married and give our group a new young, stronger leader, but Mika was almost my father's age. He was not young or handsome… he was not even rich.
Mika was one of those people who knew where his interests lay. He was friendlywith the right people, just to gain certain benefits because of their friendship. Some of the people were saying that he was cruel and had a mischievous mind; others said that he was just hungry for power.
As my mind was trying to find a solution, I felt a pair of eyes checking me out, making my skin crawl. I looked around just in time to find Mika’s lustful eyes taking me in. When our eyes met I heard Inna's voice cursing inside my head.
“Hell No! We have to run away! You can’t marry that …” I sighed pushing her back in my head, thinking how people choose between love and duty.
Nothing about Mika was appealing to me, he wasn’t that smart and definitely not my type, not like I had one. He was slender and had medium height. His black raven hair was short cut while his thick mustache was long so he could roll with his fingers. He always wore a hat and had one of those toothpicks on the corner of his mouth. Because he smoked, everytime he was around all I could smell was the strong tobacco scent.I sobbed thinking about what kind of life I would have married with a man like Mika.
“Hello little Dove,” Mika said, approaching me. He was smiling showing me his yellow crooked teeth. “I guess your parents told you the good news!” He continued and I just realized that my parents were gone and I was alone with him.
I nodded trying to smile. Until I was able to come up with a plan it was better for me to keep my future husband happy.
“Tonight you’re going to be mine, I hope you are still intact. You didn’t fool around didn’t you? Your dad promised me a virgin” he continued laughing.
As I looked down feeling disgusted, trying my best not to puke Mika was examining me like I was some kind of merchandise.
“See you tonight my little Dove” he added before bending down and kissed my cheek.
Kade “Alpha, we have unexpected guests” Alex's voice boomed in my head making me growl. “How many?” I barked, annoyed. Why do I have to go on a killing spree after the beautiful night I had. “The scout told me they are around 400 hundred” Alex replied quickly. “What’s the location?” I asked, jumping out of bed. “The south border” Alex mind-linked back and for some reason my heart skipped a beat. What if I was wrong and my beautiful wolf was just a decoy. I knew I should have been going after her. “Gather the best warriors and meet me outside in ten” I growled through the mind-link. “Alpha, it’s not an attack…they are not rogue wolves”. A
KadeI shifted into my human form, just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. As I was placing her down carefully I couldn’t stop myself from looking at her. She was small, but she fitted perfectly into my arms. I moved away the chestnut hair that covered her face and I couldn’t stop myself from staring. Her skin was as white as the snow that was about to fall while her plump lips had a rosy color making my mind wonder how they taste.“Kade, is she hurt?” I heard Alex’s voice coming from behind. I blinked a couple of times to steady myself before I started checking her out for any injuries.“Yeah, those damn dogs bit her.“ I sneered annoyed.“Catch,” Alex said, throwing my clothes. I put them on quickly, not leaving her side. What was about
KadeWhat the hell was wrong with me? Why did I let her leave? Even after I cleaned her wound and patched her up she was in no condition to walk and yet knowing that I let her leave. I honestly thought that she was playing a mind game, wanting me to chase and beg her to stay so that's why I stood in my tracks watching her small figure disappear into the woods waiting for her return.“Kade” I snapped when Alex said my name. “What?” I snorted out annoyed.“It’s been an hour since Sabine left… what are we still doing here?” Alex’s question left me dumbfounded.“An hour?” I heard myself saying and I saw Alex nodding. “Well let’s go, she had her chance to change her mind and come
KadeLily led us to the fire, where the men were gathered around drinking and smoking. She disappeared for a moment just to come back with two mugs filled with liquor..“I made it myself,” Lily pointed to the mugs “Cheers” she added before she disappeared again.“Damn, that’s strong” Alex’s voice made me laugh. I didn’t need to taste it, the smell coming from the mug was definitely strong.Five men took their place, quietly, in the middle, fixing their instruments and before I knew it they started to sing. I couldn’t understand the words but it was clearly a happy song, sung with so much passion.“That’s a cimbalom”, Lily told me proudly when
SabineI have been walking for hours now. The pain coming from my leg is almost unbearable, but I have to keep going. I have to. I sighed seeing the mark I made an hour ago, on an old stump. I kept going in circles. I can feel the tears ready to wash my face, but I refuse to give up. I will find a way out of this giant endless maze.I hoped that by the time it’s going to be dark I would be close to the main road so I don’t have to worry about the wolves or other savage animals. Little did I know that I would probably get stuck in here forced to find shelter and something to eat.Despite Inna yelling in my head not to leave, to stay with Him, I chose to walk away. I meant every single word I said. I wanted to find my own way. As much as I was grateful for his help it wouldn’t be fair to him to drag him into my mess…The
Kade Where are you, Sabine? I asked myself looking at the three lines. It’s been three days since anyone saw her and I started looking for her. It’s like she vanished into the darkness but I know better. She is here, I can feel her, yet I can’t find her. I sighed, going back to the table and pouring myself another drink. I curse under my breath seeing the empty bottle. “Any leads” I mind-link the patrol guards. “No, Alpha” their answers came back the same. I rubbed my temple annoyed trying to get rid of the headache I had. I started pacing back and forth forcing myself to think of the places we didn’t look at yet. She is injured and I know she couldn’t walk that far so why am I unable to find her then.
Kade“Fuck” I cursed under my breath seeing Sabine’s naked body laying on the frozen ground. My bones snapped and rearranged almost instantly, thanks to the multiple times I shifted.I bent down quickly checking her pulse and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. She was alive. Her pulse was weak but it was there and that gave me hope.“Come on Sabine, wake up.” I said, shaking her trying to get a reaction from her. She looked just like a sleeping Snow White. “Don’t give up on me” I voiced out, surprising myself.I glanced around to see if I could spot the grey she-wolf, but like the other time, she was gone. Kieran's anxiety made my head spin and I had to push him back so I could focus. I know the she-wolf needed medical attention, too and I will do my best to find her. Right now I can’t go chasing
KadeI kept pacing back and forth on the pack clinic hallway waiting for someone to come and let me know how Sabine was doing. We were twenty minutes away when I mind linked the pack doctor, letting her know that I needed her help.The doctor waited for us in front of the clinic taking Sabine right away. I knew she was going to send someone as soon as she had news.I glanced at the wall clock and I felt stuck in time. Only a minute has passed since I checked it last time. I brushed my hair nervously not knowing what to do next."Boss, we came as soon as we heard the news” Jonah’s voice sounded behind me. As I turned to look at him I could see the worry spread all over his face.” This is my wife, Alma,” Jonah said, introducing a woman who looked down, fidgeting her fingers. “And this