LOGINFreda’s P.O.VThe forest fell into a dangerous silence — the kind that made your skin prickle and your heartbeat louder than the wind. It was as if the trees themselves knew something was lurking, watching.Slowly, Craig’s hand found mine and wrapped around it protectively. His palm was warm, oddly smooth against my trembling fingers. For a brief moment, that simple touch grounded me — a kind of comfort I hadn’t expected in a place so dark and deadly.“Can you run?” he whispered.I nodded, though my throat was dry.Something moved in the shadows — a ripple in the stillness — and before I could blink, Craig’s voice cut through the silence.“Run!”I bolted forward, my breath tearing out of my lungs. Craig’s footsteps thundered beside mine, fast and steady. He was the Alpha; his speed was expected. But what shocked me was how fast I had become — my legs carrying me with a strength I didn’t know I had.An arrow sliced through the air, grazing my shoulder. I gasped in pain as it embedded i
Freda’s P.O.VIt was too silent.Everywhere was silent. The air was thick with the aftermath of battle, the kind that weighed on your chest and reminded you of what it cost to survive. The ground was still stained with blood, a grim reminder that not everyone had made it through.It was hard to believe that just a short while ago, we had been fighting for our lives.Now, the cries had quieted, replaced by the low hum of people tending to the wounded. The smell of smoke and sweat lingered, mixed with the faint, metallic scent of blood. I forced myself to move, to do something — anything — other than think about the faces of those who had fallen.I made it my mission to help the injured.It didn’t matter if I used up my last ounce of strength or became so drained that I couldn’t stand. These people had fought for me — risked their lives for me — and I owed them my hands, my energy, my everything.I moved from one person to the next, pressing my palms against torn flesh, broken bones, an
Freda’s P.O.VI shoved him hard, sending him stumbling back. The alarm was my miracle, a desperate, unexpected opening in this prison of nightmares. My heart thundered as I ran for the door. My fingers brushed the cold metal knob, so close to my freedom, when his hand clamped around my arm and jerked me back.“Where do you think you’re going?” he growled, his voice low and deadly.I refused to answer. My throat was dry, my breath caught halfway between terror and defiance. If I stopped now, I’d lose the only chance I had.He yanked me close. His palm came down across my face with a sharp crack. The sting burned my cheek, tears welled in my eyes, but I held my breath and didn’t scream.“Do you think you can run because of a little noise?” he hissed. “My guards can handle it. They always do.”The alarm blared again, louder this time, a shrill cry that shook the walls. His composure cracked. “Damn it!” He spun around, snatching up his clothes and slipping into his pants and boots. His ba
Freda’s P.O.V“Get ready to catch a glimpse of your new life, your majesty.”One of the guards shoved me so hard I nearly fell to the floor. I turned and glared at him.“Don’t think everyone is happy to have you here,” he sneered. “You’re just a stranger hoping to become our Luna.” He let out a mocking laugh. “Dream on.”As if I was eager to be their Luna. It was the last thing I wanted.They led me through a narrow hallway that mirrored the darkness of the dungeon, up a flight of stairs until we stepped into a massive balcony.I gasped.Who would have thought something this enormous existed in the middle of the forest?Or were we no longer in the forest at all?My heartbeat quickened.How far was I from Craig?I wasn’t close to him by any means, but at least I’d had a sliver of freedom in his place. Here, my hands were bound, and I couldn’t move an inch on my own.“Are you impressed now that you’ve seen how vast our palace is?” the other guard teased.Responding to them would do me n
Freda’s P.O.VThe dungeon reeked of stale urine and feces - it was horrible that the thought of apologizing to that lunatic crossed my mind. But, I knew there was nothing worse than being mated to someone who doesn’t have feeling. I would rather endure this stench if it meant having enough time to think of an escape route. In one corner of the dungeon sat a small pail, its original color long washed off – I could hardly tell what its real color was. I dare not move closer to it for the fear of what it might smell like. The only space that brought a bit of sunlight into the dreadful dungeon was a small window, barely big enough for anything to fit through.I sighed and sat beside the door, where at least a trickle of fresh air drifted in. I had no idea where I was. Where I was going to or even what I was supposed to do. I wasn’t trained for this sort of situation at all. I had always had the princess lifestyle. It was still somehow baffling that my life had resulted to whatever this
Freda’s P.O.VIt was hard to see what was happening or who was winning. Everyone was caught up in the chaos, tying to fend off the enemies, who seemed to grow in number. It became clear that the earlier ambush hadn’t included all of them – more were joining the battle now. With the intensity of the fight, no one could spare the strength to protect me. I pulled out my own small blade, trying to remember the few things Ava had taught me. But before I could make a move, I felt something cold press against my back.I froze. There was no mistaking what it was. A weapon. But I didn’t know who was holding it. My eyes searched for Ava and Craig – Ava was busy fighting two enemies at once, and Craig was nearly lost in the crowd, surrounded. “Move,” a voice commanded behind me. I didn’t have to turn to know who it was. Sharon. I didn’t argue with her but moved like she said. No one was really paying attention to us, and the only ones who knew how much Sharon hated me were Craig and Ava