By the time I was woken up by Caspian, we had reached a small town called Pretrinos Toichos, which translated to Rock Wall, as the entire town was surrounded by a large naturally formed canyon that protected them from the outside world. It was a small town but seemed to flourish with many different types of creatures, all bustling and running about as we entered what looked to be a marketplace. “Let’s see if there is an inn we can stay at. Stay here, I’ll look around,” Rosalyn said. We seated ourselves on a bench outside a small flower shop, the aromatic smell overpowering. Caspian kept sniffling and sneezing around them. “Come on, let’s go over there, she can still see us,” I said and walked him over to the blacksmith where there was another bench. “You folks clearly aren’t from around here. What brings you to Petrinos?” the gruff and burly man asked as he beat an axe with a hammer, straightening out the piping-hot han
The ice-cold water splashed against my knuckles as I scraped the fabric against the washbasin. I watched in satisfaction as the soil of the day washes clean in the river, making me wish I could do the same and wash the filth of my life away. Since the day I was born, of unknown origin, I was taken into a house of horror and abuse with the Emery family.Magnus Emery, Alpha of the Rafina Pack, is the worst of them all. I was found outside the Alpha house as a newborn, with no note or explanation as to where I had come from. I was given the name Sevika, which I learned later in life was a name that meant ‘slave’. Pretty fitting.I cooked and cleaned like a slave, even some of the servants were treated better than me. They had their own quarters available, while I was awarded the shed out back. There were rare times I slept in a comfy bed, but I never got any sleep.Those were the nights that Magnus took me to bed and used me in any way he saw fit. He defiled and traumatized me beyond any
I stood in front of the floor-length mirror as the maids fussed around me, making sure my dull blonde hair had some life to it and added light makeup around my eyes to make their amber colour pop more. I almost looked like a different person, someone who hadn’t lived her entire life in filth and servitude.What was going to happen when I got there, and he realized I wasn’t the person he asked for? Only time would tell, the Fira Pack only being a few hours away by carriage. I just hoped that if this was my end, he would make it quick and painless. I’m dressed in a plain white dress that looks more like a nightgown than a wedding dress and sent off.Only one person is waiting at the main gate, Magnus. The rest of the family, I assumed, were already celebrating my departure.“Are you here to see me off?” I asked him.He grinned at me. “I can’t let my precious Sevika be sent off all on her own, can I?” He grabbed strands of my hair delicately before grasping the back of my head. His finge
I am escorted to the bedroom by two maids. When we got to the door they tried to follow me inside.“We will help you get prepared for tonight,” one of them said.“Prepared? What for?”They both shared a look. “For your first night with the King, my Lady.”‘Ah, I didn’t think of that.’ “Please just have the clothes I am to wear tonight prepared; I will handle the rest.”They shook their heads. “We cannot do that, my Lady. We were instructed to see to you from start to finish, the King won’t be happy with us otherwise.”I sighed in defeat. I didn’t want them to get in trouble for not doing their job, but I also didn’t want them to discover the scars on my body and the mark on my neck. I didn’t see myself any higher above their status but that didn’t make me feel any less ashamed.I walked into the bathroom and stopped short of the large tub in the middle of the room.“Must you help me bathe? He won’t know if you do or not,” I asked.The maids looked at each other again. “As long as you
Caspian was still missing come the next morning and since I was used to waking up much earlier than everyone else, I was up before a maid was able to wake me up and tell me where I should go. I had no idea where the dining room was or when breakfast was even served.Thankfully a maid knocked on the door soon after.“Excuse me, my lady, is it alright for the doctor to come in now?” she asked.“What doctor? I never sent for one.”“No, but someone very concerned for you did,” a man chuckled and in walked a pack doctor. “I was hauled here in the middle of the night, but I was told to wait until you were awake. The name is Marlyn and there is nothing to fear, my lady, I’m just here for a routine check-up.”“A check-up for what?” I asked. I had never been seen by a doctor, my family always claimed I was healthy for my age and never needed to, though many times I had doubted that who was I to say differently?“Just to make sure everything is working as it should be. Just lay back and I’ll ru
Over the next few days, Caspian was present for every meal I had and tasted a piece of everything on my plate and in my glass before I touched it. He did this without being asked or it seemed without even thinking, and it both touched and tore at my heart.There was no need for him to go to this extent, so why was he? Everyone has always had ulterior motives for the overly nice things they do for someone, those motives in my experience had never been the greatest.So, was he planning anything? Or was he merely treating me nicely?Despite this positive change, things still hadn’t changed drastically between Caspian and I. It was still difficult for us to hold a conversation and it often made our meals together somewhat awkward.“There is something I’ve wanted to ask you,” he said suddenly.I nodded for him to go ahead.“You mentioned to the doctor that you have never shifted, but without a doubt, you are a werewolf. Why is that?”I sighed and got up out of my seat to circle the table t
The ride to the Rafina Pack was relatively smooth with surprisingly good weather the entire way. Caspian had made sure to run easy for me riding on top with nothing to grab but handfuls of fur that frequently slipped out between my fingers. Caspian and Jax easily disguised themselves as guards, and I dressed myself to look like a noble as best I could, hoping most wouldn’t recognize me here. I had to have looked different to some if you considered the condition I was in the last time I was in the Rafina Pack. Most couldn’t tell what my gender was despite my long hair, my face was always so dirty and my body so skinny, you couldn’t tell. I may not have put on any weight since then, but with the proper bath I was given, the hairstyle the maids gave me and my clothes, I looked like an actual person. “Where did the Elf say that gambling den was?” Caspian asked Jax. “He said it was in the marketplace, hidden in plain sight.” “That
Collinsworth met us at the alley again when the sun dipped below the horizon and the market streets became bare. He led us around the back of the empty building and to a small cellar door. He knocked three times and a slit in the door slid open, a single eye appeared.“Password?” he gruffly asked.“Ambrosia,” Collins whispered.The door rattled a couple of times before it was flung open, and a Cyclops orc took up the doorway. He eyed all of us for a few minutes before he nodded for us to get inside. The whole place stretched underground and looked like it had been thrown together recently, the wood beams still shedding from a fresh saw.There were several round tables scattered throughout the room with cards and plastic chips flying from hand to hand, as others slammed the tables and hooted loudly, the entire room filled with chaotic noise.“Where is the auction house?” I asked Collins over the mess.He pointed to the other side of the room next to the bar, where a red curtain divided