FerrahI ran as fast as I could. My muscles were sore from the hours I spent tied in an awkward position and my legs were numb, but I pushed on anyway. I was clumsy, but I managed to stay upright and keep moving. I had a short head start, but that wouldn’t get me far against a shifter. If only I had the strength to master portal spells, but that magic was still beyond my skill level. I could hear the Alpha King following me through the thick underbrush and the sound fills my mind with terror. This was a nightmare. I was at a serious disadvantage. I couldn’t see well in the dark, I didn’t know this area, and I was panicked. I was sure that if I stopped, I'd be killed. All of the fear that had filled my nightmares for the past years felt like it was bubbling to the surface. I had to keep my emotions in check or I was going to make a mistake. I could tell by the sound of his footsteps that he was getting closer, but I didn't dare try to look. My heart felt like it was going
Onyx It was sheer dumb luck that we had ended up back in the pack village. At first, I was so disoriented by our battle and the long chase that I didn’t realize what direction she was running. When I did, I simply stayed close enough behind her that she didn’t stop running. I knew that if I got her into the village, I would be able to keep her there. She was strong, perhaps stronger than any witch I had ever faced in one on one combat. I doubted that she was even aware of the strength she held. If she was, she wouldn’t be so eager to run from the fight. It was good news for me, anyway. That bolt of magical energy hurt like hell. I held the witch's hands behind her back tightly as I walked her through the village and toward my home. My wolf was thrilled, but I kept it in check. I had no idea what I was going to do with her, if I was being honest. I knew, instinctively, that I couldn’t let her go. The village was dark and there was no one on the streets, although it wasn’t so l
FerrahThe dungeons weren’t exactly what I expected. The building didn’t have a basement, so at least I wasn’t stuck in the dank, miserable hole. I was in a cage, though. It was a small cage with iron bars that had been built in the corner of a disused bedroom. It was an interior room with no windows and they hadn’t bothered to turn any lights on, so I was sitting in the dark with only the light that came in from the gap under the door to illuminate the space. There was a cot against one wall and it looked like there was a door across the room. It could be a closet or an ensuite bathroom, but it wasn’t accessible from behind the bars. Other than that, the room was empty. The floors were hard wood and felt cold against my feet. The whole room felt cold, but that might be because of the fear that was still coursing through me. I was a captive in enemy territory. The man that had taken my family from me had me at his mercy. I was so scared that I was starting to numb to the sensati
Ferrah “Together, we will end the war and save our races,” he said firmly. The expression on his face was so earnest, it was almost pleading. I never would have believed that the Alpha King who haunted my nightmares could be capable of this kind of sincerity. Either he was an extremely skilled actor, or he really meant it. Together.Something about the way he said that word combined with the magnetic feeling in my chest felt so powerful. I wanted to agree immediately. Bringing an end to the war was all that I had wanted for so long. If he was right… I shook my head vehemently. No. No, no, no. I can’t trust him! He killed my parents and my brother. This had to be some kind of a trick. I didn’t know how or why, but he had to be manipulating me for some reason. “You’re lying!” I shouted. I jumped to my feet and my hands balled into fists at my side. I was shaking with anger, but without my magic, there was nothing I could do. He looked startled by my outburst, but recov
OnyxI stared down at the wood grain on my desk. I felt like I was losing my mind. So much had happened over the past 24 hours and I was struggling to make sense of it all. I couldn’t even make sense of my own behavior, if I was being honest. I needed to eat something and get some sleep, that would be enough to clear the fog from my mind. At least, I hoped that it would be enough. I couldn’t blame all of my recent decision making on exhaustion. The mate pull was also a factor. Ferrah… that witch was making me weak. If not for the sigils and anti-magic wards in the packhouse, I would be convinced she was using her powers on me. I apologized to her. I actually said the words, “I’m sorry.” I never apologized to anyone, ever. Even when I knew that I should. I knew better than to show that kind of weakness and fallibility. My father taught me better than that. I was better than that. I couldn’t remember apologizing to anyone since I was very young. But I apologized for scar
Ferrah I didn’t understand how this room was so cold. Was it intentional? Did they cut off the heat to this room for fear that someone would escape through the vents?I was sitting on the cot with my arms around myself in an attempt to retain some warmth. It had only gotten colder since I woke up and it made it impossible to get back to sleep. That was probably for the best. I had no idea how long it was going to take for the Alpha King to return for me. He said that he would be back, but I had no idea what arrangements he was making or how long it would take. I may have made a mistake by asking him to let me out of this dungeon. What other realistic option did he have? Was I going to be forced to stay by his side at all times? The thought made me feel sick. The pull in my chest was at war with my hatred for him and the effect was a feeling of slight nausea that I couldn’t shake off. It only got worse when he was close to me. I didn’t think I could handle that for any extended
OnyxThings had been surprisingly calm since the Autumn witch arrived in the village. I had expected more of a backlash to her stay here. There were strong emotions at first, but it died down quickly. At least, it had for most of the pack. Sybil was still throwing barbs at me and asking how long the witch would be around for. She made no secret of the fact that she thought Ferrah should be killed.I had threatened to throw her in the dungeon if she didn’t stop disrespecting me by questioning my decisions. I didn’t need her little remarks stirring anyone else up. I wouldn’t stand for insubordination. Not from her or from anyone else. Other than Sybil, no one seemed to care much that Ferrah was here. That was probably because she hadn’t left her room since she arrived. In fact, I hadn’t seen or heard her at all. I had her placed in the bedroom closest to mine so that I would be able to quickly react to any issues. I expected her to yell at the guards or to try to make a run f
FerrahI followed a step behind the Alpha King as he led me through the village. I had assumed that the elders would come to him, but it appeared that wasn’t the case. I had been trying to avoid being paraded through the village like some kind of exotic pet. I could feel eyes on me from every direction and it made me extremely self conscious. I wrapped my arms around myself as we walked through the cobblestone streets. The area of the village we were walking through was a bustling business district. There were people chatting on the sidewalks and sipping coffee outside of cafes and bistros. There were outdoor stalls selling baked goods and fresh produce. I even spotted one young girl selling lemonade. I was envious, honestly. We didn’t have any towns like this left in the witch world. They had all been destroyed. It made my stomach twist in disgust to know that the shifters could still enjoy a life like this. I averted my eyes and focused on my threadbare shoes. I didn’t wan