Natalia POVThe silver cuffs around my wrists are keeping Adeline at bay. Without her help I am feeling like nothing more than a human. My thighs are still stinging in pain from where the guards wounded me and I am freezing. Sitting on the little cot that is placed in the middle of my cell, I hug my knees to my chest. Resting my head on my knees I wait for the meal that Raphael promised to bring me. The sound of water dripping in the distance only serves to remind me that I am settled in the cave systems. Someone raps loudly on my cell bars. I look up to see one of the guards that cornered me in the forest holding a tray of food in his hands. There is an inquisitive look on his face. "There is a rumor floating around the guards about you," he says as he slides the tray under my cell door. Slowly I get up from my cot and try to reach the tray of food but the cuffs on my wrist stop me about two inches from where I can reach it. I widen my eyes in sadness and shift my view to
Victor POVI waste no time shifting into my wolf and taking off after the rogue brother that just went barreling past me. The sound of wolves running behind me continues to get louder and louder as I run towards the rogue camp. The rogue brother skids to a stop just ahead of me and looks toward the direction of the rogue camp and myself. We do not need the ability to mind link in order for me to know what he is thinking. If we keep running toward the rogue camp we are leading the castle guards right to them. The rogues are unprepared for a fight. If we return home we are surely sentencing many from the rogue camp to their deaths. Jax skids to a stop beside the brother and he nips at his flank to grab his attention. Gesturing his head in the opposite direction of the rogue camp, Jax leads the brother towards the spring. The spring is the perfect location to divert the castle guards to. As I take off running towards the line of trees in the distance I can hear the rogue broth
Natalia POVThe chains that connect my hands together clink quietly as I follow Raphael through the castle. My legs are sore from the wounds that are on both of them and I am finding it hard to keep up with Raphael's wide steps. When I fall behind Raphael yanks on the chains pulling me along like I am some sort of cattle. Tripping over my own feet as I try to lift my feet to climb the front stairs of the castle, I fall flat on my face. I can hear the sound of those standing around me snickering as I try to get back to my feet but I am unsuccessful and fall flat once again. By the time I manage to climb back to my feet both my knees and my hands are bloodied from falling on the hard stone of the stairs. My eyes search those that are standing around me but I do not see sympathy in anyone's eyes. One loathing and disdain. Raphael is standing with his arm across his chest with an annoyed look on his face. "I'm sorry," I whisper to Raphael as I climb to my feet. "My legs are not
Victor's POVI race to the spring and find the rogue brother and his brother sitting at the edge of the spring. Both of them have brown hair and dull green eyes. If it were not for their very different scents I would have difficulty telling them apart. They don't even notice me as I approach the spring. Both of them have their feet in the water and are gently kicking back and forth letting the water lap over their feet as they move. Pausing just inside the tree line I watch them for a moment. I watch as they talk to one another with huge smiles on their faces. Suddenly a memory flashes through my mind and my heart begins to ache. Flashback"Ready, set... GO!" Alexander shouts from beside me right before he takes off running. His blonde hair shimmers as it bounces in the sunlight while he runs. Looking over his shoulder he shoots me a wide grin with all of his teeth showing. After giving him a several second head start I begin to chase my brother through the forest. I am
Victor POVThe reflection of the moon shines beautifully down on the cool water of the spring. As I gaze into the sky I can see that the moon is almost at its peak in the sky. Only time will tell if Alexander is brave enough to meet me alone. Of course I was not stupid enough to come all on my own. Several of my loyal rogue men are waiting in silence just on the other side of the spring. Tonight the wind is working in our favor and blowing the scent of my men in the opposite direction from which Alexander and his men would be coming.The spring sits on the border of the Kingdom. Half of the spring lies within the Kingdom and the other half on the outside. Thick forest surrounds the spring on all sides. Leaning against a tree in the darkness of the forest on the outside of the Kingdom I wait in hiding to see if Alexander will show up. Using the silver knife I keep with me at all times I mindlessly shave the bark off a small twig as I wait. The rustling of trees from across the spr
Natalia POVSitting in my cell I try not to move. The cuffs around my wrists burn my skin the more that I move around. Ripping pieces off the hospital gown off I try to shove them under the cuffs to provide some sort of relief but I only end up burning the tips of my fingers against the silver. Letting out a heavy sigh, I close my eyes and try to pretend that I am anywhere but in this cold, damp cell.In my mind I picture myself in the spring. I think about the cool water splashing up against my skin as I push myself through the water. But soon my imagination is taken over by a nightmare. Alexander is standing on one side of the spring and Victor is standing on the other side of the spring. Both men are arguing over me. They are arguing over who I belong to. It is as if I am wading in the middle of the spring watching it all unfold before my eyes. My eyes flash back and forth between Alexander and Victor. Victor is partially shifted and ready to fight. Alexander snaps his fingers and
Natalia POVAt the end of the cave tunnel I can see a bright light shining, waving back and forth beckoning me forward. My breath is heavy from traveling through the caves but I refuse to give up now. My feet are muddy and bleeding from walking along the caves barefoot. A sharp rock sticking out of the cave floor cuts deeply into my foot as I run but it still does not stop me. I continue to run. Dragging my now sore foot behind me I run as fast as I can towards the swaying light. The closer I get to the light I can see someone holding it at the end of the tunnel. Running faster and faster, dragging my foot behind me, I fall into the arms of the person waiting for me at the end of the tunnel. Soft mossy arms wrap around me, supporting my weight as my breaths grow ragged. "Esau?" I whisper out as the man that was waiting for me continues to hold me. "It is I, Little Wolf," he says as he wraps a firm arm around my waist. "We need to get you my cottage. Can you walk?"My eye
Natalia POVI can feel Victor trembling with anger at the thought of his mate staying with another man. Slowly and carefully I place my hands on his shoulders to try and calm the rage that is building inside of him. Under my touch I feel his back relax slightly but he still does not move from his protective position in front of me. Esau does not seem to be phased by Victor's anger. A sly smirk is spread across his face almost as if he is enjoying this exchange. "You have to see reason," Esau tries to explain to Victor but I doubt he is even listening. A low growl is reverberating from Victor's chest as he stares down Esau. "The first place they will look for her is with you."Standing on my tiptoes I whisper next to Victor's ear. "You know he is right," I say gently. Running my arms up and down his arms the growling in his chest begins to subside. I let out the breath that I did not realize I was holding when Victor turns to me and gathers me in his arms. "I do not want y