ELENA’S POV The guards continued to drag me kicking and screaming down the hall, from the corner of my eye during my tantrum I saw the maid- I never got the chance to know her name, not that I wanted to stand at the doorway, her dusting broom in one hand and a dirty rag cloth clutched to her chest in the other hand. Her eyes, terrified eyes were much like mine at the moment as she just watched me being dragged out like a common criminal.I didn't blame her for not doing anything. What could she even do? I reckon she even getting involved would just make everything much worse and she would get hurt in the process.When it seemed like the men were deaf and impregnable to my struggles, I went limp in their arms placing most of my weight on them. It's better to conserve my strength for the unknown. While we were moving, taking twists and turns using a different route than the one through the front door, I kept my gaze fixed on the leader of the soldier's bald head.I didn't even get the
ELENA’S POV"Elena….elenaaaaaaa." the sound of my name pierced my food-deprived brain.It turns out that being starved and isolated was a new form of torture I hadn't discovered yet. I held out for the first day, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. However, by the third day, I was ready to beg for anything even just water.Wolves could survive without food for a week before their strength began to get depleted but my wolf was weak on a normal day, so this affected me more than usual. My wolf had long since ignored me and went to curl up somewhere, she saving her energy for a fight or flight situation.I lifted my bleary eyes to look at who had called my name, and the same man I saw when Anika and I were making our back to the house was standing in front of me.Valerian's father. Even that shocking discovery didn't jolt me into moving a muscle, I was hoarding every bit of strength I had. From where I was seated, I saw he tilted his head and a guard appeared with
VALERIAN’S POVThe paws of my wolf pounded on the soft earth, my claws sinking into the ground as I ran knowing exactly where to go with the directions Jared had mapped to me. I summoned my wolf's speed, his powerful black form devouring the miles between them. I was a very big wolf even for a powerful alpha, my legs long, my stamina unmatched and soon I left Collins behind, my impatience to reach the cabin overwhelming. I would finally have my chance to exact revenge at last. Jared's anger increased when he found out that the cabin not only contained one trespasser but two, both of them wolf shifters.How dare they?"I was right, he's here!" Jared reached out to him, his mental voice angry. I ran faster, convinced I would see Jared and the trespasser tearing each other apart."Valerian! I was wrong about him, hurry!""What do you mean?""He has someone with him but he's not a trespasser, it's one of the missing wolves."Huh? Why was one of the missing wolves with this man? Especial
Valerian's PovI let Jared take over the wheel while I took a nap. I had the feeling that I was going to need a lot of my energy so I better start storing up.I was awake but I kept my eyes closed, feeling the rumble of the car beneath me. I was still angry but I felt much calmer now.Opening my eyes, I glanced over at Jared" How much longer?" I asked."We should be there in four hours." He replied.I twisted my neck to the back so I could look at Sophia but she was focused on something in her hands."Huhmphhh.." I cleared my throat to gain her attention, and her head snapped up, instantly alert.Seeing it was only me, she relaxed."Any updates?" I tilted my chin towards the tab in her hands."Some of our men are canvassing several areas where she might be held.I've given instructions that security be tightened at our sector and the major exit points."I nodded, satisfied. She was doing exactly what I would do if I was in her position.I waited for more information, looking at her
Valerian's POVCovering my nose with the crook of my elbow, I kept on walking in the dark hallway.Every so often I would stop walking after a couple of meters to wait and listen.Once I was satisfied the coast was clear, I would continue.No one knew about this except maybe my father but I still had to be careful to make sure no one knew I was there, so I could have the element of surprise behind me.The small tunnel was dark and dank, smelling sewage, dust, and mold. Sewage because this secret pathway runs along the drainage system.I guessed that they walled off this section probably because of its proximity to the drainage, or some other reason.As a child, I used to explore this pathway once I discovered it thinking I would find some long-lost treasure.Sadly, I found nothing.I came to a junction at the end of the road, and I look twice, trying to figure out which road was the right one. After much pondering, I decided to go right. After all, if the path I chose was not it, I co
Elena's POVAfter Valerian's father's declaration earlier today or was it yesterday- I had lost track of time here, and I sunk into despair and grief. The food I had enjoyed some moments ago now tasted like ash in my mouth and my stomach refused to settle down. When he left, I vomited for a while, heaving and groaning over the toilet bowl while I emptied the remaining contents of my stomach.When I was done, I lay there in sweat and the smell of vomit while my stomach started rolling for a different reason. While I was lying there on the floor, I cried.I cried for the injustice of this world, I cried out in pain to the goddess wishing she had never allowed me to be born. I had cried out for the cruel hand fate has dealt me and lastly I cried for the girl I was once and the life that was stolen from me by wicked and unjust people.I later crawled over to the cot, resigned to my fate and awaiting the time that one of the men would come to take me away from them.I had thought that at l
Valerian's POVWHAT HAVE I DONE?I screamed out loud in my head when I saw the pool of blood beneath my father's body. I tried to clean my tears but I stumbled back, narrowly escaping blinding myself when I had to use one massive paw to class at my face. I was still in my wolf's form and felt too big and awkward for me at the moment.I knelt on my hind legs and I let the Change wash over me, the transition from wolf to man slightly painful and more seamless.Laying naked, I looked at my father's lifeless eyes and anguish overcame me.Why didn't he fucking yield like he was supposed to?!"A part of you knew he wouldn't," my wolf said to me but I snapped back for him to shut up.I didn't need its logical reasoning right now, averting my eyes, my gaze roved over the piles of dead bodies around me, some missing body parts and the others...I did this... This was why I didn't let my wolf take control, most times all that he brought was just death and destruction.All of a sudden, a bright
Valerian's POVImmediately we saw movements indicating that they were here, each man went to his respective positions. Jared coordinated the remaining men to flank us and some to be a couple of feet away.I wanted to tell him that we can handle ourselves but I realized that it was more for the men that were approaching us -their benefit, than mine.Jared and I locked eyes at the same time and we had a silent conversation for a few seconds."Are you ready?" His eyes asked."I was born ready.* I replied, shifting my stance."We'll be using the same formation in case they try anything, so stay alert."I shook my head slightly in assent, then swung my eyes to the front, effectively breaking the connection and ending our conversation.Squaring my shoulders, I crossed my hands at her back while we all waited on pins and needles for them to reach.Several big black cars, possibly Hummers or Escalades came roaring to our front, kicking up dust and swinging it in our faces.I glared unblinking