ARNOLDEthan nods, his expression serious. “There might be someone nearby who saw something. We have to try. This is just a clearing, but I can see activity up ahead.” I consider his words for a moment, weighing the risks and rewards. It's a long shot, but at this point, we're running out of options. We have to try anything and everything if we want to find Hazel. “Alright.” I say finally, my voice heavy with resignation. “Let's ask around.” We leave the clearing behind, our footsteps echoing through the darkness as we make our way deeper into the forest. The air is thick with tension, our senses on high alert as we search for any sign of someone who might be willing, as people immediately turn around when we call to them. It makes no sense, because we are dressed the way they are, yet, they’re ostracizing us. “Do you think anyone will talk to us?” Ethan asks, his voice barely above a whisper. I shrug, my mind racing with possibilities. “I don't know. But we have to
HAZEL The cold stone floor is my only comfort. I curl up, my body aching from the beatings and the chains that bite into my wrists and ankles. I’ve lost count of the days. The room is dark, the only light coming from a small window high up on the wall. I shiver as the door creaks open, knowing what’s coming next. “Wake up, mutt!” One of the captors yells, kicking me in the ribs. I gasp for breath, the pain sharp and immediate. They pour dirty water over me, and I feel it soak into my clothes, the smell making me gag. They do it for no reason, just to see me suffer. I can hear their laughter, their cruel jokes about how weak and pathetic I am. “Please.” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “Please, stop.” But they don’t stop. They never do. I can feel the drug they injected me with earlier start to take effect. It’s a special kind of poison, one that makes my wolf lose control. My body begins to shake, and I can feel the shift coming, my bones cracking and reshaping. I try to
HAZELBut for now, I endure. I survive. I wait. The door swings open again, and the creaking sound starts sending chills down my spine. This time, they bring another injection. I recognize it immediately, it’s the clear liquid that means more pain, more loss of control. I try to fight, to pull away, but they hold me down, the needle piercing my skin. “No, please!” I scream, but it’s useless. The drug enters my veins, cold and sharp, spreading through my body like wildfire. I feel the change start, the familiar, agonizing shift as my bones crack and my skin stretches. I can feel the liquid entering my blood stream. “Watch her!” One of them says. “This is going to be fun.” My vision blurs, and I can feel the wolf taking over. But this time, something’s different. The pain is worse, sharper, and I realize with horror that the child inside me is at risk. I try to hold back the shift, to protect my unborn baby, but the drug is too strong. I howl in pain as my body contorts for t
HAZELThe cold stone floor is my only comfort. Days blend into nights, and pain blurs into more pain. I drift in and out of sleep, my dreams filled with memories of freedom, only to wake up to this nightmare. I hear the door creak open and my body tenses, bracing for another round of beatings. I don’t bother to open my eyes. I know what’s coming, it’s going to be the same thing. “Get up!” The leader’s voice cuts through the silence, and I hear footsteps approaching. I’m ready for the kick, the punch, the usual routine of pain. The silver around my neck, and maybe the injections might come again today. But nothing happens. Instead, I hear murmurs and soft voices that I’ve never heard before. I force my eyes open and see three women standing in front of me. One of them is the maid who showed me kindness before. “What’s going on?” I manage to whisper, my throat dry and sore. The leader steps forward, his eyes cold and cruel. “You’re going to be cleaned up. Our king wants to
HAZELI say nothing, my eyes fixed on the ground. I can’t bring myself to look at him. “Answer me!” He snaps, his voice sharp. I lift my head, meeting his eyes. “I’ve been better.” I say, my voice steady and sharp in spite of how scared I currently am. He chuckles, and it is a disgusting, low, menacing sound. “I see you haven’t lost your spirit. Good. I like a challenge.” He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine. “Tell me, have you learned some manners yet?” I swallow hard, my heart pounding. “Why are you doing this, Hunter? What do you want from me?” He laughs again, a cruel, mocking laugh. “You really don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about what I want. This is about showing everyone that no one defies me. Not even you. And I told you that I would get you eventually, and here you are.” I feel a surge of anger. “I rejected you, Hunter. You’re the one who tried to force yourself on me!” His face darkens, and he stands up, walking towards me. “Rejected?
ARNOLD The air in the Kingdom of the South feels thick with tension and anger. My heart pounds in my chest, and my fists clench at my sides as I think about Hazel. She’s out there somewhere, and she needs us. She needs me. Ethan and I exchange a glance, and I can see the same fury in his eyes. Hunter. The name burns like acid in my mind. He’s the one who took her. He’s the one who’s making her suffer. “We have to find her, Arnold.” Ethan says, his voice tight with rage. “I know!” I reply, my jaw clenched. “And we will. I swear it.” We push our way through the crowded marketplace, our eyes scanning for any sign of Hunter’s men. The Kingdom of the South is a maze of narrow streets and bustling activity, but we don’t have time to be distracted. Every second counts. Suddenly, a group of women rush towards us, their faces filled with grins as they try to sell things to us. One of them, a young woman with dark hair, holds something out to me. “Wait!” she calls. “You need to see
ETHAN It is obvious that Hunter has kidnapped Hazel now, but Arnold and I literally had to break into his palace, but we couldn’t even do anything. Hunter was nowhere to be found, and there was no sight of Hazel. “And if he kidnapped Hazel, where do you think they would be?” Arnold asks, and I feel a chill down my spine. Hunter could be tormenting Hazel by now, and there was nothing we could do about it. I punched the wall and the skin on my fists split painfully, but that was not even enough to mask what I was feeling inside. The pain is nothing compared to the torment of imagining what Hazel might be enduring. “How could he not be in the palace? Then where is he?” Arnold mutters, sighing. We have stormed through every room, overturned furniture, and questioned every guard we encountered, but there was no sign of Hunter or Hazel. Arnold mutters, pacing back and forth. “Then where is he?” “We have to think, Arnold,” I say, trying to calm myself. “Hunter must have a pla
ETHAN“Well, well, well.” He says, his voice dripping with malice. “If it isn’t the mighty kings come to rescue their precious queen.” I grit my teeth as my grip tightens around my sword. “Where is she, Hunter? We know you have her.” I demand, my voice steady in spite of the anger burning inside me. Hunter laughs, a cold, mocking sound that sends shivers down my spine. “Oh, she’s here.” He says, gesturing to a door at the far end of the chamber. “But whether you’ll ever see her again depends on how cooperative you are.” I exchange a glance with Arnold, a silent understanding passing between us. We’re in this together, no matter what. And we’ll do whatever it takes to save Hazel. There is a lot of bad blood in the room as Hunter's guards surround us, their weapons drawn and ready for a fight. Arnold and I exchange a nod, silently communicating our readiness to take on whatever they send our way. They have no idea who they’re dealing with. Without hesitation, the guards charg