Chapter 2 Dogs

Frigid air kissed Ashina's cheeks as she scuffed her bare, cracked feet along the lake's edge. Shudders ran down her back as she noticed her blood mingling with the crystalline waters, swirling lazily around the eggshell and pumice pebbles.

Yuck. My feet aren't going to be pretty after this. She grimaced, giving her foot soles one last disgusted look before lifting her gaze to the horizon. As expected, nothing seemed out of place.

While the glinting light of the previous night disappeared, Ashina felt determined to find its source. But, before she had the chance to march onward, the forest at her side quieted, and she realised how exposed it was along the lakeside. In the next moment, muffled voices had her stomach churning.

Her pace increased, as did the volume of the talking.

Surely voices are a good thing. I could ask for help. But Ashina's fear only amplified as she made out the people's words.

"We have been searching for days. She hid her in here so we would never find her." A male.

Another voice responded. Female this time; her voice sounded sharp and bitter. "He wants her, and we do as we're told."

Ashina knew they were looking for her. She wasn't sure why, but she refused to stand by and find out.

Despite being starving, cold, and tired, Ashina ran as fast as possible. Unfortunately, her stumbling sounds alerted the trackers. Shouts sounded behind her, and she nearly screamed when a taloned hand wrapped around her wrist.

"Finally found you, little freak," the accompanying voice snarled.

Ashina quickly realised struggling was pointless. She was far too weak to fight the muscular, bald woman after her feast of champions. I would kill for one of those dehydrating, crumbling snack bars right now.

"Where's the fucking portal?" The woman yelled to her grey-haired partner, who pulled out a strange device. It beeped and blinked a few times, and a dial on its front pointed towards the water.

"In the lake," the man replied.

"For fucks sake. I didn't want to get wet this time." The woman's grip tightened, and her tawny eyes hardened as she dragged Ashina into the water.

Ashina's breathing quickened as the icy liquid rose around their bodies. She couldn't Even remember if she could swim.

The man with them had a hard time floating, and after a few loud groans, he shifted right before her eyes into a dog. It was at that point that Ashina finally screamed.

That man is a fucking dog!

A massive grey dog.

'Wolf.' The correction zapped into her mind with a voice different from her own. She had no time to question it as her panic set in.

"No, no, no, no!" Ashina tore away from the female's grip, landing a hard kick to her abdomen, and tried desperately to swim towards the shore.

"Someone, help!"

She started to hyperventilate when something grabbed the back of her T-shirt. It turned her around in a wide arc, and she spotted the mean woman again, looking Even more pissed off. Ashina realised in horror after peeking over her shoulder. "No! You stupid fucking dog-wolf thing! Let me go!"

Ashina's floundering made them swallow water, and she choked, barely drawing enough air when the animal pushed her beneath the surface. An eerie calm washed over her instantly after opening her bulging eyes against the stinging waters. Twinkling beneath them, she saw a small shimmering ring suspended, unmoving, parallel to the lake's bottom. Its iridescent border flickered around the dazzling centre, a colour she could not put words to. A sense of safety enveloped her when its name shot into her mind.

It's a Faery ring!

They swam through it together, the woman and dog holding one arm each, and suddenly the trio stood on dry land, thoroughly drenched. Ashina suppressed the sensation of vomiting and held her head steady with shivering hands.

Well, that was shit. And familiar...

Towering Evergreens stood around them, and the earth felt moist underfoot. The scenery didn't look any different from where they had just been. Disappointment swirled in Ashina's chest as they took in the view. However, after a moment's pause, she could smell something. The scent was so faint, but it made her salivate. Earthy with a hint of spice. Cinnamon?

"Let's go, freak, " the bald woman growled. A purple scar ran along her scalp from brow to nape, stopping just above her sopping collar.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" Ashina grumbled behind her, still staring at the old wound. Her eyes darted to the five-foot animal next to her.

"You're the fucking freak," she whispered with a scrunched nose.

The grey monster huffed and walked ahead of them for a time when his fur bristled. The dog's black eyes were on high alert, searching the forest, when its white-tipped ears suddenly pinned back against its head. Rumbling growls vibrated through his chest, and Ashina stepped back, pulling against the woman's grip.

"Shit," the woman whispered, shaking her head at her companion. "Invictus."

They must have gone through the wrong Faery ring, Ashina deduced smugly. Besides their locations' obvious resemblance to the last forest she had been wandering, the new place felt familiar.

The main difference, though, was it felt safe. Her feelings of security only grew as half a dozen footsteps approached, and the irresistible scent wafted along the forest floor and into her nostrils.

Four men and two women emerged behind the pines and formed a half-circle around the three apparent intruders. Ashina got shoved behind the mean woman's back, so she didn't see much more than their clothing.

"I thought I told you never to show your face here again, Louve."

The bald woman, Louve's, back bristled from the snide remark. "We are on a mission from Alpha Ernouf. I did not know we were on your lands until we came through a portal."

"Didn't anyone tell you not to mess with tools of the Fae? Nasty little shits," a different voice commented.

Louve and Ashina humphed at that. "I'm to deliver this half breed to Alpha Ernouf. It does not concern you. Now let us pass. You don't want a war with the Frost Pack."

The grey wolf growled at his companion then.

Oops, she said too much. Ashina nearly let a laugh escape before stifling it with a cough.

I can't believe I got kidnapped by a dog and this dumb bitch. This time a chuckle did escape her pursed lips.

She knew logically she should be terrified, but it seemed her captors were enemies with the new visitors.

And an enemy's enemy is my friend.

Then, a deep, divine voice spoke, and Ashina wanted to melt into a puddle on the forest floor.

"Show her to me."

A soothing warmth curled around her ankles and up her frozen limbs.

Both of her captors' hackles rose at the request. Nobody moved.

Ashina rolled her eyes behind Louve's back and peeked over her shoulder. She made eye contact with the two people on her left and smiled wide.

"Hi, I'm Ashina." Then, before anyone could react, she teetered onto the other foot and looked at the two on her right.

"How do you do?" She tipped an imaginary hat and got shoved back roughly, landing somewhat hard on her butt from the force.

"Shut up." Louve stood over her, furious at the mockery.

"What? I'm just being polite."

Ashina could see huge smiles and wide eyes from the people she greeted and felt content despite sitting on the damp earth. Louve turned around to speak again with her muscled legs spread wide in a triangle shape.

Is she trying to look intimidating? Ashina took the opportunity to crawl over and stick her head between the solid limbs. She just wanted to see the last two saviours when her mouth dropped open.

He was gorgeous.

The man sported a carved, clean-shaven jawline, dark curls, eyes the colour of olives and the fullest cherry red lips. Her mouth dropped open involuntarily before she sucked her lower lip between her teeth. His eyes fell to her face and his eyebrows raised.

Oh yeah, I look like a dirty, soggy, half-starved rat. A flush spread along her cheekbones as she met his eyes.

"Hi," Ashina croaked before getting slapped from above. A growl sounded out in front of her as she looked up at her kidnapper with a frown.

"You are so rude," she grumbled, shimmying from between Louve's legs.

"She will be coming with us." The statement came from the green-eyed man and had Ashina giddy while the stupid grey dog growled threateningly.

"We can't go back empty-handed." Louve glowered at him. How anyone could hate such a beautiful specimen was beyond her. On closer inspection, though, they were all gorgeous.

"If you don't leave now, you won't go back at all," said the first voice.

Indecision rolled off their shoulders. Louve stared hard at the dog's head before turning a dirty look to Ashina.

"Your disgusting mother will suffer for this, and it will be all your fault."

She knows my mother? Her heart painfully squeezed as she processed Louve's words. Before her mind could conjure gruesome scenarios from Louve's threat, the sounds of breaking bones, tearing sinew, and groans assaulted her ears again. This time they came from Louve as she changed into a tawny dog. She appreciated the sickening distraction as she stepped backwards.

"You're a dog too?"

Snickers echoed behind Ashina as Louve bared her teeth and snapped at her hand. But, after a hearty growl from at least three of her saviors, the pair of dogs ran off, tails tucked between their legs.

Ashina watched them go in morbid fascination before turning back to the group covering her quivering lip with a wry smile. While they were decent enough to save her from the two dog creatures, their trustworthiness surrounding her missing mother was yet to be proven.

"Where to?" she asked.

The returning grins from each person made Ashina's heart race and cheeks redden, their genuine expressions instantly melting some of her fears. Then, rocking on her heels, she willed her blush to recede as she flitted her eyes to the green-eyed man.

Big mistake.

Instantly, he stepped towards her, inhaling softly, when a slight furrow crossed his brow, and he froze. Her body tingled as his eyes stared into her own.

"What?" she whispered nervously.

A flash of gold sparked in his iris, and she swallowed as a small uncertain smile danced across his lips.

This is either going to be fun or a fucking mess...

" Let's go..." he said.