Chapter 7 Dead

Valeria's POV

Declan never returned the agreement to break the bond. And if one of the parties refuses, it can't be dissolved that easily-not without immense power or unless one of us dies.

Darkness consumed him, and the distance between us only grew.

I walked away from it all, never understanding why he wouldn't sever the hateful tie between us. Why, when I was giving him exactly what he wanted-freedom to mate with another she-wolf-did he still hold on?

"I don't care that you didn't accept it," I had told him. "In my heart, whether I survive or not, you will never be my mate. I don't want to taint your eyes with my presence ever again."

That was my final message before leaving... on my way to the Alpha King's lands.

***

We had been on the road for days, barely given food or water.

They let us out only a couple of times a day-like animals-to relieve ourselves. Otherwise, we had to do it inside the same cage we slept in.

Any protest, any delay, and the lashes came down hard.

It was a long line of wagons filled with caged captives. And the farther we traveled, the more packs we passed, the greater the number of "offerings."

This world disgusted me-a place where the strong devoured the weak.

I curled into myself inside the cage, praying for a miracle. And somehow, as if the Goddess finally took pity on me, one night, something happened that changed everything.

We were under attack. A fight to the death broke out, chaos erupting in seconds.

Screams and curses jolted me awake from the cold wooden floor.

I pressed against the bars, desperate to see what was happening. Immense wolves, like messengers of death, erupted from the surrounding forest, ambushing the guards, who barely had time to react before being torn apart.

"Valeria, maybe we can escape!" Nyra, my wolf, shouted in my mind. I agreed.

Maybe this was the chance we'd been praying for. And as if fate confirmed it, my cage suddenly jolted violently.

Two wolves fought nearby, smashing into my cage with the force of their bodies.

T

heir chaotic movements shoved me unintentionally toward the edge of a small hill. I had no way to stop it-my cage was still tightly locked with a padlock.

Boom! A powerful body slammed into the cage, and I plummeted.

I gripped the bars as tightly as I could, bracing myself as the world spun. The cage rolled and crashed down the slope until, with one final jolt, it came to a halt at the bottom.

I was dizzy, nauseated, and barely clinging to consciousness. What little I'd eaten threatened to rise. But I hadn't hit my head, thankfully. And-miracle of miracles-the padlock had broken.

The cage door was open.

I crawled out of the metal prison that had held me for days. Around me, only forest and the faint echoes of the battle above.

It was quieter here. Clearer. For the first time, it felt like luck might finally be smiling on me. Or so I naively thought.

A heavy metal collar still choked my neck, keeping me from shifting. I had to escape in human form.

I didn't hesitate. Before anyone noticed, I ran for the cover of the trees.

But I hadn't even taken more than a few steps when I heard it-the distinct whistle of something slicing through the air behind me.

A whip.

I knew that sound too well.

Before I could react, it wrapped around my neck and yanked me backward, slamming me onto the ground.

I was caught. Again. Freedom had lasted mere seconds.

Apparently, the wolf who had won the battle up the hill had been one of the caravan guards.

"Did you really think you could run, like the vermin you are?" he snarled as he retrieved the whip.

I gasped, clawing at my throat, the pressure of the whip and the collar stealing my breath. My lungs screamed. Blood filled my mouth.

My nails scratched at my skin, desperate for air. Stars blurred my vision-not the kind from the sky.

I was on the verge of passing out when-suddenly-the pressure vanished.

A scream tore through the air behind me.

Coughing, I collapsed forward, blood dribbling down my chin, sucking in desperate breaths.

When I looked up, I froze.

A massive white wolf stood over the lifeless body of the guard, the man's head lying several feet away.

I had never seen such a creature-so majestic, so utterly lethal. He radiated power and death.

Every part of me trembled. My wolf cowered within. He was an Alpha-no question about it.

He didn't need to growl or posture; his presence alone crushed me with its weight. And when his crimson eyes-like bloodied rubies-locked onto mine, I thought I'd die from fear alone.

I dropped to the ground, lowering my head, unable to hold his gaze any longer.

My arms wrapped around myself protectively.

I felt him draw closer... and sniff.

"Plea...se... I'm just... a slave... have mercy..." I stammered, curling into a ball, hoping to disappear.

My wolf lay trembling, head bowed in total submission.

I felt his massive head hover over me, his breath warm against my skin, his nose in my hair.

I closed my eyes.

I waited for the end.

But then... nothing.

He was gone. Just like that, he vanished into the trees.

I stayed there, shivering, unable to stop the tremors in my body.

I had never felt so helpless, so thoroughly dominated.

This... this was what a true Alpha was-not the pathetic imitations from my old pack.

When I finally forced my body to move, my legs shook under me.

And I didn't know... that my real nightmare was just beginning.

"Valeria, behind you!" Nyra screamed.

I turned-and pain exploded in my stomach.

A man stood before me, hate in his eyes.

"You thought you could escape after what they did to my companion... because of you," he spat, driving a dagger deep into my abdomen.

"Valeria!" Nyra howled as he stabbed me again and again, ripping pieces of my life away with every strike.

So much running... so much hope... for nothing.

"If he didn't survive, then neither do you-" His words stopped abruptly.

Something yanked him away.

The knife remained buried inside me.

I clutched my abdomen with trembling hands, watching my lifeblood pour out.

The sounds of battle roared around me, but I couldn't hear them anymore.

My legs gave out.

But I didn't hit the ground.

Strong arms caught me.

Why, if I'm dying, do I feel so safe?

I opened my eyes one last time.

A man with hair like snow and eyes like ice looked down at me-so beautiful it almost didn't seem real.

I reached for him, my bloodied hand aching to touch that impossible face.

But the darkness pulled me under before I could.

My hand fell limply. If death is so cold...why do I feel so warm in his arms?