The Warrior King's Mate

Chapter 7

Nova P.O.V.

Thorned shrubs kept snagging at my leggings and I was pretty sure I’d gone round in a circle. The forest floor was so overgrown there was no way of finding my own footprints, never mind paw prints to tell me I was going in the right direction. My heart called out desperately for help, hoping for the millionth time that some latent wolf instinct might kick in – even if I could scent my way through the trees I’d feel less panicky.

I’d made my way from the bus stop on the outskirts a large built-up human town and followed the directions Amy, a female shewolf I’d met at the ferry terminal, had given me to the border of River Moon pack. I’d noticed the midnight crescent moon on Amy’s neck just above the low collar of her shirt as I was shuffling alongside other passengers off the ferry and into an open metal and glass station. She must have caught me staring and had come bounding over to me to ask if I was in town for the selection.

“S-Selection?” I’d asked her, to which she nodded enthusiastically, pointing at a large, muscular male with dark skin and high cheekbones, standing on the other side of the ticket barriers, eyes and ears trained in our direction.

“My mate Joe, he got here a few days ago to begin training – we’re here for the King’s selection! Isn’t that what you’re here for…?” her voice faltered and became breathy as she locked eyes with the man, Joe, and a wide smile grew on her mouth like a blush. “Can you believe it?!” She sighed. “A chance to train under King Fallon as a soldier for the Kingdom! I just know Joe and I will be selected! We’re the best warriors inWhite Fang!” Amy had turned to me and grabbed my forearms in her strong, perfectly manicured grip, turning me to face her dead on. “Oooh, someone’s skinny! Jealous, I have my dad’s arms! I’m Amy. What’s your name? What pack are you from?”

“I - ” I didn’t know what to say. Amy’s grip on my arm dug into a three-day bruise and burned a little, but I didn’t dare pull myself away. Instinctively, I looked down at my shoes and lowered the tone of my voice as I told her I was visiting my grandmother at River Moon. Amy must be a ranked wolf.

“Wow! That’s so wild! You must be so excited to be visiting the same week as the selection and the Royal Visit! Hey, you wanna ride with me and Joe? There’s plenty of room in the truck with us and the guys!” She started pulling me towards the ticket barriers and the large male and I felt the ground fall sharply beneath me and my fingertips jolt to life with the now too familiar electric feeling of panic.

“N-no!” I called out, a little too loudly, and I felt the heat of embarrassment when a few people queueing to exit the barriers looked our way. “I – I don’t want…” I struggled out. I didn’t want to go at all. But the thought of being crushed in a car, with a bunch of physically intimidating, possibly ranked strangers made every healed cut, bruise, bash, break and sting on my body pulse through the layers of skin – as if I needed any reminder of how these situations normally go.

“Oh…” Amy seemed a bit put out and awkwardly let go of my arm. Instinctively, I folded my arms over myself. “Hey, I’m sorry, I know I can be a bit pushy when I’m excited, I didn’t mean…” I looked up at the sincerely polite tone of her apology and made proper eye contact with her. She was gorgeous – her heart-shaped face framed by a short, wavy, chocolate bob, full of caramel highlights from obvious sun exposure. Her skin was softly tanned, sprinkled with freckles, particularly over her forehead and nose. Her eyes were a dark – almost black – shade of brown and her ears were pierced several times. She was taller than me, her long legs toned and strong, her outfit, casual denim shorts and low plaid shirt, suggested she was confident in herself and didn’t hide behind baggy tshirts and jumpers like I did. Something about her told me she wasn’t a nasty person, and I didn’t need to be so scared of her, but I couldn't help myself feeling like I wanted to run away under the assessing look she was giving me.

“I’m sorry if I just accosted you. It’s my first trip away from home without my parents and I guess I’m a little weird, being away from Joe for the past few days…you know how it is,” she laughed gently and looked over at the now thoroughly impatient Joe, who threw his arms out in exasperation as Amy held a finger up to show him she was coming in a moment.

“Listen,” she said, turning back to me, “I wouldn’t want to get in to a car with unmated males from another pack either, so how about this - ” she reached around to the backpack she was carrying and pulled out a map where there were handwritten directions and instructions for getting to River Moon and a pen. She unfolded the map to show me where the ferry terminal was in relation to the bus stop and indicated the instructions for what busses I could take from there. She then took a pen and began writing in the top corner of the map. “This,” she said, “is my number! Call me when you get there and we can go for a coffee or something – they have so many cafes and cute little bistros! And the shops, oh my goddess, it’s like a dream – so much better than the measly malls in White Fang..”

She and I began moving towards the barriers again and Amy talked the whole time until, finally clearing through, she ran and threw herself at Joe, cupping his face in her hands as she pulled him in to a passionate kiss that made me feel distinctly uncomfortable – not helped in the least by Joe’s intense, appraising eye remaining on me even while Amy cooed sickeningly in his ear.

“Who’s your friend?” Joe’s voice was deep, almost musical, and this time, I did feel slightly threatened. I stepped back half a pace and looked down at my feet again.

“She’s heading to River Moon too," Amy chirped, turning back to me and bumping my shoulder encouragingly. “I was just giving her my number so we can hang out once we’re there! We’re both going for the first time and we probably won’t know any other girls there!”

“Amy, there’s no room in the - ” Joe began, annoyed, but Amy cut across him instantly.

“Hey there Mister Grumpypants,” she slapped his back playfully. “My girl here is doing it backpacker style, she just needed a map, so keep your hair on!” she laughed, her long fingers roaming over her mate’s entirely shaved head.

“Has ‘your girl’ got a name?” He asked, once again giving me an intense stare.

“No-Nova,” I stammered, once again looking at the floor and feeling flushed in the face.

“Nova is going to go catch a bus now, before you exhaust her with your childlike enthusiasm and over-eager friendliness, darling,” Amy rolled her eyes and laughed, sliding her mate’s arm around her waist and turning them both towards the exit. “See you in River Moon!”

*

Yeah, I thought to myself angrily, if I ever get out of this f*****g forest. Amy’s instructions couldn’t have been clearer and I found myself at the borders all right, I just didn’t know how to get in to the pack itself. The more I walked, the sorer and more blistered my feet became. The ferry breakfast was long forgotten; I can’t remember ever being this hungry. Ironic, I thought ruefully, this is the most I’ve eaten in one 24 hour period, maybe ever, and yet I couldn’t go more than ten minutes without my stomach growling in protest for each moment without food. I began to get more and more agitated. My hair was sticking uncomfortably to me, I could feel sweat gathering under my clothes, adding to the smell of overly sweetened cheap soap and body odour. I battled waves of nausea as they ebbed and waned. I rolled my ankle a few times and still, I was no closer to finding any signs of life. Finally, when a branch I was holding to assist me climb up a steep slope in the forest floor snapped, forcing me to slip in to the mouldy, wet earth, covering myself in dirt, moss and the first of the autumn leaves, I felt a snap inside myself as well.

Rage.

That’s the only word for it; pure, unfiltered rage.

I feel my body swell with it, it bubbles in my chest and, like lighting, it storms through every fibre of my being.

I push myself off the ground, and feel this huge surging energy grab hold – instantly, I’m upright and running.

Taking off at a furious speed, the trees, bushes and shrubs are whipping past me. Low hanging branches leave stinging cuts over my exposed skin but my stride never falters. Hurdling over huge boulders, exposed roots, I threw myself forward, arms furious pendulums at my side, my ponytail flying behind me like a cape, my eyes sharp and focused, suddenly seeing a path through the forest. Leaping, I kick myself off the bark of an ancient oat tree and use the momentum to force myself to turn at a sharp angle, keeping my own monstrous pace. From the far corner of my eye, I saw a flash of movement.

My anger burns brightly like a torch, making my lungs and muscles burn. This is more than running, more than anger - this is power. The alien feeling takes hold, moving all thoughts of an empty stomach from my mind and filling my body with the strength of…well…a wolf.

From both sides of my peripheral, I can see dark shapes closing in on me, fighting to keep pace. I become increasingly aware of a bitter, burning smell, and something buried deep within me, despite only ever hearing the word ‘rogue’ from stories told by Logan and his gang or omega ghost stories, I knew that this was what was chasing me.

How long had I been wandering these woods stumbling endlessly in circles without knowing if I had walked meters or miles, not once knowing I wasn’t alone, and suddenly I was aware of the presence of their snarling, gnashing mouths as they chased me, and at this realisation I felt a stab of icy panic pierce its way through the fire that fuelled my speed.

To my horror, the surging feeling of strength began to slacken, my knees wobbling slightly as I became suddenly aware of the heaviness in my limbs. My lungs felt too tight, my breathing thin, a monstrous stitch in my side. After leading the chase with ease, I saw the black shadows of the rogues both overtake and circle me. I am barely walking now. Bleary-eyed and exhausted, stumbling over my own feet and practically crawling forwards. There was a path to the pack grounds, I’d seen it just seconds ago, I had to…if I could only…just…

The stench was becoming overwhelming. Already struggling for breath, the thickness of their scent made me gag, my brain fogging over with each strangled choke. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t breathe…before I knew it, I felt the light leave my skin as the rogues closed in.

And then, as suddenly as a gunshot, the rogues dispersed. A piercing, haunting howl came from above as larger, more solid shadows launched over my head, chasing the smell away in a series of snarls, snaps and the clashing of teeth. I felt so, so cold…

So cold.