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1575 Words
Freya looked out the window of the carriage, hoping Alpha Jericho would look and he did. But when he did, a mischievous grin flashed through his face and he winked at her.
“No, no, no,” Freya whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Gamma Rayes and Beta Jasper begin to converse as though she wasn't there.
“You know Freya will make a fine bride.” Gamma Rayes said with a smile.
“Oh yes. The subservient ones are the Alpha type. I'm sure she'll do just fine.” Beta Jasper replied with a smile.
“B - Bride?” Freya stuttered, her eyes widened with terror.
“We're here.” The coachman announced as the carriage halted to a stop.
“Let's go.” Beta Jasper pushed the door open and stepped down. Then he extended his hand to Freya.
Freya stared at his empty hand, refusing to take it.
“Freya, come on.” He beckoned in a gentle voice.
Freya placed her shaky hands in his and he helped her down. Her feet hit the ground and her eyes grew big. Just ahead was a brilliant castle and at the entrance were two hefty men in armor flanking the door.
Freya took a step back, her body shaking with uncontrollable fear. This was going to be her prison. Cold sweat broke out all over her temples and she took a step back.
“Freya… what are you doing?” Beta Jasper demanded.
“I'm not going to die.” Freya turned on her heels and broke into a sprint.
“Freya, get back here!” said Beta Jasper as he went after her.
Gamma Rayes cried out to the guards. “Help! The bride has escaped!”
The gentlemen exchanged looks before racing towards the forest Freya had run into.
As Freya ran, she felt the heart pounding heavily in her chest.
“No, no, no. Please, don't find me.” She whispered as she ran further into the forest, to heaven knows where.
“Freya, get back here!” Beta Jasper called behind her and her fear tripled.
“He's going to catch me.” She looked over her shoulder to see if he was behind her.
As she turned to face forward, she bumped into a hard surface.
“Who are you?” A deep voice spoke.
Freya tried to shrivel back but he caught her waist, trapping her in his arms.
“I said,” he lifted her chin with his finger. “Who are you?”
A low gasp escaped Freya’s lips as she stared at him.
He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen in her life. He had eyes as blue as the Aegean sea, a jaw sharp enough to cut glass and a face anyone would kill for. Calling him handsome would not do justice to his otherworldly looks.
“Cat got your tongue?” He curled an eyebrow.
“Freya!” Beta Jasper called for her again. This time his voice was closer than she thought.
She tried to pull away but the stranger wouldn't let her go.
“We can do this for hours,” He smiled when her eyes went round. “I suppose you're a runaway, Miss. Freya.”
Freya struggled within herself. Should I tell him the truth or should I not?
“Time's ticking, Miss Freya.” The stranger leaned in uncomfortably close and she gave a low wince. The pain in her hip had not healed.
Throwing all resolve out the window, she decides to test her luck. “I'm a runaway.”
He rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”
“N - no. That man is not my father,” Freya looked down. “He's my father's Beta. I'm the supposed bride of Alpha Uther.”
The stranger’s grip loosened from her waist and he dragged his hand through his ravendark hair. “So you're father's wife, huh.”
Freya stared at him with a puzzled look on her face. “Father?”
She thought hard for a second before it finally dawned on her and she gasped. “Alpha Uther’s your - -”
“The name's Ronan.” he extended his hand to her. “Nice to meet you, Mother.”
Freya froze, staring at his large hand like it was something she had never seen before.
“F - Father… Alpha Uther has a son..” she whispered to herself in shock.
“Freya!” Beta Jasper and the other guards finally caught up.
When they saw her with Ronan, they quickly bowed their heads.
“I apologize for showing up like this, Sire.” Beta Jasper said in a low, calm voice.
“Hmm.” Ronan muttered. “Why are you here again?”
Beta Jasper stuttered and that was something Freya had never seen him do. The man was sweating like he had run for miles.
“Uh - Uh.. The lady ran away.” Jasper said.
Ronan raises an eyebrow. “The Lady?”
Jasper corrected himself. “I mean, uh, Lady Freya..”
“Ah… This lady.” Ronan placed his hand on her shoulder and felt her body go rigid.
Her eyes grew misty and she pleaded with him not to let her go with him.
“Here you go.” Ronan let go of her and walked past her.
Freya felt the world slip from under her. He was cruel just like his father.
“Let's go, Freya.” Beta Jasper grabbed her arm.
Ronan's voice cut through the air. “I believe I was referring to her and not you.”
Jasper froze. “Sir?”
Ronan shot him with an icy glare and he let go of Freya. “Lady Freya, this way, please.”
Without a word, Freya ran after him.
As they walked, she couldn't help but admire him from behind.
‘For a second I thought he was going to let Jasper take me. Who would've thought that he's this kind and sweet?’ Her cheeks pinked and she smiled as they walked towards the castle, Beta Jasper and Gamma Rayes, following behind them.
They arrived at the snowy castle and were granted permission inside.
As they walked the hallways, Beta Jasper gripped Freya’s arms and whispered instructions to her. “You will speak when you're spoken to. You'll smile at all times. You will not disobey or talk back. Your life is no longer your own nor is your body. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Freya muttered.
“Good.”
The double doors parted and the Herald announced their entry.
“Presenting Princess Freya of the Crescent Moon pack and her faithful stewards, Beta Jasper and Gamma Rayes!”
The trio took a bow at the figure slouched on the gigantic throne and entered the room.
“Come.” The figure said in a dangerous voice that had no business being calm.
Freya swallowed hard and began to approach the throne.
She stopped when he lifted a hand and bowed her head, her body trembling as footsteps echoed around the throne room.
“Leave us!” The Alpha ordered.
Almost immediately, Beta Jasper along with Gamma Rayes and the rest of the guards scurried out of the room in fear.
Freya felt a cold hand grab her jaw and lift her face.
Her breath caught when she stared at his emotionless dark eyes.
A grin graced his thin lips and he tugged her face closer. “Hmm. You look delectable.”
Freya's stomach churned, threatening to spill out its contents.
He titled her face left and right as if observing her before he loosened his grip.
“Guards!” He said, already turning away from her.
The two burly guards from earlier reentered the room and bowed.
“Take her to her quarters in the East Wing and lock the door.” He ordered. “He is not to leave under any circumstance.”
Panic flared in Freya's chest.
She was to be locked up? Just like that?
She opened her mouth to protest when she remembered the warning Gamma Rayes had told her. Her arms fell limp at her side and she let the guards pull her away to her prison.
Freya was shown her chambers. It was something out of a dream with floor to ceiling windows letting in warm sunlight, Velvet drapes cascading the floor, a carved fireplace burning bright and a four-postal bed contrasting the straw bed she had been used to. It was a place she'd always wanted.
However, it was her new prison and that made her shiver with fear.
Men like Alpha Uther didn't keep Wolves like her for long. They used them until they became nothing. And she didn't want that.
So she searched the room for any secret door. When she found one, she escaped.
Her escape led her past a garden filled with beautifully trimmed plants. She marveled at the irony that such a dangerous place could house beautiful things.
She'd barely crossed the garden when she heard the snap of a twig. Her mind flared but her instincts told her to ignore it and keep going.
The snap of a twig grew louder, a soft growl caressing her back.
She turned around slowly and her blood turned to ice.
Standing in front of her was a gigantic wolf with blood dripping from its snout and claws.
- Writer
