The White Wolf Queen Of The Damned

Chapter 3.

Pandora’s POV.

I run as fast as I can. The wind is howling and raging all around me. The lightning strikes light up the night sky. I push on, stumbling over roots and branches as they scratch at my face and arms.

The howls and growls growl louder, closer as I keep moving.

“Pearl, we need to shift.” I say, my breath ragged as my legs burn with each step.

“If I had already shifted, I would, but this is the first shift and we would be killed before I could fully take control. I’m sorry, sweet girl, I can give you as much of my strength and speed but that is all until we are safe …” Her words are cut out as I fly before hitting the trunk of a tree. Pearl yelps and I scream as I fall with a thud and roll on the leaf-covered floor.

I move to scramble up on my feet when a wolf barrels into me again, foaming at the mouth as the large paw presses down on my chest.

No, no, this is not happening. I’m so close to the border. I’m so close to freedom. My claws erupt as I s***h at the leg, and the wolf yelps and moves, giving me a chance to scramble up and run. My leg and ribs are killing me so I can’t move as fast as I want.

I can feel Pearl healing me as fast as she can when I’m yanked by my braid. I scream as my hands move to the wrist holding me. I yelp loudly as I’m lifted off the ground by my braid and kick and scratch to be released. Then I’m tossed around like a rag doll. Airbourne and crash landing onto something sharp. I scream out as I look down and see a broken branch sticking through my stomach. I can’t breathe as I gasp and slowly look up to see alpha Fredrick walking towards me with slow, calculated steps, an evil grin splitting across his face.

“You thought you could run? You thought I would let you live knowing what you know? You are weak, Pandora. However, you did put up a fight. I will give you that. Your mom screamed and thrashed as my warriors took their turns with her. All whilst your father’s head sat on the ground, his dead eyes watching as his mate was defiled before she was killed. That was when we found you. Covered in blood, hiding not far away.” He says with a chuckle as he grips my braid again, forcing me to my knees as he grips my face and looks at me.

“Only a little thing, a broken doll. I knew I could use you so we took you in with the promise of finding your mommy and daddy, already knowing they were dead. Promise after promise my luna fed you so you would comply. It was her idea after all to keep using you. Even without your wolf, you kept waking up. Kept surviving. So came the day I found out that my son, my heir, was your mate. I knew you had to go. That you would somehow bring my pack to ruins. But my son has a tender heart. So I did what I had to. I told him everything. Some well-placed lies about you being seen with many warriors, even testimony from them and so he turned against you, only pretending to care about you. I advised him to not break the bond to let you feel the pain when he takes Gemma and marks her but he disagreed. He said the betrayal of what we did to your family and the false kindness he showed you would be enough to break you. But I knew better.” He says and I spit blood in his face.

“f**k you.” I say and he laughs, shoving my face away.

“Even though he wasn’t a part of the murder of your parents, we did it for him so he is as much involved as I am. Their blood is on his hands.” He says and I watch as he takes a few steps back, turning to the warriors he brought with him.

“Make it quick. We have a party to attend.” Alpha Fredrick says before he shifts into his red-coloured wolf. He looks at me with his dark brown eyes and snarls in disgust before he runs away.

“You heard the alpha, let’s get this over with.” The one who brought me to the ceremony stands looking unsure and I growl and wheeze. My hands grip the branch and I pull, gritting my teeth and I scream as I rip the branch free, my hands coated with blood. My vision doubles and blurs, and the ground rushes up to my face as I hit the floor.

I hear fighting and yelping and then I feel like I’m floating, my head foggy, when I’m placed on something soft. A new scent invades my nose and I feel warmth spread through me.

“Rest, little mate. You are safe.” The voice says. I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. I try to move, and again I can’t. I just drift further into the void and that is where I will stay.

A sharp scent fills my nose, the smell of something medical, something strong. Then I hear a steady, rhythmic beeping. I try to move but I can’t lift my arms or move my legs. I try to open my eyes but they are fused shut. I try again and my eyes crack open and I wince at the bright light shining above me.

“Pearl, Pearl, are you there? Please answer me?” I say, whimpering in my own head.

“I’m here, we are safe, Pandora. Rest. I need to rest.” She says before she goes quiet again. I blink and open my eyes again and see I’m in a white room. I look down and see I’m in a white hospital gown and my wrists and ankles have been strapped to the bed. What the hell?

I look up and around the room but there is no window, only a door, a steel table, and chairs. Where am I? did I hear someone say mate? Oh, gods, did Nathaniel come for me? Did he change his mind? Gods, I am delusional. Of course he didn’t. His father ordered my execution.

So if I’m not in The Hounds Of Hell Pack, then where am I?

The door opens, and a woman steps inside, looking at something in her hand. A chart.

She lifts her eyes to me and gasps.

“You’re awake? How are you awake? I will get the doctor.” She says before running from the room. What an odd thing to say.

The door opens moments later as the man who I assume is the doctor walks in looking shocked at seeing me awake and alert as I pull on the restrains around my wrists.

“Easy now, we had to secure you because your wolf wouldn’t let us near you. My name is Doctor Bryce and you are lucky to be alive. Can you tell me your name? Which pack you are from?” He asks and I look from him to the nurse and back again.

“My name …” I wince as my throat feels dry and very sore. The nurse steps forward, offering me a small but sad smile as she holds the bottle of water to me with a straw. I wince as I suck down the water and feel instant relief. I thank her and she nods her head, stepping back.

“My name is Pandora Morningstar and I don’t remember where I’m from.” Well, that is a lie, but I don’t want them informing any of those horrible wolves that I am alive.

“Where am I? How long have I been here?” I ask as I look at the doctor, who looks like he has seen a ghost. Ok then.

“You are in the Night Stalker Pack. The alphas are Atlas and Ajax Nightbane. They are the ones who found you near death at our border only three hours ago.” The nurse says, looking really pale, and I wince.

Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no. I pull harder on the restraints.

“Please, I have to leave. I can’t be here. I can’t. I need to go, please.” I say panicked as I thrash. My chest arches upwards as I try to break the restraints. I can’t be here. This pack borders my old pack and they are allies. I can’t be here.

In the moment of my panic, I didn’t see the needle. I only felt the pinch and I snarl loudly as I turn my head to see the doctor backing away with his eyes wide when I start to feel drowsy as I repeat I can’t be here and then nothing.