Ravenna: She who struck back

Chapter 8: Chained by instinct

/-Ravenna-/

The old woman-Heira, I think that was what Mael called her, was mixing something at the other end of the room, her back turned to me.

She seemed to be trying to make some sort of herbal mixture. Her motions were well practiced and swift and she seemed to have forgotten my existence which I took for a big mistake of hers.

It was however a mistake that worked in my favour because I got off the bed quietly, holding back a quiet hiss of pain when my legs trembled as they hit the ground.

My whole body was sore, yet I carefully tiptoed out of the room, past the slightly ajar door before Heira could turn around and notice that I was gone.

The guards Mael had mentioned were stationed outside, right before he left after giving me the most soul-deep, penetrating look anyone had ever given me were nowhere to be found.

I wondered if they hadn't reported at all and he was bluffing or if they had just grown lax.

Either way, I couldn't stay thinking of that for too long. My feet shuffled across the cold ground of the hallways, my hands holding the wall for balance as the cold bit at my bare feet.

Despite the cold, it was perfect, for no one would be able to make out my footsteps.

I found the said guards down the hallway, deep in discussion.

"Did you hear Galin say she was the Alpha's mate?" One said.

"I did," the other nodded. "Heard they found her in the woods..."

They both had their backs turned to me, their hushed voices filling the hallway.

While they were distracted, I moved, ducking under the tapestry and then behind a pillar.

My steps grew quicker and soon, I was bounding down a side hallway, through a wooden door and out into the open.

Snow slapped my bare feet but I kept trudging forward.

I had no clue where I was going, all I knew was that I needed to leave.

The outer edges of the fortress loomed ahead, drawing closer and closer.

"Stop her!"

Someone yelled behind me and more shouts rang out.

I ran forward, stumbled and fell smack into the snow, my breath hitching.

The world spun and I let out strings of insult, struggling to get up.

Swift footsteps reached me before I could get up and a shielded blade pressed against my neck.

It wasn't drawn so I knew I wasn't getting attacked. The two guards who stood before me were just trying to stop me from making any other move.

I growled, rising to my feet to attempt to shove my way through.

"Step back," A voice ordered, not to me but to the guards.

Mael.

He was storming through the snow like a damned mountain wolf, eyes glaring icy daggers, face twisted into a scowl.

I expected him to yell at me, to blow his top in fury when he reached me but he didn't.

He simply stared at me, like I was a piece of a puzzle he could not understand.

"I told you, you can't leave," He said, voice low yet sharp.

"And I said I would," I gritted back.

I stepped away from between the guard, dusting the snow off my tightly clumped hair and raised my chin in defiance.

Mael scanned me from head to toe, his gaze lingering on my bare feet, "Barefoot? You intend to leave knowing you could fall unconscious any moment?"

His figure towered above me, shadows dancing across his face, "You wouldn't even make it past the gates in this condition."

"I didn't ask for your concern, did I?"

"You didn't, yet I saved your life."

I paused.

There it was, the truth.

He had indeed saved me or those rogues would have had their way with me.

I sucked my cold lower lip into the warmth of my mouth then released it, "I didn't ask you to bring me here, you have no right to tell me to stay either."

"I have every right to, you are my mate."

"That goddamn word again," I hissed. "Quit lording it over me. You don't own me."

His jaw clenched, "I don't, but we share a bond whether you want it or not."

As if in response to him, the bond pulsed. Like a string I never requested, pulling me back to him the more I tried to get away.

"You think I'm trying to cage you?" He shook his head, "I'm protecting you. It's not safe out there."

He took a step closer and reached for my chin, tilting it upwards, "You have no Pack, no protection, no allies. I don't know where you came from, but this is Aeloria. You will die if you are careless."

I sucked in a deep breath.

His words hadn't frightened me but his touch had invoked some sort of electric feeling within me.

I jerked my chin away, stepping back from him.

He was right.

If I left now, I wouldn't last a night.

My body was still bruised and weak, beneath the fog of starvation and weakness, my wolf lay dormant too.

I couldn't even reach her so what was I to do if I met with danger again?

Upon further thought, I realised that I didn't need to leave.

Not yet.

This place provided warmth, maybe food and a mate I didn't want.

It was unknown territory but it wasn't hostile.

A quick plan formulated in my head.

The man standing before me was the Alpha king of Aeloria, he had the highest standing of all wolves here.

Money, power, strength, an army...He had it all.

'Oh Ravenna, you are a fool.'

Why the hell was I even trying so hard to get away when such a prized possession was standing right in front of me?

He was the perfect tool I could use to regain everything I once lost and I realised now that I was incredibly stupid not to have thought of that.

Clenching my hand and without giving it another thought, so doubt would not creep in, I voiced quietly, "I'll stay."