UNCROWNED SILVER

CHAPTER THREE

ELARA

The border of our territory was three hours normally on foot, but with the way I ran, I probably covered it in half the time.

I didn’t know where I was headed, but wherever it was had to be safer than where I was coming from.

The forest swallowed me whole, broken branches clawed at me as I ran, but the growing howls behind me pushed me to run faster.

They were surely coming

Blood still trickled down my palm from the injury at the pack,every fibre of my being ached so much, but I knew I could not stop.

My legs were already shaking at this point

“Keep running”

My wolf’s voice was faint, but urgent.

“I can’t” I barely whispered. My knees almost gave in at this point

“Don’t stop, not now” I knew I had to listen to her, but I was barely standing at this point.

A sharp howl exploded from somewhere behind me. I looked back and immediately regretted it.

Four wolves emerged from the trees, then seven, then ten, then I lost count.

The warrior wolves were almost closing in on me. I had to escape.

I turned around and ran wildly, I didn’t even look, I didn’t think, I couldn’t.

In front of me, light started appearing. The trees started thinning

I almost cried out in relief

We were at another Pack’s territory.

I ran desperately, so much so that I didn’t notice the barrier that demarcated both packs

I was flung violently backwards right into the center of the warrior wolves.

That damning barrier…

“Well, well well…” the leader of the warrior wolves said, words laced with venom

“There’s nowhere to run to anymore” he smirked

“I don’t belong to you anymore, why can’t you just let me go?’ I said, defeated.

“Our Alpha won’t like that” he responded

What did he want from me? Had he not humiliated me enough?

“Tell him I’d rather die than go back to that hellhole!”

His lips curled

He lunged towards me

I screamed, and scrambled to the side quickly, his claws barely missing my face. I could feel I had developed more scratches from the sting I was now feeling.

The warrior prepared to strike again

I prayed, hard, desperately

Someone had to save me, the moon goddess, a passerby, just someone.

It was at that moment I heard it...

A guttural roar erupted from somewhere deep within the forest. The warriors froze, even the trees seemed to tremble.

I lifted my head, something was coming…something terrifying.

The warriors backed away slowly..

“No..” one of them whimpered.

My wolf shifted, not out of fear, but recognition once again, as if what she had been waiting for had finally arrived.

A gust of wind swept past me, causing goosebumps to erupt from my skin.

The hairs on my skin stood

A massive black wolf emerged from the trees on the opposite side of the boundary.

He was enormous

Shoulders broad and intimidating, fur dark as night, eyes crimson red, steps slow and calculated.

He was larger than any wolf I had seen before.

My wolf whispered

“Mate”

Cold shivers ran down my spine as I stared at the figure in disbelief.

How could this be? I was already fated with Alpha Draven

She said it again

“Mate”

This time, loud enough to clear up any doubts I had just entertained.

He stopped just in front of me

My heart skipped two beats, fear seized my existence.

He looked straight past me, to the White-thorne pack warriors, who were now like statues.

None of them moved

The lead warrior cowered in fear

“Alpha Redfang” he said in a shaky voice

Redfang?

I nearly passed out. I had heard of that name before.

The rival Pack

There were seven packs in the Southern territories of the Lupine dominion, and Redfang was the most dreaded. Their Alpha I heard was ruthless, merciless, a bone-crushing demon, even amongst the lead wolves. He had never been defeated in a war before, formidable in battle.

And I had just crossed his territory.

The black wolf took a step closer to me.

The ground seemed to quiver beneath his large feet.

“She crossed my territory” he growled

His voice was deep, cold, and unbelievably majestic.

The voice, however, didn’t come from the wolf in front of me. It came from a man behind it. The furs slowly disappeared beneath his skin.

My voice caught in my throat while I stared at the man in front of me.

My wolf shifted.

For a moment, I forgot the danger that loomed over me.

He was extremely tall, with broad shoulders, powerful arms, and very strong. His long black hair rested just above his shoulders in thick, messy waves while some strands fell messily on his forehead.

Eyes crimson red, those same eyes I had seen earlier.

His face had to be personally sculpted by the moon goddess herself. From his sharp jawline, to his perfectly pointed nose, to his firm lips which were now curled up dangerously.

His thick eyebrows were furrowed in curiousity, as he looked at me.

Then, his gaze fell to my bleeding palm. Something in him shifted. His face hardened, jaw tightened, fists clenched, eyes blood-red.

I stiffened as he took a step further towards me, and inhaled deeply.

Once…twice..

His eyes widened as he stared at me knowingly

“No..” he said, still staring at me in disbelief.

What was wrong with him? Why was he staring at me as if he had just seen a ghost?

He looked like he was fighting something within him.

His wolf let out a hungry growl, as if he had just seen his next prey for dinner.

My wolf stirred

“He’s here”

“He who?” I asked, genuinely curious

She remained silent. The forest seemed to have gotten smaller at that instant, or was it just me?

“Mate.” She finally said

I stared at the stranger in utter disbelief

Ronan Redfang, the most feared Alpha in the Southern territories, my mate?

He heard my wolf

“Elara…” he said as he took yet another step towards me, there was barely any space left between us.

“Why do you know my name? “

“Because I’ve been looking for you…” he said, his eyes unusually warm.

“I don’t know you” I said, scrambling backwards.

“But my wolf knows you” he said calmly

His eyes fell to my bleeding palm once again, anger flashed in his eyes.

“Who did this to you”

A growl erupted from the White-Thorne side again. They were preparing to attack

Ronan’s head snapped in their direction, whatever warmth was there just now had completely vanished.

His eyes blood-red, his presence had changed entirely.

“Leave” the lead warrior said

“No” It was barely a whisper, but loud enough for every White-Thorne warrior to hear.

They hesitated

Ronan didn’t move

“She belongs to the White-Thorne pack” one of the warriors finally spoke up.

“She crossed my territory, which means she’s now mine to protect” Ronan snarled, his claws slowly emerging.

One of the warrior wolves made the mistake of stepping forward

Ronan’s Alpha aura exploded across the forest in an instant, causing all the warrior wolves to drop to their knees

“Who dares?” he roared

He glanced over his shoulder at me

“Are you hurt” his tone was incredibly soft, like he had not just barked some seconds ago.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.

He then moved closer to me

I flinched

He stopped

Something flickered across his face..

Pain

“I won’t hurt you” he said calmly

I should believe him, but I now had every reason to believe that powerful wolves shouldn’t be trusted.

“Why should I believe you?”

He stared at me for ten long seconds, his jaw tightened.

“Because you’re safer with me than with the people chasing you”

“If only you knew what I know..” his eyes lingered on the blood that stained my palms.

“Come with me Elara” he stretched forth his hands to me

“No” I said, creating a distance between us. “Why should I?”

“Because whether any of us likes it, you’re my mate” he said in a possessive manner, eyes fixed on me.

Somewhere deep within me, my wolf answered

“Yes”

Then, at that moment, I felt safe for some reason. I closed my eyes, and slowly, the light went out of my eyes.