Run! The Lost Princess of the Black Wolves

Chapter 34 - Not so fast

The setting sun painted the sky with hues of fiery orange, casting a mesmerizing glow on the ice sculptures that adorned the castle grounds. As the lamps and fire torches came alive one by one, illuminating the statues, an enchanting ambiance enveloped the air, making it feel magical.

Marcus was still nowhere to be seen, and Iron was holding her so close, it was difficult for Chloe to think of anything else but his intense presence. She knew she was playing a dangerous game where she felt like a different person. It was undeniably alluring, and it was difficult to resist its pull.

"Hey, what happens in the North, stays in the North," her wolf suggested, offering Chloe some respite.

After all, why should she care about the consequences of her actions here? She wouldn't be returning anytime soon, and eventually, her eventual mistakes would be forgotten... or so she hoped.

The time had come to move inside, where they were greeted by a magnificent ballroom adorned with elegantly arranged tables, adorned with lush greenery and delicate winter flowers. Dominating the room, though, was the majestic dragon sculpture, demanding attention.

Thank Goddess it wasn’t her statue standing there, Chloe thought, glancing at the dragon as she made her way to the honorary table. She found herself seated next to Iron, of course, but to her pleasant surprise, she was also accompanied by Sigrun, who was seated on her other side.

"Thank you," Sigrun whispered, leaning closer to Chloe as they settled into their seats. "I don't know how you pulled it off, but I'll forever be grateful."

"I just thought you deserved to win, that’s all,” Chloe grinned. “And honestly, your piece is so much more suitable there than that statue of me,” she nodded towards the icy dragon facing their table. "I'm relieved it's made of ice, though,” she added. “Otherwise, I'd be having nightmares tonight! It's absolutely terrifying..."

Iron leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We'll see if any of the northern witches can breathe life into it," he teased, settling into his seat next to her.

Chloe couldn't help but snicker. "Witches? Come on, Iron. There are no witches anymore. I mean, the Northern Pack wars wiped them out."

"Is that so?" Iron raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I'll be sure to inform Katla of that.” He nodded toward a woman with flowing silvery white hair that cascaded down to her waist. Her arms and hands were adorned with tattoos in earthy tones, extending up her throat to her jawline. There was an air of peculiar mystery about her, setting her apart from the rest. She sat quietly beside Cato, who occasionally leaned in and whispered in her ear, receiving brief responses in return.

Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief. "Is she...?" she whispered, hardly believing her own eyes.

"Yep," Iron chuckled. "She's my father's advisor. Later on, I can ask her if she can bring your dragon to life, if that's what you want."

"No, thank you," Chloe shuddered. The mention of witches sent a chill down her spine. She had only heard dreadful tales of their powers, tales that reduced even the mightiest of werewolves to nothing but dust.

"So, in the South, they claim there are no witches, huh?" Sigrun leaned in with curiosity. "How interesting. Here in the North, people believe they are rare but far from extinct."

"The Southern regions don't want people to know that they were the ones responsible for eradicating the witches," Iron crossed his arms over his chest. "Before, the witches were considered our enemies. However, now, after finding sanctuary here in the North, they have become our allies."

"And you trust them?" Chloe looked at him with disbelief.

"Of course not!" he scoffed with indignancy. "One must remain vigilant. Katla, however, has always been loyal to my father. And she should be, considering the protection and privileges he has given her."

"We actually had a sorceress living undercover in our pack for a while," Sigrun nodded. "She was quite extraordinary, I must say. I come from one of the southern packs in the North, so it’s rather close to the border with the Eastern territories. She sought refuge one day, claiming she was hunted in the East. Yet, one day, she vanished and, from what I heard, returned to the southern side of the border.”

This was totally new knowledge for Chloe, and she struggled to process it. Ever since she was a child, she had been told that witches were the evil creatures that werewolves had finally outmaneuvered.

“It’s weird,” Chloe shook her head with disbelief. “I don’t understand why they teach us in Alpha and Luna training that witches belong to the past.”

"Perhaps they simply don't want you to go looking for them? Nowadays, they live under dire circumstances, constantly threatened with extinction," Sigrun lowered her voice, barely audible. "I'm pretty sure many Alphas would love to put a witch on a leash, making her obey his every command…”

Chloe glanced at Iron, but he was engrossed in a conversation with another Alpha from the Northern Alliance, oblivious to Sigrun's words.

"You think..." Chloe nodded meaningly toward Katla, who sat silently next to Cato, her eyes devoid of emotion as she observed her surroundings.

“So, I’ve heard,” Sigrun whispered.

A pang of sympathy tugged at Chloe's heart for the woman seated next to Cato. What if she was his captive? What if she served as a slave instead of an advisor? Considering what she had heard about Cato, it wouldn’t be that surprising. His reputation for mercilessness and violence made her vigilant, aware of the potential darkness lurking beneath his facade.

Glancing at Iron, who was boasting and bragging during an animated conversation with one of his friends, Chloe couldn't help but wonder how many of his father's traits he had inherited… Which also reminded her. Where was Arnulf?

She let her gaze wander around the table, her eyes eventually falling upon Arnulf and Freya, the latter looking at Arnulf as if he was the greatest gift to women, granted by the Goddess herself. What had he done to earn such adoration from her?

A little further down the table, Chloe noticed Marcus and Cassiopeia seated together. Marcus had been avoiding her promptly ever since that kiss on the castle grounds, purposefully disregarding her apologetic gazes. She could sense that he felt her eyes upon him, yet he stubbornly evaded her as if she was the plague itself.

She really needed to do some damage control. Even if she never thought they would become mates, she still cared for him deeply, and she felt utterly bad for hurting his feelings. Not that he seemed to mind his current company, though. Cassiopeia had seemingly taken it upon herself to keep him entertained, and Chloe couldn't help but wonder if Cassiopeia was deliberately using her knowledge of Chloe's and Marcus' past to drive her away from Iron.

“So…” Sigrun took a leisurely sip of her wine, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Spill the story. Let me take a wild guess. That guy over there was your boyfriend," she nodded in Marcus's direction, "and then you came here and stumbled upon your fated mate," her gaze shifted to Iron, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Am I close?"

Chloe chuckled and shook her head. "No, not quite. Iron is not my fated mate. I've already met mine... and let's just say he's a complete maniac. I mean, certifiably insane," she sighed.

No, for sure, Iron wasn’t her fated mate. Yet, he exerted a magnetic pull on her that surpassed even her connection with Marcus, and she wondered why. Was it possible, as Iron had suggested, that he could be her second chance mate? Or was it just the bad-boy vibe that made him so interesting and exciting?

“What do you say,” Chloe nibbled at her glass, addressing her inner wolf. “Could he be our second chance mate?”

"For me, there is only one true mate," her wolf replied curtly, a sour undertone lacing her words. "And you know exactly who it is."

"But can't you see that we're not exactly a heavenly match?" Chloe groaned in frustration. "

"How would you know?" her wolf snapped, her tone irritable. This topic always hit a nerve. “You can fu.ck whoever you want, and as many as you want - I even encourage you to do so. But when it comes to mating… There is only one destined for us, and you know it.”

"Stubborn bitc.h," Chloe sighed, feeling deflated.

Her wolf fell silent, offering no further response, leaving Chloe to wrestle with her conflicted thoughts.

Deciding to shift the conversation, Chloe redirected her attention back to Sigrun. "Tell me more about your life," she said, gazing at her with genuine curiosity. "It seems fascinating."

Sigrun chuckled softly, dismissing the notion. "Oh, it's nothing extraordinary, really. I suppose you could call me a bit bohemian. I'm the daughter of a pack's Beta, so I was seen as a disappointment when I showed little interest in combat skills and instead was more interested in expressing myself through art."

Chloe was happy to have such an interesting and engaging companion at the table, offering some respite from the overwhelming boasting and rumblings of Iron. She almost got a little bit irritated by him, even if he would occasionally lean in to whisper something mischievous in her ear or offer a tender caress, and the dinner was proving to be incredibly long and boring.

Amidst the monotony, Chloe couldn't help but notice the growing intimacy between Freya and Arnulf, which unsettled her deeply. Eventually, she excused herself, rising from her seat. As she approached Freya, she placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Freya, would you join me to the ladies’ room?" she asked with a warm smile.

"Of course," Freya giggled, attempting to stand up but accidentally falling into Arnulf's lap, causing a low growl to escape him as desire sparked in his eyes. Chloe arched an eyebrow, locking eyes with him defiantly. He responded with a wordless gesture, playfully wiggling his brow.

As they strolled down the hallway toward the restrooms, Freya couldn't contain her excitement. "Chloe," she breathed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, "how's your evening been? And oh my Goddess, you and Iron are setting the place on fire!”

“It’s okay,” Chloe shrugged.

“You must tell me,” Freya whispered. “How is he in bed? I wonder if he and his brother are the same… “

Chloe let out a dry laugh. "Well, let me clarify," she whispered back. "I haven't slept with him."

Freya's eyes widened in disbelief. "No?" she almost exclaimed, only to be shushed by Chloe. "I was absolutely convinced you gave him your V-card!”

"Nope. Still a virgin," Chloe chuckled with a hushed voice. "But let's keep that as our little secret," she added, giving Freya a meaningful glance. Revealing her virginity to a werewolf would be like dangling the most exquisite piece of jewelry in front of a cunning thief – there would be no limit to his wish to possess her...

"Of course!" Freya agreed enthusiastically, adjusting her appearance in the mirror and applying a touch of pink lipstick. "But you will sleep with him tonight, won't you?"

Chloe burst into laughter. Freya's eagerness was amusing, especially since it was Chloe’s love life they were discussing and not hers. "Why would I?" she shook her head with a scoff. "I don't have to jump into bed with him, you know."

Freya grinned mischievously. "How else will you know if he's a keeper?" she teased. "He seems pretty decided already, so you better make up your mind fast."

"I'm not in a hurry,“ Chloe gave her a wry smile. "By the way, Freya," she added, her tone becoming more serious. "About Arnulf... I don't think he's exactly what you think he is. You must be careful."

“Oh, come on, Chloe," Freya brushed off Chloe's cautionary words. "I can take care of myself. Besides, Arnulf is such a gentleman! He's funny and kind, too."

"I know he can be charming, Freya," Chloe insisted, her voice filled with concern. "But there's something... off about him. Trust me.”

“Well, thank you for looking out for me,” Freya smiled and placed a peck on Chloe’s cheek. “But there’s no need. Now, let's get back to the dinner before they send a search party for us."