The Queen Of Tricks

One Fox, Two Alphas Part 2

The Viribus territory was one of the largest territories in the world, but most of the pack lived in one area together in a grove placed on one of the many mountains that covered the Viribus territory.

A cluster of houses that looked like a large village, along with a few houses darted along the vast landscape was where most of the pack lived.

The packhouse sat a little in the distance and sat higher on the mountain. It seemed to protectively watch over the rest of the homes. Keeping a close eye on the residents.

It wasn't hard to mask my scent from the other wolves, to hide behind nature's gifts. Only when I got far enough away from the packhouse and the cluster of personal houses did I feel comfortable enough to shift.

As my body shifted into my fox, I wanted to cheer at finally being back. I ran through the woods as fast as my fox would allow. Shortening the day's long run in female form, to a few hours in fox form.

I couldn't help but smile, every minute of running I became happier and happier. My steps getting lighter. All I could think about was getting out and here heading home. My chest felt like it would burst with joy.

I was so happy I didn't even notice my body start to slow down.

I ran for hours through thick trees and past patrolling wolves when a new smell entered the air, something eerily familiar.

My paws slammed into the ground, bringing me to a halt. I softly growled at the boy's stupidity. The Algoren scent dripping from his own.

I shifted into my female form following his smell. His scent was overpowering, I had no idea how he hadn't been caught yet. The i***t could get himself killed at any second. Especially in Viribus.

If he got any closer to the packhouse, he would be a dead wolf in no time.

When I walked into his line of sight Christan froze like a deer caught in headlights.

I didn't bother hiding my annoyance.

It took him a moment to realise it was just me. When he saw me, a nervous smile grew on his lips.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered shouted at him.

"I'm getting you out." He said back quietly. Neither of us dared to speak above a whisper, just in case one of the patrolling guards was around to hear us.

"You're going to get caught," I warned him.

"And you're not?" Christan hissed back nervously. His eyes darting around the trees.

No, I wasn't. I was used to sneaking around territories. I was born for it. Christan on the other hand was not.

"They will kill you if they find you here," I told him truthfully. They wouldn't just kill him, they make him beg for that privilege.

Christan didn't seem to think about that as he stood straighter, slightly puffing out his chest. "I'm not afraid of them."

"Then you deserve to have all your bones slowly crushed by the Alpha." I glared at him, referring to one of the many rumours Cassar Salvaterre was known for doing to his enemies.

"I know what I'm doing." He said like a child claiming they know how to drive. Spoiler alert, children don't know how to drive, and Christan did not know what he's doing.

I pushed him around facing the way out of the territory. "Let's just get out of here before we both get caught because of you."

"You are welcome by the way." He grumbled to me as we started running through the woods.

I knew I was being harsh, but I didn't want his death on my conscience. Instead of telling him that I gave him a quick grin. "I will forever be in your debt."

"Damn straight." He huffed. Christan didn't shift but stayed by my side. "There's a car parked just outside the territory. We just have to get there and we will be home free."

I nodded my head, leaping over a rock. "What happens after that?"

"I go home, and you get the hell out of here." He told me.

If we hadn't been running for our lives I would have kissed him.

Who knew how long I would have been stuck in Viribus without that sleeping syrup.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked him.

His eyes shot to mine, his eyes full of remorse. "Cassar Salvaterre is a monster. He kills people for sport and dances on their bones. He massacres packs if they refuse his leadership. I couldn't imagine being forced to mate with that bastard."

During my time being in the Viribus Pack, I didn't think Cassar was that bad, but he was a monster for keeping me here, so I didn't disagree. I just ran faster.

It wasn't long before Christan had passed me and was running ahead of me. He kept looking back to make sure I was still behind him.

I could tell something was not right, but I didn't know what. It almost felt like I was in a dream, when you try to run as fast as you can, but the harder you try the slower you become.

"Hurry up," Christan shouted, taking my hand to drag me behind him. My feet still didn't move any faster.

The further we ran, the more I felt the drag. It felt like someone was right behind me, trying to hold me still. Stronger and stronger the pull became.

My whole body felt like I was running in mud up to my waist. I shook my head, panic starting to rise in my chest. "Something isn't right."

I hadn't panicked in years, and now in the course of fewer than two weeks, I was panicking for the second time.

"What's wrong?" Christan asked me, his eyes checking behind me to see if something was physically holding me back. There wasn't.

"I don't know. I can't move." My face contorted, confused.

"We have to go V." Christan ushered me, but something was holding me back. It was like an invisible string was tied to me, stopping me from moving any further.

I tried to push against it, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't take another step.

My blood started to sing.

"I think-I think it's a blood-tie." He whispered in shock. His eyes, full of fear for me.

I knew what a blood-tie was. It was old, ancient. I had never actually seen it used before. I had only heard rumours.

But how? How could someone have formed a blood-tie to me? They needed my blood, and the blood of another creature-

I stilled.

The blood from my hands. When I had smashed the mirror to trick Cassar my hands were bleeding. A lot. Enough to form a blood tie. In my exhausted and distracted state, I had not even thought to get rid of the bloody glass. To get rid of my DNA for others to use against me.

A blood-tie was a trick formed by old power that was supposed to be extinct. It was a trap that mixed two creatures' blood and bonded them together so they would become co-dependent. This blood-tie was like a leash wrapped around my neck. I was only able to walk a certain distance away before the leash would snap in place.

The worst part was, I had no idea how to break a blood-tie. But I probably knew who formed it and I could bet money on who I was now bound to.

I became deadly calm.

In seconds the idea of escaping had completely wiped itself from my memory.

Gone was hope, replaced with the need to kill.

It was not the same anger that consumed me when I was locked in the room. Then, the only thought that went through my head was getting out, of escaping. Now the only thought that consumed me, was spilling blood. The blood of the Alpha I was now tied to.

I knew, deep down, my eyes were no longer blue.

"V...." Christan trailed off, seeing my deadly expression. The way my eyes stared at nothing but future death. The way I readied myself for a fight.

"Go home," I told Christan.

He was about to argue, to cry out, to try and stop me.

I didn't let him.

His eyes were wide with horror.

I gave him a small nod and turned on my heel. Running right back to the place I was so close to leaving.

I didn't remember shifting back into fox form. I didn't remember the hours of running back to the packhouse. All I remember was the smell of blood in my head and the thought of destroying the one creature that kept me here.

I was not raging. I was wrathful.

The forest was now silent. Most wolves in the safety of their homes. The only wolves awake were the ones on patrol, but they did not notice me. I didn't let them.

The darkness was still thick, dawn had not come yet. No animals stirred, all trying to get the last remaining moments of sleep before the sun would start rising again. I made sure I didn't disturb the night.

When I saw the light from the packhouse, I shifted into my human form. Calmly I opened the door and slipped back into the house that I was determined to destroy.