The Alpha's Sacrifice

Stuck

Killian's POV:

We had travelled a long way when I heard a howling in the distance. All at once, my anxiety peaked and I looked out the tiny window of the carriage. I stuck my head out and looked up at Sinead.

“You hear that right Sinead?” I asked her.

“Yes, we have to hurry.” She snapped the reins once more and the horses sped up their pace.

“What do you think it is?” I looked up at her concerned.

“It’s either the wolf hounds out hunting wolves again. Or rogue wolves. Either way, we have to get moving.” Sinead said, her voice not giving away how worried she actually was. I could see in her eyes that she was worried.

The howling grew louder. It didn’t sound like wolf hounds, which only meant one thing. It was rogue wolves out robbing again. It was the only way the rogues could survive. Steal from the few carriages that travelled between packs. Sinead had told me that sometimes the rogues were so desperate that they even stole from human carriages. Usually in human form, but sometimes in wolf form. The hunters were a big enough problem without the rogues making it worse by attacking humans in wolf form. If a human was killed by a wolf, no one would be able to go out at all.

I was basically living alone and not used to being around anyone anyway. I just heard the stories from Sinead when she was able to visit. She used to travel in wolf form everywhere, but now she couldn’t even walk outside as a wolf without worrying about the hunters. I felt for her, but I wouldn’t even know if I could shift into a wolf until I was united with my wolf on my birthday. Then I would be bound to follow the rules of the pack. If we were not allowed to shift, then I would have to follow that rule. It was understandable the wolf population in Ireland was very low. To anyone outside of a protective shield, being a werewolf wasn’t very good. No matter how strong you were, the hunters just kept coming.

I had never been away from the cottage before, so I had no need to worry about such things. For the first time being away from my home, an attack from rogues was not something I expected. The howls were even louder and I saw a wolf running alongside our carriage just within the tree line.

“I'm pretty sure it’s rogues Sinead.” I shouted to her, giving her my opinion.

“I know. Stay out of sight.” Sinead warned me.

I ducked back inside the safety of the carriage when I heard a thump at my side. I jumped in fear. A howl erupted so close to us that I knew we weren’t going to get away. The carriage bounced and rattled as it sped over the ground. Above me, I heard several more thumps. I was helpless to do anything.

“Get off me!” I heard Sinead yell.

I watched as she threw a wolf off the front and it yelped as it hit the ground and rolled out of sight. Well, that was one down, but Sinead wouldn’t be able to fight them all off. I heard more howling. I looked out the window again to see five more wolves joining the chase.

“Sinead, how far are we from the Blessed Moon Pack?” I yelled through the window.

“Too far.” I heard Sinead answer softly.

The carriage was slowing down. I could feel it. I could hear a loud growl coming from somewhere in front of us. I looked out to see what was happening. I could see wolves on the road in front of us and the carriage came to an abrupt halt. The horses were too frightened of the wolves to continue running and they reared back.

Out of nowhere, a wolf jumped up beside the carriage and growled at me through the window. I watched as he shifted into a human right in front of me. With ease, he opened the door and looked me up and down. I was stuck just watching him, wondering what he would do. Above me, I heard Sinead scream and saw her thrown off the top of the carriage.

“Leave us alone.” I spoke in a low growl.

“I’m giving you only one chance to get out of this carriage on your own.” The man in front of me threatened and gave me an intimidating look. His eyebrows were thick and his nose was slightly crooked like he had broken it a few times. He had a small scar on his chin and he was so close that I could smell his bad breath.

“I can’t walk.” I pointed down at my legs.

“In that case, let me help you out.” The man said, giving me a menacing grin.

He leaned over, grabbing my shirt at the nape and dragged me out of my seat and threw me into the mud.

“Leave him alone.” I heard Sinead yell. “We don’t have anything.”

The man who had just pulled me out of the carriage walked over to where Sinead was and lifted her face with his index finger.

“Well then, we will just have to take the carriage and the horses.” He looked at her and smiled with the same menacing grin.

“What do you want us to do with them, Chief?” I heard the one holding Sinead ask.

Just then, Sinead snapped her head back and the man holding her howled in pain when her head broke his nose. She quickly got up and threw some punches at the other men who tried to get close to her again. The one they called Chief just watched her fighting and I couldn’t do anything to help her. Chief stepped closer to Sinead while she was occupied with fighting one of the other rogues.

“Sinead, look out.” I yelled in warning.

Sinead heard me but it was too late. The one they called Chief had a handful of Sinead’s hair and was pulling her back to him. He held a knife to her throat.

“I wouldn’t try that again if I were you.” The man threatened and scraped the edge of the blade over Sinead’s cheek.

“Tie them up!” He ordered the other men who were picking themselves up off the ground from Sinead’s attack on them.

One of the men gave Sinead a dirty look as he rubbed his jaw. He grabbed some rope and tied Sinead's hands before their supposed leader, Chief, let her go. Another man came over and grabbed me and dragged me through the mud to the nearest tree. I tried to fight back but it was too easy for the men to avoid my attempted punches. I heard them laughing as they tied me up beside Sinead. The ropes dug into my wrists and were tight around my stomach.

“Let’s get out of here boys,” their leader yelled and climbed up onto the front of the carriage, snapping the reins. My chair was still on the back of the carriage. I watched until they were out of sight and then hung my head in shame.

“I’m sorry, Sinead.” I mumbled.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Killian. It’s not your fault the rogues attacked us.” Sinead said to me.

“No, but if I had been stronger, I could have fought with you.” I said, displeased with myself.

“It could have been much worse,” Sinead said. “At least we are both still alive.”

“What are we going to do?” I asked her. “We are tied to the side of a tree.”