Chapter 5 Into the abyss

Branches whips at me as I run blindly through the forest, the wind scatters my hair. I can't stop crying.

Why?

Why is my mate such a hard creature to understand? Why does he always have to hurt me?

Adrenaline rushes through me, the same rush I felt when they took everything.

My eldest brother, Luis, had just found his mate, and we were preparing for the mating ritual. Everyone's faces were beaming with joy, especially Luis's.

I had asked him why he was so happy. “You will understand when you find your mate, the feeling is like flying in the sky. Once you set your eyes on him, your worries will fade.“ He told me as we sat in my mother's lavender garden.

" That must be a good feeling, I can't wait.“ I smiled, feeling a rush of excitement as I thought of my mate.

His laughter drifted with the cold wind as he ruffled my hair like I was still seven even though I would be eighteen in a few days.

If only he knew

My mate hates me, and he is the brother of the man who separated our family.

My pack never called me a Siren, they accepted me the way I was.

That day, joy filled the house... until the warriors came. They surrounded the pack house, and I was sure they were ready to massacre the pack.

Everyone was ready to fight, I remember the chaos, the screams as they took the women and children, the growls.

Mom hid me first, and went to find Dad, but I was found in my hiding spot, the warriors thought I was a Siren.

I was dragged out by my hair. Mom and Dad screamed for me, Luis fought the guards and Adrian rushed towards me, but he was struck from behind.

It was a general with jagged scars on his face that caught me. “Let me go!" I scream and thrash but as Adrian once said, my weak hands are useless.

“This one will be valuable to us, take her and burn the place to the ground."

“No!" I shouted, horrified. “Please let them go!" But they didn't listen.

The other warriors moved with precision, swords hanging at the hilt, ready to burn down everything and everyone I have ever known.

" Halt!“ Until a voice stopped them, that was the first time I met Argos.

“My Lord." The guards bowed to him, I was still held captive, my family pushed to their knees and bowed to him.

"By the order of the king. Knight pack is to be left alive, Luis Knight, is appointed as the new alpha and he shall answer to the King.“

Then he turned in my direction. “The princess shall be captured alive and taken to the Palace."

"No! Let go of my daughter.“ My mother's horrified scream was the last thing I heard before I was taken away.

I hate king Larkin whose face I have never seen.

I should hate his brother too, every cruel part of him.

But I can't.

The Moon goddess has never been on my side, I was taken from my family's warmth into the cold walls of the Lycan king's palace and now mated to a mate who now wants me gone.

The sound of birds chirping from a distance and loud thumping of paws makes me increase my pace. I hear the loud rushing of water in front of me.

Then my body gets caught in a vine bush, I wrestle with it, growling and whimpering as it tugs and cuts through my skin, face and hair. When I finally break free.

My dress is torn and I am wobbling on my feet, I push myself to move further, but the moment I take a step, I slip and my body meets the harsh ground, knocking the wind out of me.

I lay there, struggling to regain my breath, but before I can do that, I hear a loud growl behind me, and I stiffen, spinning around to see glowing eyes.

I breathe fast, lips trembling as I stare at my mate's beast. He is large, black fur that ignites at the reflection of the moon.

Glowing silver eyes that stare down at me. I crawl back. “Please... " I feel pathetic begging again, but that's all I can do.

The sound of rushing water is now closer, too close, I see my own breath as I exhale shakily.

Cold air assaults me from behind. The beast growls, stepping forward, but I creep back, hands digging into the cold floor.

He doesn't stop.

My heart hammers on my chest and the need to run makes me leap to my feet and twirl around with the intention to make for it.

But instead of my feet meeting with hard ground, it meets with air. “No!" Roderick thunders, but it's too late.

A scream rips out of my throat, the world tips, the moon, Roderick's beat, and then I fall.

Color drains out of my face, I feel light as I try to hold onto something, but my hand meets with air, not even the edge of the cliff.

I am not prepared for the amount of water that assaults my nose as I drop into the water like stone in the midst of the sea.

Water rushes into my lung, I gurgle it in, thrashing around, gasping for breath only to swallow more water. “Help!" I want to yell. But my words are swallowed by liquid in my throat.

I have water magic. That's all they say, but I have never used my powers before, not in this situation, And the current sweeping me away isn't giving me the chance to grasp my thoughts.

My hand thrashes uselessly as my gown drags me down. My head feels light, I am unable to breathe.

The more I struggle, the deeper I sink, eyes closed. I am close to giving up when I hear a loud splash, something heavy drops into the water.

Then something large and familiar wraps around me, I want to scream, but my body won't move.

My body limps in his arms.