Althea felt like her head was going to split open as she slowly opened her eyes.
The last thing she remembered was Melva charging toward her in her beast form then another beast had lunged at her from the side. After that, someone grabbed her from behind, pressing a handkerchief to her face. The sharp, sickly scent of something drugged filled her lungs and then darkness.
She jolted upright with a gasp.
Melva was beside her, both their hands and feet bound. They were inside a moving carriage. Iron chains were wrapped tightly around Melva’s body, likely to keep her from shifting.
“Melva,” Althea called out.
Melva stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked quickly and, upon seeing Althea, tried to sit up despite the chains.
“Are you alright, My Lady? Are you hurt?” she asked, scanning Althea with concern.
Althea shook her head. “I’m fine, Melva. What about you?” Her gaze landed on the dried blood crusted along Melva’s forehead.
Melva gave a faint smile. “Ah, I’m fine. I heal, remember? This is nothing. Don’t worry about me.” But then her expression twisted with frustration as she muttered, “I still can’t believe that Beta! How could he be so weak? He didn’t even sense the danger!”
Althea’s brows furrowed. “What exactly happened outside?”
Melva sighed. “We were waiting for you to come out, My Lady, but I assumed there was a sorcerer nearby. Beta Osman suddenly fell to his knees and then black mist surrounded him. That’s when I knew something was wrong. I shifted and rushed toward you, but I got knocked out before I could reach you.”
She paused, looking around warily before continuing.
“We were heading to the Bloodrise Pack. Just two days’ travel away... Who would dare attack that close?”
Then Melva’s eyes widened. “My Lady... do you think it was rogues? Did they get us?”
Althea froze.
She’d heard the rumors, how rogues had begun gathering near pack borders. How they were using black magic now, strange and dangerous spells that made even seasoned warriors fall.
Her pulse quickened.
If rogues had really captured them and with a sorcerer involved, this wasn’t a simple ambush.
Althea remained quiet, but Melva had been with her long enough to know exactly what she was thinking. “Do you think this is Alpha Cain?” Melva asked cautiously.
Althea didn’t respond right away, but the tightening of her jaw was answer enough. She knew her father. Alpha Cain had long been involved with rogues and sorcerers in his bid to claim the throne. It was entirely possible that this was his doing.
But Melva frowned. “If this is Alpha Cain... he would never allow them to bind you like this.”
A small, humorless smile touched Althea’s lips. “Father is a cunning man, Melva. He would need them to bind me, to make it look like a rogue attack.”
Her voice was calm but laced with bitterness. “He wouldn’t want the Alpha King to go berserk thinking he was trying to take me back. This is how he avoids suspicion.”
The carriage came to a sudden halt.
Moments later, the door swung open. A man dressed in rough, bandit-style clothes stepped inside. Without a word, he unrolled a parchment and held it out to Althea.
“Read it. Say when you’re done,” he ordered curtly.
Althea’s eyes skimmed the parchment and she immediately recognized the handwriting. It was her father’s.
[I’m sorry. I miscalculated. I didn’t arrange for you and the others to escape early; It would’ve drawn too much attention and made things look suspicious. I truly believed I would succeed.
I underestimated the situation. But my dear daughter... I promise I will get you soon. For now, you must endure.
The Alpha King has marked you. Because of that, I cannot ask you to kill him, a lycan’s mark is different. If he dies, so will you... and I would never risk that. Just gain something we can use to our advantage. Send me letters as you used to. I have people inside the palace. I will ensure your safety.
I love you, Althea. I’ll see you soon.]
Althea exhaled softly. “Done,” she murmured.
The man took the parchment, set it aflame, and let the ashes scatter into the wind. Without another word, he left.
The carriage resumed its journey.
Melva turned to her, brows furrowed in concern. “Is Alpha Cain going to save us now? Is he taking us to him?”
“It depends on the Alpha King now...” Althea murmured, her tone unreadable.
If Gavriel found them before they were taken back to her father, which was very likely, then her father’s plan had worked. He hadn’t sent his own men. Instead, he’d used rogues to make it seem like a random attack, carefully avoiding any trail that could be traced back to him or to her. This whole operation was a calculated risk, a fifty-fifty move meant to protect her from suspicion.
Melva sighed and shrugged. “To be honest... it’s not really a good thing if we end up back with Alpha Cain either. He’s practically a wanted man, still being hunted for that failed rebellion. Staying with him would only put you in more danger. There’s a higher chance of survival if we stay with the Alpha King. You’re his mate, and Lycans don’t take that bond lightly.”
Althea remained silent, her thoughts turning.
Melva had a point. Gavriel was a Lycan. For Lycans, a fated mate wasn’t just tradition, it was sacred. He would protect her, whether he liked it or not. That was how their instincts worked.
She frowned slightly. ‘He should have used the mind link by now... So why hasn’t he? Are we already too far for it to work?’ A mind link after being marked was standard in a werewolf mate bond but Althea didn’t know how to use it unless Gavriel taught her.
She stared out the small slit of the carriage window, thoughts heavy.
It was true, when Gavriel marked her, he had tied his life to hers. If he died, she would die too. But the bond didn’t work both ways. If she died... Gavriel would live. And he could simply move on. Find another mate.
If he truly wanted to kill her... he could.
He just hadn’t done it yet.
They had been traveling without pause, and it was likely close to midnight by now. Exhaustion weighed heavily on Althea. She couldn’t help but yawn, her eyes growing heavier with each passing minute.
Then suddenly the carriage jolted violently.
Snarls. Screams. Chaos erupted outside.
The door burst open, slamming against the side of the carriage. Althea’s eyes flew wide.
“Thea, are you alright?” a familiar voice called out.