Clara
How could I be this ignorant? Girls in the line had talked about them.
Dark Shade. Of course. They were the Elite of all the Elites. That absurdly wealthy pack in all of the Twin Canines.
And Deanneth Legiere. He was their notorious Alpha.
Like my parents, he was traitor to his pack. Only he was not only able to survive, but he also had succeeded in subjugating the most powerful pack in the entire South.
He took over the pack from his elder brother Bruess Legiere who should have been throned after their late father’s death. He was a usurper.
Just imagine how dangerous he would be.
And I had just told him that he was a disgusting pig.
My mind swirled with various thoughts and assumptions. I pondered on what I had just done and what it meant. My blood froze, my heart sank.
A wild, heady feeling churned in the pit of my stomach. It was a mix of fear and self-destruction.
I need to run.
I have to run, now!
I would run tonight anyway, and I just needed to prepone it. I tried to calm down. But I was panicked. I freaked out.
I knew I would be dead if I didn’t run now. To even mock an Elite in my own small pack meant being whipped until my back was nothing but tattered shreds.
I had seen it happen before. A young Omega servant had somehow made a friend with an Elite Gamma male. They were just boys roughhousing. When the Omega had joked that the Gamma boy was as vain and prissy as a girl, the Gamma boy’s parents had taken the servant, tied him to the stake, and whipped him until he was unconscious. The Gamma boy had screamed for them to stop, but that didn’t matter.
Pride mattered. Name and title mattered.
The Omega boy died in feverish agony only a night later. Hazel had tried to save the boy. She failed. It was an infamous, but familiar story I’ve heard time and time again. The characters may change, but the story remained the same.
What would be my punishment?
I had mocked the leader of the most powerful pack. A whipping would be too good for me.
Oh, I could be like my mother, could I? Burning coals. The flaying. The dreaded Iron Vice. My mother was given that treatment. They made sure she was utterly crippled, so that she couldn’t run. Her last moments were that of maddening torment. She had begged for them to end her life.
You stupid ass! howled Elena.
She reacted faster than me. A sudden surge of wrath engulfed me. It was so powerful, terrifying. I could feel her becoming one with me. Her emotions, her rage, and her power. It was too much. I couldn’t bear such emotions within me.
Bile rose to my throat, and I tore away from Hazel’s arms. It was an instinctive move. She had tried to lead me back to the ballroom, perhaps to hide in the mass of werewolves. But I knew that I couldn’t be overwhelmed by the panting crowds, the sweet drugs in the air, and the cruel eyes of the Alpha.
I threw myself along a side corridor. I was not familiar with the Hearth, this building where they held the mating ball. I had no idea where I was running. All I knew was that I had to get outside. NOW.
“Clara! Clara stop!” Hazel cried. “Where are you going?”
A voice that I realized was mine answered, “I’m leaving! I won’t do this any longer! Get away from me!”
It was as if Elena had used my throat to speak. Was this me talking? I was frantic, angry, and terrified. I threw off those stupid heels from my feet and ran barefoot on the cold stone floors.
“If you run now, you may as well admit your guilt!” Hazel said. Her voice was one of reason, but I knew it was too late. “We can pretend like nothing happened! Prince Legiere may not say anything! We have to get back to the mating ball, and you can find a good mate who will take care of you!”
She’s stupid too, sneered Elena.
Too late. I was dead meat.
“They’ll accuse you too for being there,” I yelled back. I was fast outpacing Hazel, who huffed after me. “They’ll say it was your fault too. Get back to the ball room, and never say you meet me tonight!”
“Clara! Stop!” she cried.
I took a sharp turn. The long corridor we had been running in split into three other paths. I sniffed the air and could smell the autumn wind and the harvest of deer and rabbits. The eastern corridor led to a way out. I fled in that direction. Hazel’s voice grew more distant. I had wanted to give her my proper goodbyes, but I considered that brief moment we had embraced to be good enough.
My legs ached, but I could see the windows of the corridor facing the outer perimeter of Bragne.
Good. I recognized this area.
I opened doors at random, hoping that they would lead outside. Thankfully, not a werewolf was in sight. I gambled that no one would be this far away from the main ballroom. Finally, there was one heavy oaken door with an iron handle. I tugged at it, and I breathed out in relief.
The brisk wind met my face, and for a moment, I felt peace wash over me. I checked my surroundings for guards, and sure enough, I could see two werewolves in green and mahogany attire on patrol to my left. They were at a lonely location. A small outpost to guard the sloping hills that eventually would lead downwards into the Harrow, a gigantic forest that bordered several pack territories in the South.
I watched the guards carefully. One was utterly soused with hot wine. The other was laughing at him. He also had a small cup in his head. Would they stay there, or would they patrol other areas? I crept forward and stayed in the shadows.
I looked back behind me for only a moment. The tall black building known as the Hearth seemed to be like a monster swallowing me up.
For a moment, I wondered if Hazel had picked up my trail. I thought about Griffin. What would he do when he heard I ran off? Would they chase after me? Or would they finally leave me in peace and hope that the beasts would kill me?
I ran to a grouping of evergreen bushes. I was so close to the exit. I picked up a hefty stone at my feet. It felt heavy and cool to the touch. I could easily sneak up to the guards, knock them unconscious with this stone, and run straight into the Harrow Forest. It was easy to get lost in there, and there were so many different scents of beasts, plants, wood, and trees that no werewolf would be able to pick up my trail.
My heart beat wildly. This was my chance!
Suddenly, sharp pain exploded in the back of my head. My eyes saw nothing but white sparks. I reeled forward drunkenly and gasped in pain. The blow had been so powerful, it made me collapse on the dirt.
“You little scurrying rat. You really thought you could escape that easily? I saw it in your eyes the second you walked into the ballroom.”
Dizzily, I looked up into the eyes of Lieutenant Gerald Dover, son of Lord Bernard Dover. A sneer was on his tanned brown face, and parts of his head shaven at the sides. His bright red hair was tied up in the ritualistic topknot of the guardians of the entire South, the Alliance Hunters. He eyed me with a merciless smirk.
He caught me.
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains abuse, violence, and emotional relapse. Please read at your own risk. Clara Gerald was a monster of a werewolf with massive muscles; he was matchless in any one-on-one fight. They said that he had fought every Elite and lower class werewolf in the gladiator trials for physical supremacy, and he never lost once. I would be a fool if I thought I could defeat him. But it didn’t matter if I lost. I was dead anyway. If I wasn’t beaten to a pulp by the Lieutenant, then I would be taken to be questioned and tortured. At least I would go down on my own terms. I snarled at Gerald and threw myself at him. The stone was in my hand. A grim smile was on his face. The rock collided with his upper arm, as he raised them in time to block. Any lesser werewolf’s arm would have shattered instantly, but Gerald was built like a mountain. He lifted his giant fist and let it crash on my head – or he would’ve gotten my head, if I didn’t dodge just in time. Instead
Clara A crying child standing alone in front of a hall of werewolves. Rumors of betrayal. The yellow eyes of our Alpha as he sat in a highchair, listening to his advisers. Their urgent whispers. “Kill her too. Kill her before she grows old and takes her revenge. The seeds of treachery must not be allowed to take root.” “Am I that weak to need to kill a mewling child?” The matter was settled. The Elites and advisers all spoke at once in consternation and shock. An ambitious red-haired werewolf with a goatee put himself forward. His tones were flattering. “Let me take her as a ward, then, my Alpha. I shall house her until you decide what to do with her.” “I have already decided, Lord Dover. But do as you wish.” The tall werewolf then stood up and stared down at me. I saw his claws. They dripped with blood. The scent of blood in nostrils. Sharp and bitter. Pungent. Spicy? Why did it smell like spice? Oh gods, why did it smell like burning mushrooms? ** I groaned and tried t
Clara Freedom? I could barely believe what I was hearing. The Prince of the Dark Shade pack had played a card game to grant me my freedom? Why? And why in hells would our Alpha of the Moonstone Pack even agree to it? I must be still dreaming. I could see the Lieutenant angrily pacing the floor, as Prince Legiere unlocked the iron gates of my cell. He waltzed inside the gates and took off my gag. I gulped in air greedily. My head felt light, and I didn’t have it in me to give sarcastic commentary. Gerald had beaten that out of me quick enough, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do it again. The Alpha Andelle had watched these proceedings in silence until now. “You are free to have her, but I wonder what exactly you plan to do with her? Surely you were not serious about making her your mate?” he asked. “Concubine,” Prince Legiere said brightly. “I already have a destined mate for me back at home waiting for me. I’m sure she and my lovely brother would be quite sad to hear if I had sud
Clara Servants scurried in and out of the Alpha’s mess hall with plates of hot food and drink on wooden trays. Pale gleams of light flowed in from the large windows on all sides. There were several tapestries and paintings that told the story of the Andelle ancestors. The tantalizing smell of appetizers and entrees made me drool, but I found that I couldn’t relax enough to shovel food in my mouth like I usually did. Not with the Alpha, Sisley, Prince Griffin, and Gerald in the same room with me. Prince Legiere gently tugged at one of my loose brown braid to get my attention. I stared angrily at him. I wanted to throttle him. “No,” I said with gritted teeth. He was smiling and holding a spoon of piping hot porridge mixed with sweet milk, scallions, and seared pork rinds. It smelled absolutely delicious, and my stomach rumbled in agony. Gladly would I have tried to take a bite, but not in this embarrassing manner. “Don’t be like that. Say ‘ahhh.’” I turned my face away at the last
ClaraAlpha Andelle steepled his clawed fingers together and gazed at Prince Legiere. “If you would excuse my son, it appears that he still has not learned the delicacy required in such private matters.”Griffin tensed, but Sisley put her hand on Griffin’s arm to calm him down.Emperor Barnes Andelle went on, and his yellow eyes were scathing. “Perhaps the fledgling prince has given you the wrong impression about the girl. It may be true that at the time, she was too young to have been involved in the plot against me. However, her actions three nights ago speak of a guilty conscience. She fled when I had extended her an invitation to the mating ball. She attacked an Elite member of my pack. I caution that you think twice about this arrangement of spiriting her away from our pack.”“A guilty conscience?” I cried out. “You left me to rot with these people who did everything in their power to make my life a living hell. Every single werewolf in this pack, everyone, treated me like a cont
Clara Sisley had been watching me, and she spoke, “Careful, step-sister. Your murderous intent is plain on your face. Perhaps my little brother couldn’t finish the job, but I assure you – I can and I will if you make one wrong move.” Elena hissed and bared her teeth, but I shut my eyes as if to shut out her presence as well. We need to stay calm, I told Elena. We’ve learned so much, and I can’t stupidly try to take on the Alpha, the Lieutenant, and Sisley all at once. Prince Legiere whistled and then burst into laughter. “Hotheads both of you! Like brother, like sister. There’s a saying in our pack that redheads are doomed with short tempers. You realize that you’re threatening my concubine, don’t you?” Sisley glared at Prince Legiere. “I’m quite curious about what your brother and future mate would say about all of this, Prince Deanneth? Did they approve of you sneaking out of Khordon with just two of your bodyguards to have a pleasant stay in Bragne? Or will the messenger hawk th
Trigger warnings: disturbed individual and violence against pups. Please DO NOT read if you can't handle it. Thanks! Clara Someone pounded frantically on the door to the mess hall. “My Lord!” screamed a voice. “Please! Help!” The Alpha strode forward. Black hair bristled and grew like weeds all over his skin. His face extended into a pointed snout. He threw open the doors, and a terrified bloody werewolf lurched forward. Hazel ran up to him. It didn’t take a Royal Healer to know that the werewolf was going to be dead in seconds. The entire right side of his face was torn clean off, and I winced as I saw his exposed tongue and brains. He tried to speak, but then he collapsed in a puddle of blood on the floor. Another guard beside him gripped his left arm – or what was left of it. He quivered like a scared pup. It shocked me to see a grown guard of the Bragne in such a state of terror. “T-they’re monsters,” he whimpered. “They stormed the garrison. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Half o
Clara Elena sprang backwards, but the Greater Vampire quickly accounted for her movement. Hideous burning pain grazed my upper arm, but to my relief, the silver bullet lodged itself into a pine tree right behind me. I wanted to control my own body, but Elena still was not done. The vampire cursed in his language. The rifle was an ingenious invention created by Greater Vampires in olden times, but it had a glaring weakness: it could not be reloaded quickly. In an army with several Greater Vampires staggering their shots, it was a weapon that wiped out packs of werewolves in extended battles. But in a one-on-one fight, it had no advantages against the brute strength and agility of a shifted werewolf. Elena pounded the floor with my limbs, and she leaped forward to slash at the vampire’s throat. He sneered and brandished his rifle like a rapier. The silver bayonet just narrowly missed my heart, but it raked across my waist. Elena and I shrieked together at the fiery pain. I had no doub