Filed to story: My Kidnapper Is the Wolf King
‘s light is gone from the sky, we know she finds herself in the furthest depths of his prison once more. On this night, we commemorate the sacrifice she made, and shine our light for her so she knows that we remember.”
The priestess walks around the circle, and we lift our unlit candles for her to light. We stand and I breathe in sharply as a shadow passes over the moon, and the land becomes dark. The Wolves sing in a language I don’t know-the words rough yet soft-and they raise their candles to the sky. While I don’t recognize the song, my heart knows it, somehow.
I lift my candle. Callum’s smile is big and easy, and his eyes brim with joy when they lock onto mine. It’s like he is pleased to be sharing this sacred moment with me, and warmth swells inside me.
I smile, too, as our small lights fill the darkness-casting the shadows away.
***
After the ceremony, Jack rolls a barrel of whisky, hidden behind one of the stones, into the center of the circle. He tells us it’s courtesy of Lowfell, and a cheer fills the air. The fifty or so Wolves gathered swarm around him. The bagpipe player resumes her tune and the cold air fills with music and laughter. Callum pulls me against his chest, nips my ear with his teeth, then tells me he’s going to get us some drinks.
I pull my cloak close as Callum exchanges warm greetings with a few of the Wolves in yellow tartan kilts. They laugh at something he says as he clasps one of them on the shoulder. He has an easy way with people, and I think that will be just as useful in us winning against James as his brute strength.
I’ve often thought that much of Callum’s power comes from showing his more gentle side. My father would see that as weakness, but I’m starting to see that my father’s cruelty was nothing but a mask he used to hide his fear.
Callum is making his way back to me when he stills about halfway across the circle. His body becomes rigid, and the humor disappears from his face. His expression becomes unreadable, the way it does when he’s under threat, and my insides clench. The chatter in the circle dims, as more people cast their gazes into the shadows surrounding the stones. Their wolf senses are picking up on something that I cannot. Something is wrong.
A loud crack shatters the night. My heart leaps from my body. A few Wolves throw themselves to the ground. A crack forms in one of the tall stones as a bullet hits it. I look wildly around as the music shrieks to a halt.
Men carrying muskets emerge from the shadows between the stones. Adrenaline surges through my body. James strides through them. This is the wolf who attacked me, who gave me back to Sebastian, who bit me and almost killed me.
As tall and muscular as Callum, James makes his way toward the center of circle. The wind stirs his wild brown hair, causing it to brush against his broad shoulders. He wears a simple crown made of twisted branches-a crown he didn’t wear the last time I saw him. It’s a message to those gathered here.
He is the Wolf King.
“Hello, Brother,” he says as people part around him, giving the two Wolves space. His guards remain at the edge of the stone circle-keeping us prisoner within.
“James.” Callum’s hands curl into fists. “I hope you’re not here to spill blood on this holy night.” His tone is dark, and he sounds as if the opposite is true, as if he longs for James to give him an excuse to expel the violence inside him.
James smiles, though it doesn’t meet his eyes. “As king, it’s my duty to uphold wolf law, not break it.” He rolls up his shirtsleeves, exposing corded forearms-one of them inked with tattoos. “Though, if you were in breach of
Ghealach
‘s rules, Brother, then I would be forced to take action-regardless of what night it was.” His gaze moves to me, and I force myself to hold it. “You have something that belongs to me. Give her to me, and no blood will be spilt.”
Callum’s answering growl rumbles around the circle. “Rory does not belong to you.”
My breathing is fast. My mouth is dry. I can’t belong to another man, yet I can’t figure out how we are going to escape this situation. Perhaps I should have let Callum bite me, yet I have a feeling James would have found an excuse to take me anyway.
“I bit her and she survived,” says James. “Wolf law dictates that she is mine. She bears my mark. Unless you can say the same, you have no claim. Give her to me, or blood will be spilt.” His men raise their muskets. “Do the Wolves gathered here today really want to die for the sake of a cunt-struck alpha and the daughter of their enemy king?”
A few of Lochlan’s clan exchange whispers. I stiffen when the Wolf King turns his attention to me.
“Do you want to cause another war, Aurora?” asks James. “Do you want countless Wolves to die? Is that why you came to the Northlands? To stir up trouble between my brother and me on behalf of your father?”
Another murmur fills the whisky-scented air. I wonder if we have underestimated James. He has come here to turn Lochlan’s clan against Callum and me, to make them reconsider joining his ranks.
“You were the one who caused a war between us,
Brother,”
snarls Callum, “when you brutally attacked the woman I love.”
I breathe in sharply as the word love rattles around inside my chest. He has never said that to me before. I don’t have time to process it. The small child, Alfie, trembles as he hides behind Arran’s big bulk, and a decision builds inside me. We are outmatched. We have no weapons, and if Callum spills blood, his claim to the throne will be ruined due to the breach of wolf law. I don’t want to go with James, but I won’t let these people die for me.
Whatever happens, Callum will get me back.
“Oh, for the love of the Goddess.” Blake’s exasperated tone comes from behind me. He hooks an arm around my waist, and wrenches me against his chest. He brings his mouth to my ear as my breath catches in my throat. “I apologize for this, Aurora, darling.”
He sinks his teeth into my shoulder. Time slows down. I breathe in sharply, and jerk against him as he bites through my cloak. I arch my back, and pain flares through me as his canines penetrate my skin. I gasp.
Callum spins around, and the shock in his eyes is followed quickly by his wolf.
Shadows flood my body. The sound of dripping water fills my ears, and the taste of pine and parchment fills my mouth. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as a scalpel screeches against metal. A deep aching hunger consumes me. Far away, someone screams.
Blake releases me, and my knees almost buckle.
He steps past me and wipes my blood off his lips with the back of his hand.
“On this sacred night, with a priestess of the moon as my witness, I, Blake, alpha of Lowfell, claim Aurora as one of my clan.” His tone drips with sarcasm. “I seal the claim by marking her with my bite. From this night, until
Ghealach herself sees fit, Aurora is part of Lowfell and I her alpha. To dispute this claim is to break wolf law.”
Chapter Ten
I
‘m numb. An icy wave of adrenaline crashes through me. Everyone stares at me, and their faces blur. My shoulder is hot and wet, and it throbs in time with my elevated heartbeat. It takes a moment to process what just happened, what’s still happening.
James stands in the center of the stone circle. His men point muskets at us.
Blake just claimed me as his. His lips are stained red with my blood.
The wolf blazes in Callum’s eyes.
Violence radiates from every ridge of his body. The wind howls around him and makes his kilt flap against his thighs. His chest rises and falls deeply, but his expression is stony. It’s as if he’s battling the beast that rages inside him. Or perhaps he is deciding who to unleash it upon. He has turned his back on James. His full attention is consumed by Blake.
James smiles wickedly. “I suppose the matter of which alpha Aurora belongs to is settled then.” James gestures that his men lower their weapons. “We’ll respect wolf law and leave peacefully. No blood will be spilled tonight.”
James’s voice is amused. He doesn’t seem concerned to be leaving without me, and I’m filled with dread as I wonder if he wanted this to happen. Callum and Blake make a powerful, but fragile, alliance. Even though Callum has told me he doesn’t like the dominant, alpha side of himself, he’s protective of me. Blake biting me, hurting me, and claiming me as part of his clan could be enough to ruin their alliance.
James walks away. His steps are slow and unworried, as if he knows he has nothing to fear from us. His arrogance stirs the storm inside me, and I realize I’m shaking from anger, not shock. Anger at James, anger at Blake, anger at two males who bit me without my permission and think they have some form of ownership over me because of it.
On the other side of the circle, Lochlan leans against one of the jagged rocks, arms folded across his chest, eyes glinting with intrigue. From his expression, the alpha of Glas-Cladach could be watching a theatrical performance. James inclines his head as he passes.
“I’m surprised to see you here, Lochlan,” says James. “Your father would turn in his grave.”
Lochlan smiles. “As I was the one who put him there, that does not mean much to me.”
James releases a low chuckle. He nods at another male in yellow tartan with messy blond hair. “Ian, isn’t it? Have you heard from your brother lately? He was captured as part of the attack on Fort Dubh-Clach, wasn’t he?”
Ian’s face hardens. “What do you know of it?”
James shrugs. “I’ve heard he’s in the Borderlands dungeons, prisoner of their new lord. Did you know he’s offered to return any wolf prisoners to us in exchange for Aurora?” My blood stills. Ian’s face pales, and he brings his attention to me.
“I’m not the enemy,” continues James. He joins his men at the edge of the circle before turning. “Kneel before me, Brother. Apologize. I’ll pardon your treason and exile you to Highfell. Aurora will be used as I see fit in the real war against the south, but you have my word, I will not harm her.” His gaze slides to Blake, who smirks beside me. “Blake will be executed, of course-something you cannot deny will give you satisfaction. Do this, and we can put all this behind us. Refuse, and you will learn what it’s like to have me as your foe.”
Callum stands preternaturally still. His shoulders are taut beneath his coat, and his fists are clenched at his sides. “I’ll see you soon, Brother.” His voice is almost a growl.
James swallows, then walks away. His men follow. Silence stretches across the summit, and it feels as if everyone is holding their breath until they disappear from view.
A long breath escapes me. The relief that he is gone is short-lived. I feel Blake’s attention on me, and something wild in my chest rears its head.
I do not belong to anyone.
I am Princess Aurora of the Southlands.