Carnage in the Castle

Chapter 3

I am completely, utterly lost.

Rain falls around me heavily, and if I grew up anywhere but Blood Lake, the cold would have been debilitating.

Due to the tensions between Blood Lake and Crimson Shadow, I had never been to this part of the continent before, and my unfamiliarity with the area could easily become a problem. With any luck, I would cross into another pack's territory. Once I establish my identity as the Blood Alpha's sister, their Alpha would certainly provide me sanctuary, not wanting to incur the wrath of my family.

I could start over, make the Alpha promise to protect my true identity.

And if he didn't agree, I could kill him and take his pack for myself.

Of course, the last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself. The Lycan King will surely be looking for me, probably will visit Blood Lake trying time find me. The idea of him meeting my parents makes me smile.

My mother would have his head rolling before the snow hits the ground.

Or maybe he's already tracking your scent, a voice in my head protests.

It's unlikely he would be able to trace my scent with all of the rainfall, but I have no idea how strong Lycans' abilities are. I have been warned that they're stronger in every way.

Despite my worry over being caught by him, I press on through the rain, my fur completely soaking wet. It won't be long until I need to find shelter. Once I'm concealed, I can let my flames burn and warm myself, but I can't do that while I'm so exposed.

Strangely enough, I come across no wolves, rogue or in a pack.

Like something wards them off.

I can't deny that something in my gut twists. There's a smell I don't recognize, not human, wolf, nor Lycan.

Something else entirely.

My wolf doesn't like it, and neither do I, but I have no choice but to push further. I can't let the Lycan King catch me, not when I know my life will be destroyed when he does.

I had spent the entirety of my years alive under the control of my parents, and then my brother. Not in control of anything. Not territory, people, anything.
I couldn't deny that there's a large part of me that wants something of my own. The freedom to do what I want without someone looking over my shoulder, waiting for me to combust. The freedom to be my own King.

And that would not be an option if the Lycan King catches me.

Perhaps I will kill an Alpha and take the territory as my own.

That's the last thought I have before I feel something slam against my skull and darkness claims me instantly.

****

Woozy.

I feel woozy.

My head spins, and before I can even open my eyes, nausea overcomes me and I vomit.

It burns my throat badly, which can only mean I was dosed with wolfsbane, which explains why I feel so weak.

"Sorry," an accented voice apologizes. "I think I may have given you too high of a dose. You woke up rather quickly after the first one, so I increased the amount. Perhaps a little too much."

With great effort, I open my eyes, my vision blurred slightly, and I swallow the bile rising in my throat. A man stands in front of me, tall, lean, dark-haired, and pale-skinned.

He smells like the unfamiliar scent I caught in the woods.

"Are you from the Crimson Shadow pack?" he questions, sitting in a chair across from me.