Like all other werewolves, the Alpha of the Silver City was no exception to the weakness of ego. A flaw fatal in his kind, and one I wish to exploit as I turn my back to the river. Letting him think I trust him enough not to turn into a beast, and drag me to his den to be his breeder whore. If only I had more time to discipline my body, to will the roots to plow into the ranks of armored beasts.
But to do it now, would spell my death. Leaving my people without a future connection to the gods and the earth. For my mother can only live for so long, an amount of time that would dwindle to nothing if her child was to die before her. Already the toll of commanding the massive root has bombarded my weary body. Depleting my energy, making it a miracle that I am still standing. Leaving me but a walking husk of flesh, bone, and honed muscle from years of hardship. The symbol of the heavy cost for a human's survival, in this world of beasts and prey.
The subtle sound of splashing water, stops me in my tracks as I make to join my fellow Marked on the top of the incline. Glancing up, I see Orlan's eyes uncharacteristically widen behind his mask, and for good reason. Stiffly, I turn around and find the black haired male from my vision, right next to the Alpha on my side of the rushing river. I fight the urge to go for the dagger under my cloak, even as the blue eyed beast closes the distance between us.
I order my body to still, especially as this king of beasts ushers my body to face his. By taking a single finger, and using it to move my chin up. Immediately, I feel a tug in my lower belly as I meet his gaze. Like in my vision, the scent of cold mountain water fills my nose as it wafts off his body. I close my eyes, calming my mind as flashes of images run through my head.
A blaze of red fire roaring through halls of tile and wood. Children screaming in pain and fright, trees rushing by, heavy with snow. Blood pooling onto briar bushes, while a woman in scarlet is dragged away from shadowed bodies on the ground. Empty rooms long covered in dust, paintings of a family in royal purple on age old walls. The haunting sounds of a child, crying over and over again. Repeating one single word, that chills me down to my bones.
"Lisa, Lisa!"
I force my eyes open, force myself to hold firm at the shroud of horror in the Alpha's face. He should be, my gift never lies to me. No matter how gruesome and horrendous the visions may be. I jerk away, swift and silent as I fight the tears trying to escape my eyes.
"You were there," I whisper, clenching my hands as I hear the Marked make their way down to me. "Weren't you?" My words quickly turning clipped as long buried rage boils over in my heart.
The Alpha's gaze turns dark as stone, irritation flickering in their depths. Spots of red clouding around the iris of his eyes, denoting the beast battling to gain control over his human form.
"Be carful how you address me mate," he growls, sliding his peicienf gaze down my form. "My wolf will take it as a challenge little seer, especially when we are questioned for what we don't know."
"Then it seems I must tell you then," I reply, straightening my shoulders in preparation for the beasts' reaction to my next words. "I saw a vision when our skin touched, and in the vision I glimpsed memories. Your memories, and in them was a woman dragged away from her family. While a child screamed and begged."
Recognition of the events, causes the Alpha to wrinkle his brow in confusion. As if not fully recalling the events, but I do. "What did the child scream?" he asks, his voice calm and cold as a mountain glacier.
"Lisa," I answer, failing to hide the quaking tremor in my voice. "The child screamed for her sister to come back, as she was dragged away from her family. My family."
I swallow hard and ignore the single tear trailing down my cheek. Weakness is something I cannot afford when dealing with this monster. No matter how harsh the next tug in my stomach is, or how the Alpha's expression changes to mirror that of a pup newly kicked in its side.
"Poor little mate," he croons, again reaching for me and cupping my cheek with his large hand. "It was not my intention to cause you more pain, but now I know what troubles you." His words are like punch to the gut, utterly devoid of the true cause of my pain.
"Thank you Alpha King," I reply, slowly removing his hand from my cheek and letting him enclose it in his fist. "But I still cannot be your mate, unless I'm proven wrong." I choose my words carefully, giving the monster hope. A lie cloaked in pretty promises and hidden threats.
"Then let us see who else among my knights has found their other half," the Alpha answers, letting go of my hand and stalking back over to the rivers edge. Immediately when he leaves my side, my fellow Marked appear behind me. Amira eying me with concern through the slots in her mask. Holding my own raven skull one in her slim, yet callused and scarred hands. With shaking palms, I take the mask from her and place it back on. Hiding my face of warring emotions, as the alpha begins the process of the most grueling challenge of my life.
YOU ARE READING
Forest of Lies
WerewolfA thousand years past, the world was run by humankind. But it changed, when countries became embroiled in a war that gave the werewolves the opportunity, to recreate the earth in their own image. Now humans are the lowest on the food chain, little m...
