Forever Yours

TWENTY

Roxy couldn't grapple a single thought in her chaotic mind as she sat on the leather backseat of a Lincoln Navigator, her already nauseas stomach rolling with each sweeping bend the vehicle took around the mountainside. She tried to take in the beauty of the Snowy Peaks Region around her through the tinted window. She wished she could allow a smile of awe to fill her face at the sight of spruce trees rolling on for miles in a sea of mountainous waves. The tops of the mountain peaks, not too much higher from where the car now travelled, were hidden by fluffy clouds. But something which had always come so naturally to her, smiling, now evaded her. Even her facial muscles seemed to have forgotten what it felt like to stretch themselves in an expression of happiness. The worries which had consumed her in the week since she'd agreed to this journey hadn't allowed her a moment of joy since.

What if they were being tricked? What if the royals knew of Isaac's curse? What if they'd walked straight into a trap? What if they executed him, her and every other werewolf which knew of the venom flowing through his veins? The royals were renown for being secretive. Not even the elite hierarchy of werewolves had seen their faces nor the territory. Letters in scrawling handwriting, stamped with the wax seal of the Royal Eclipse pack and delivered by gloved hands in the cover of night was how they communicated.

Roxy's wolf trembled with fear inside of her, cowering into the shadows of her human camouflage. What made them any different? Why were the intensely private royals allowing four strangers onto their territory? Although she was family, they didn't know each other from a bar of soap. At least, she didn't know them. Despite being hidden away, the royals were always keeping their eyes on the wolves they ruled. What if they were never allowed to return home to their packs, forced to stay within the Royal Eclipse territory with the fear of their secrets being spilt? Her breath hitched, and not just from the now limited oxygen as the car ascended the mountain.

Sensing her nervousness, Isaac's fingers curled around hers which were placed between them tighter. Roxy basked in the comfort he provided, despite things still rocky between them, and squeezed his hand back. For the duration of the past week she'd known she'd been difficult. While she was still heartbroken by the life-changing secrets he'd kept, she'd used him for comfort in the tumultuous times. His presence alone was the only way to calm her panic attacks and her wolf which had constantly paced about, the both of them anxious about the trip they'd stupidly agreed to. Roxy was sending Isaac all sorts of mixed signals, being hot and cold, toying with his emotions and heart. During the day, when she'd been kept busy with the tasks of running the pack she barely acknowledged his existence. Then of a night when there was no distractions to her thoughts she would cuddle into him, using his warmth to help soothe her cries. And too afraid to push her away further, Isaac allowed himself to be used.

Their once strong relationship was suddenly a mess and Roxy had no idea how they were going to move past it, to get back to the way they'd once been. The both of them knew all too well time was no longer on their side. Moving her fingers against his, she noticed at how sweaty his skin was. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, guilt suffocated her as she took in his sickly appearance. She should never have guilt-tripped him into coming. She should never have put him at risk of being amongst the werewolves who would no doubt kill him if they discovered what he was. Being an Alpha of an original pack, they knew of the notoriously powerful Isaac Winters well. They would be suspicious of the fact that an Alpha once so strong was now suddenly on the verge of death. They could say he had all sorts of sickness, but with his werewolf immunity, let alone one of an original Alpha, it just wouldn't make sense.

She'd sent him onto a hunting ground as a bullseye.

'I think you should return home once we arrive,' said Roxy quietly, sceptical of just how soundproof the screen which separated them from the driver was.