Forest of Lies

Chapter 13-A Perilous Position

😈After all the asking for another update here it is. Hope y'all enjoy, I should have more written once I get the prequel done. It's called Ghost of the Alpha, a definite murder revenge thriller kind of book and it's almost finished if y'all want to read that if you so choose. 🖤
————————————————————————

It's wasn't long before the wolf priestess and my mother strolled on into the tent. A gust of chill autumn wind making its way inside, sending goose flesh along my exposed back as I sit up amongst the warm furs. Immediately, Mother wraps me in her arms, her fox fur cloak warming my cheeks as she embraces me tightly. I don't hold back the tears that race from my eyes and neither does she.

"I am here, my little cub," Mother croons, brushing back my tangled hair with her gentle fingers that smell of lavender, mint, and the rich pungent scent of aged herbs. "All is well, all is well my dearest one."

I listen to the braziers crackling. The wolfen preistess mixing, grinding, and stirring whatever concoction she believes to make me well. I hear the wind whip through the canvas opening of the Alpha King's tent. Grass crunching underfoot as the familiar forms of my fellow Marked file on in to the coal lit shelter. I cast my gaze across each of them, no bruises nor other wounds they themselves could have inflicted are visible. All are clean, all are well rested despite our circumstances, but most of all they have been allowed to keep their Tenebrae garments and cloaks. A strange sight indeed.

"I'm glad to see you all unharmed," I croak out, letting Mother release me so Amira can wrap her slim arms around me in a viselike hold. "What of you, Lupus Venator? How have you fared?"

With solemn dark eyes she gently takes one of my hands, patting with comforting softness. "I am the youngest amongst us," she begins, fiddling one of her braids with slim twitching fingers. "The Axe thought it best for me, and for the other girls, to stay in a tent of our own. He said that I am too young to be mated, and asked the Alpha King to make me your ward until I am old enough to fulfill my duties in the mating bed."

"Good, that's good," I whisper, opening my arms and beckoning Amira into my hold, gently running my hand down her soft hair. "I will do everything in my power to keep us all together. Perhaps, the Alpha King will let you all be part of my personal guard, I wouldn't doubt he will have me assigned one. It may take some convincing, but you are all already mates to his trusted warriors, he will have no excuse to not let us stay together."

The rest of the Marked nod in unison at my declaration. Ersa steps forward then, pulling Amira out of my arms, before shuffling off with the others out of the tent. The Priestess ambles over towards me, a wooden bowl slightly steaming in her hands, the smell of wild herbs and plants slowly invading my nostrils.

"Drink this my Queen," she utters handing the bowl to me, stepping aside one I have it settled onto my lap. "It will help fight off any residual chill and get your strength back up. You will need it after all that you had been through last night."

Without another word, she too leaves the tent. Her robes fluttering in her wake, steps light along the ground, the tent flap barely making a sound as she parts the well made canvas. Leaving mother and me finally alone.

"Thank the gods were are finally left in peace," Mother sighs, fluttering over to me, enveloping me in the safety of her thin but strong loving arms. Stroking my hair, covering my forehead in brisk kisses before pulling back so that both our gazes are level. "Now there is much you need to know before I must leave you. So listen well child of my blood and body. The village is safe, all are safely in their homes and shall soon be relieved of worrying about the next tithe thanks to you my brave daughter. However, you still have much to do once you arrive in the Silver city."

Mother pauses her speaking, checking throughout the tent, listening for the steps and sounds of someone listing in on what she has to tell me next. When she is satisfied, she continues with the knowledge that I sense she has kept from me for years. Only now, at my most vulnerable and desperate time, will I finally learn what it is.

"There is more to your gift, my little cub," she whispers to me, pulling me into her arms once again. Her mouth moving next to the shell of my ear. Spilling secrets that no one else shall ever know about, unless I choose to impart it to them. "You, by way of your father, have to power to summon the darkest magic known to man and beast. Long ago, your ancestor, her name long since forgotten, used the same dark arts to bind one of those wolfen beasts to her will. I tell you this so you may search for how to unleash it inside you. To do what you must to avenge our people. Our family."

I feel stiff as a petrified log as she pulls away from me abruptly. Our heads in tandem turning at the sound of approaching soldiers, and the heavy trees of my beastial royal mate. "I promise Mother," I whisper back, not even flinching when the tent flap opens to reveal the face of the very same monster that now has claimed me as his property. "I promise to remember all that you have taught me."

And I would use it all, so that one day the head of King Evander would be proudly displayed upon our hut's wall.