Duke Charming | Craig

Thirty-Three

I always thought the slow-motion scenes in movies were ridiculous. Time didn't stand still when your eyes locked with your soulmate's, and it certainly didn't when lives were at risk. In fact, it sped up because adrenaline makes you move quicker. What usually felt like running a mile suddenly became a blur or happened in a blink of an eye.

Perhaps I just didn't understand it until now.

Time ticked by at a sluggish pace as we raced back to Craven Pride. I clung to my father's – uncle's – fur as he ran, the upcoming wind whipping back my hair and tearing up my eyes. Still, I felt like we were moving in slow motion. And I pleaded him several times to pick up the pace, to run just a little bit faster as though he wasn't pushing himself to the limit already.

And I knew he was. I've seen him move at the speed of light multiple times in my old pack. He was the fastest of them all, and younger me always dreamed of clinging to his back like I did now, and experience that speed for myself. Back then, I believed he could outrun the moon if he wanted to – and I still do.

But while the lives of my mate and family were at risk, being faster than time itself wasn't enough. I needed us to be there already.

The Goddess Three hasn't been that kind to me throughout my life, but once again, I was silently praying for her help. To actually slow down time, that we weren't too late, that Craig and everyone I cared about were safe, for Craven Pride just to appear in the distance already.

My heart elevated when it just so happened that one of my prayers were heard. As we reached the top of a hill, I spotted the castle and its lights gleaming out of the windows below. It was a magical sight at night.

We descended the hill; however, I sensed a resistance in my father's pace. This wasn't his territory and merely being here without invitation or backup was warning him to go back.

"We must keep going," I stressed, gripping onto his pelt. But the closer we got the castle, the slower he moved. "Dammit, father, the lives of my pack are at risk – the life of my mate. Go!"

But he stopped so abruptly at the gates, I was nearly thrown over his head had I not braced myself.

Seeing as we had stopped, I huffed in exasperated outrage. I knew the Balfour's territory was sacred and could ward off even the most determined wolves, but this was ridiculous. My father, the stoic and bitter alpha of his pack, couldn't look past the invisible barriers for one minute to help me save my people?

Scoffing, I slid off his back and landed on the ground. "Fine, I'll go by myself. It's not like I haven't done it for twelve years anyway."

Without sparing him a second glance, I sprinted down the driveway that led to the front entrance of the castle. The least he could do after stealing me and leading my real parents to their deaths, was help me protect the happiness I've found all by myself. I wouldn't ask anything of him again.

But as the front doors came into view, I figured I needed every ounce of energy and focus I could scrape together if I was going to play any role in stopping Dario. I couldn't afford to let my hurtful grudge against my father slow me down. He was my past and that's where he'll remain. All that mattered in this moment was protecting my family – my future.

The chilling weight of the atmosphere alerted me of danger before I could even step foot inside the castle. Dario was already here.

But if so, then why was everything so quiet?

I'd half-expect there to be chaos as that creature tore through these walls in pursuit of Lucine's revenge. Or, and as grim as the thought was, for a trail of bodies to lie scattered around.