𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬

𝐒 𝐈 𝐗 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐒 𝐄 𝐕 𝐄 𝐍 - Taken

Luwin

The tension in the castle was suffocating, pressing down on me like an invisible weight that I couldn't shake off. Every room I entered was filled with anxiety and whispers about the werewolf attacks. Arabella was distant, colder than I had seen her in weeks. I could feel the stress gnawing at her, consuming her thoughts. She had a kingdom to protect, and though I understood, it didn't make the growing gap between us any easier to bear.

I needed air.

The gardens had always been a place of solace for me, where the chaos of the world felt a little less intense. I could breathe out there, surrounded by nature, the flowers swaying gently in the breeze, the scent of roses and lavender calming my restless mind. As I wandered deeper into the gardens, I let myself get lost in the greenery, further and further from the castle and its oppressive atmosphere.

The sky was dimming as evening approached, the last rays of sunlight filtering through the trees at the edge of the garden. I walked near the woods, a quiet escape, my footsteps soft on the gravel path. The deeper I went, the more at ease I felt, until a strange sensation crept up my spine. It was subtle at first, like the prickling of goosebumps on my skin, but it grew into a nagging feeling that something was... off. Someone, or something, was watching me.

I stopped, glancing around. The trees loomed nearby, their shadows long and dark. Despite being turned into a vampire, I had yet to learn how to fully control my heightened senses. Arabella had promised to teach me, but with everything going on, those lessons had been put on hold. So I couldn't pinpoint the source of the feeling, but I knew it was there. Something, or someone, was nearby.

I brushed it off, telling myself I was just being paranoid. Maybe it was the stress, the unease that had settled over the kingdom. Shaking my head, I turned back toward the castle, eager to leave the eerie stillness behind.

But before I could take another step, something fast and massive barreled into me from the shadows, knocking me to the ground with a force that left me breathless. I hit the earth hard, the wind knocked out of my lungs as I tried to gather my bearings.

A low growl rumbled above me, and my heart stuttered in fear.

A werewolf.

My vision blurred for a second before it cleared, and I found myself staring up at a hulking, snarling figure. His eyes glowed with a dangerous light, and his claws dug into the dirt on either side of my head. His breath was hot and foul against my face as he leaned in closer, his lips pulling back into a cruel sneer.

"Look at this," he growled, his voice dripping with malice. "The Queen's little pet."

I swallowed hard, my body frozen beneath the weight of him. Fear clawed at my throat, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. He was enormous, his muscles rippling under his fur, his jaws wide enough to tear me apart. I had never been this close to a werewolf before, and the reality of how terrifying they were hit me full force.

"What do you want?" I managed to choke out, my voice shaking.

The werewolf snarled again, pressing his paw down on my chest, pinning me even harder into the ground. I winced in pain, trying not to cry out.

"What do I want?" he echoed, his sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. "I want to show your precious Queen what happens when she refuses to bow to her betters."

I struggled beneath him, but it was useless. He was too strong, too heavy. My mind raced, trying to think of a way out, but nothing came. I hadn't been trained to fight like Arabella. I wasn't ready for this.

"And you," he continued, his voice mocking, "you're going to help me do just that."

Before I could react, the werewolf yanked me up from the ground, throwing me over his shoulder like I was nothing more than a rag doll. I kicked and thrashed, trying to get free, but his grip was iron-clad. Panic surged through me as I realized what was happening, he was taking me.

"Let me go!" I shouted, pounding my fists against his back. "Arabella will kill you!"

He laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent chills down my spine. "Let her try."

The trees blurred as he ran through the woods, moving so fast that the world around me became a whirl of green and brown. My heart raced, fear gripping me tightly. I didn't know where he was taking me, but I had a sickening feeling I wouldn't like the answer.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally slowed. The trees parted, revealing a camp, a group of werewolves stood around, their eyes gleaming with malice as they saw us approach. And there, in the center of them, was a man. Alpha Donovan.

He was tall and imposing, with a cruel smile that twisted his features. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Well, well," he said, his voice smooth and menacing. "What do we have here? The Queen's little mate, all wrapped up and delivered to me."

The werewolf holding me threw me to the ground, and I landed hard, my body aching from the impact. I scrambled to my feet, glaring at Donovan.

"You'll regret this," I spat, though my voice wavered.

Donovan laughed, stepping closer. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, Arabella may be strong, but she has a weakness now. And that weakness is you."

I clenched my fists, my body shaking with a mixture of fear and rage. I had to get out of here, had to warn Arabella. But as Donovan stepped closer, I realized just how dangerous this man was.

And I wasn't sure if I would survive long enough to warn anyone.

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~ R