Chapter 4 Invaded

*Varek*

"What do you mean he refuses?"

My messenger, a man I've known for years and highly trust, Darco stands before me, his back ramrod straight as he delivers the information he's gathered from Alpha King Alden. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but that was what he said. He explained that he is happy to correspond through letters regarding your terms for peace, but he does not want you inside of the castle."

Anger boils through my blood as I stare down at Darco. It's in times like these when I fully understand the importance of the phrase, "Don't shoot the messenger." Or in this case, don't tear the messenger limb from limb. It's not his fault Alpha King Alden is an idiotic asshole.

"Fine," I bark. "If he won't allow me inside to negotiate like real men, then we'll just come inside anyway."

Behind me, I hear a shrill laugh from Lucian who is always excited to coat his tongue in blood. "That's what I've been waiting to hear," my cousin barks.

"Get the men ready," I tell the commanders standing in the war tent with me. "We move at dawn."

"Your Majesty, there's no guarantee that the troops moving in from the west will be here by then," an advisor says.

I spear him with my eyes. "It doesn't matter. We will take the castle without them."

"Yes... sir," he says meekly, and then he's off with the commanders to ensure our warriors are ready to go when the sun first begins to rise–in about twelve hours.

As soon as the tent empties out, my Beta, Ronan, approaches me. "What are your plans once we get in there?"

"It's quite simple, isn't it? He's afraid I'm after his daughter. I have no reason to think that she's a good political prisoner to take, but she's mine now. We will also hold the king hostage in his own home until he agrees to give us the territory we're asking for. It's too far north to be of any use to him, and no one lives there anyway."

"At our last count, there were four villages with a total of about two hundred residents," Ronana reminds me.

I roll my eyes. "That's no one." I was already aware of the statistic. We have tens of thousands of pack members. A couple of hundred on the outskirts of the kingdom will make no difference. Besides, my information tells me that land is rich in minerals, possibly even moonstones, so I want it. If Alden is too stupid to use it to better his kingdom, he doesn't deserve to have it.

For the next few hours, I pore over the map of the castle I've obtained from someone who used to work there. It's a roughly drawn illustration, but if it's correct, it will be useful. I know where the war room is, the throne room, and the royal family's private chambers. I also know that there's a tunnel beneath the castle that allegedly leads to a safe room located a few stories below the castle and tucked into the mountains south of here.

It doesn't matter where she hides. I will find her.

***

*Fiona*

The howling begins before the sun even rises. I fly out of bed, already dressed, and shove my feet into my boots to go investigate. Not that I plan on staying in my human form if those howls mean what I think they do, but I may need my hands to help me get through doors, so I'll stay a human as long as I can.

Out in the hallway, the servants are scurrying about. Nobles are crying and heading for the stairwell. I look around, bewildered, and then run to the nearest window that looks out on the gates.

The gates are standing wide open, and the Caldaran Army is pouring through.

"Oh, Goddess!" I mutter. Our line of defense is crumbling, the wolves taking off running in all different directions as a mass of dark wolves attacks. I hear the anguished yelps and cries. Our army is being slaughtered.

I take the stairs as fast as I can, using the mind-link to search for my father. "Where are you?" I cry. He doesn't answer me right away. Thankfully, Elara is already moved to the safe room well beneath the castle, but I still worry for my father.

When he finally does reply to my message, I can hear the desperation in his voice, even through the mind-link. "Head to the tunnel, Fiona!" Father shouts into my head. "Save yourself, daughter!"

I cannot simply run away, not when so many of our people are dying. Instead, I move toward the front of the castle.

But the onslaught of retreating wolves almost crushes me. I press against the wall. Hundreds of them come rushing inside. A few shift and shout to the guards at the door to close and lock it, but they are too late. Dark wolves chase our forces into the castle. I suppose they would've found a way in no matter what.

They look absolutely unstoppable.

I watch as one of our warriors is shredded by a large black wolf right before my eyes. I cover my mouth with my hands to stifle a scream and press myself tighter against the wall, hoping that they will rush past me. I consider shifting, trying to fight, but there are just too many of them, and I would be killed in an instant.

I'm just about to attempt to run back toward the stairs when a monstrosity catches my eye. An enormous wolf the color of the night sky between the stars, clambers through the door. He's almost too wide to fit. I've never seen a wolf that big in my life. His teeth are dripping with blood, and his dark eyes shine like polished obsidian.

His gaze lands on me... and I can't move. I'm pinned to the wall.

The path clears for him, and he stalks right over to me. Standing in front of me, he towers over me, and I have to tip my head so far up to look at him, I can barely keep from falling over.

"Wh-whatever you want..." I begin, "I'll give it to you. Just... please... stop hurting my people."

He inclines his head slightly to the side, as if he's trying to figure out who I am. Then, a deep reverberating sound echoes from his throat. I've never heard a wolf make that sound before, but I know immediately what it is.

He's laughing at me.