Chapter Three (3)

"Shift"

His voice was deep and authoritative. It didn't phase me a bit but I felt Conan tense a little beside me. I could tell he didn't like authoritative figures as it may have brought back traumatic memories.

I nudged him softly with my nose and he looked at me. I licked his face in a confronting manner.

"I said shift, Rogues!" The man's voice boomed and the wolves behind him growled to emphasize his words. I rolled my eyes at the but proceeded to shift.

Conan followed suit. Their eyes lingered on me for far too long to be considered polite.

"Why are you trespassing on our land?" He asked. He seemed a little angry than before.

"We were hunting and our prey led us to your land. We didn't realize quick enough due to the fog," I explained, my voice firm but polite.

He seemed to assess me for a while, his eyes raking over me, barely sparing Conan behind me a glance.

"Shackle them and escort them to the prisons," I huffed but made no other sound of protest. I wasn't surprised. Packs really hated rogues. Mercy and kindness was never an option on the table for even the most innocent rogues.

Conan growled and I turned to him, placing my hands in his chest to calm him. "Don't worry, I got this. Don't do anything silly. Just wait for me okay?" I whispered.

I saw four of the shifter wolves walk over towards us, holding something shiny in their gloved hands.

"Okay" he nodded. I saw the fear and uncertainty swim in his eyes and I rubbed his chest, trying to comfort him while punching away the guilt I felt for dragging him here.

The four men approached us, two grabbing each of my arms while the other two grabbed Conan. They held the silver restraints and I saw the panic in his eyes. He began struggling and my heart broke for him.

"Conan please don't hurt yourself," I whispered. The men cuffed and collared him tightly just as they did with me. The collar was connected to the cuffs and was made of silver. While the metal was soft and malleable under werewolf strength, silver was lethal and burnt werewolves if it contacts with them in any form.

I felt my blood boil as they shoved us both to walk. The smell of burning flesh and pained hisses and grunts coming from Conan spiked my ever growing rage. I fought to remain calm, remembering Diana's words.

I would wait.

I would hide until the perfect time to hatch my plan.

We walked for what seemed like miles before I heard the sound of chatter and other sounds normally associated with large groups of people. We had arrived at the pack grounds.

Looking around, the place was beautiful. It was a like a winter wonderland. Houses and homes were built like cabins with thick blankets of snow coating the ground. Icicles gleamed and glinted under the winter sun and I could see a frozen lake not too far off.

As we walked closer, conversations ceased and everyone hushed. Everyone stopped to stare, watching us with wide eyes, some disgusted, some curious.

While most of the wolves had pulled on some clothes after shifted, we were left as naked as the day we were born. It was a humiliation tactic most pack use, though it didn't particularly bother me.

I caught several people's eyes, holding it until they broke away from my uncomfortable gaze.

We were headed to the largest building, the structure easily standing out. It was clearly the pack house. The architecture would have been better appreciated by me had I not been cuffed and collared like an animal.

We were shoved into the building, entering a nice foyer with a chandelier hanging from above. The force of the shove, coupled with our restrained hands meant we fell onto the ground, only just managing to stop myself form face planting into the ground.

They stood above us, arms clasped behind their backs, faces impressive and body tense. They hadn't spoken a single word during the journey though I suspected they may have having conversations through their pack link and I wondered what they were all waiting for.

A hiss had me turning back to Conan. I scooted closer to him, cradling his face, wiping away the sweat at his hairline. His eyes were scrunched in pain and I could see the raw and red skin under the cuffs and collars.

"I am so sorry. I promise I will sort this out," I whispered into his ear as I leaned closer to him. He let out a shaky breath, as he was in too much pain to respond verbally. "I have the perfect place and you're going to love it. Just hold on for me," I smoothed his dark hair away from his eyes, hugging him closer to my body.

I tried alleviating his pain as best as u could.

I felt him sigh against my neck.

Hearing footsteps approaching fast, I snapped my eyes open to see a large male towards us. I cradled Conan closer to me, not wanting him to be disturbed.

He stopped just before Conan and I on the floor. My eyes trailed up from his thick muscular jean clad legs up to his marrow hips. A grey shirt adorned his body, covering his powerful and corded muscles. His hands were clenched by his hips, showing off veins and impressive muscle.

My eyes finally trailed up to his god-like face.

He had pitch black hair and brows which contrasted greatly against his flawlessly pale skin. His face was sharp with high cheekbones and strong jaw. His lips were pressed into a thin line.

But all that was nothing compared to is electric blue eyes.

They were a startling pale blue, almost glowing with how bright they were. They seemed to stare straight through me, reading my soul.

I inhaled sharply, stopping short when I caught the most heavenly aroma. He had an underlying smell of pine and fresh rain, reminding me instantly of the enchanting forest I had back in the south. It wrapped nicely with the sweet and spicy scent of cinnamon with a hint of fresh linen.

It was such an interesting mix of smell and was intoxicating.

After one or two glances I completely lost interest in him.

Conan who was asleep at the time he came started squirming in my arms, waking up from the painless slumber I had put him in.

A feral growl had me snapping my attention back to the man above me. He had his sharp canines bared, his eyes fixed on the male in my arms. I held him closer to me, hissing back at him making him feel a bit pressure.

"Well shit!" the loud booming sound from earlier snorted. Turning back, I saw the older male with the blonde hair male from earlier in the forest. I wondered where he had gone.

He was chuckling to himself, pushing past the guards to stand beside the man above me, slapping his back loudly.

"Congratulations, Son. I thought this day would never come," he laughed. Son?

The resemblance was uncanny, the only difference being the son having black and more hooded eyes.

"Get her some clothes!" the older man barked, sending a nearby maid scuttling. A moment, the maid returned with a cotton dress in her hands.

"Dress," the silent man commanded. Had it not been for the demanding and harsh tone behind his words, I would have silently appreciated how deep and smooth his voice sounded. Before I could protest, the clothing was being thrown at me. It hit me in the chest and fell on Conan's head. I quickly threw it to the side.

And for the first time since I entered the pack I uttered my first words.

"I can't. I'm cuffed," I growled back.

"^_^"