Captives

Greg’s POV

Anna took a deep breath, as if gathering the strength to lay bare the truth. “It all started when your brother, King Cole, invaded my homeland. My clan—the Snow Fox Clan—had lived peacefully in the northern mountains for centuries. We kept to ourselves, hidden away from the wars and politics of the other packs. But Cole… he changed everything.”

I listened closely, my jaw tightening as I sensed where this story was going. Cole’s conquests were legendary, his ambition boundless. But hearing it from Anna’s perspective, from someone who had suffered because of his ruthless ambition, made it all the more real.

“He wanted our land, our resources, and our loyalty,” Anna continued, her voice trembling with the memories. “At first, our leaders refused. We had no reason to join his growing kingdom, and we didn’t want to get involved in the endless power struggles between packs. After all, we were foxes and he was a wolf, there was nothing to keep us together. But Cole… he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.”

She paused, staring off into the distance as if reliving those dark moments. “He sent his soldiers to our village under the cover of night. They burned our homes, killed our warriors, and captured those of us who survived. Our leaders were forced to kneel before him, swearing allegiance to the King. And those who refused… well, they were made examples of.”

My blood boiled as I listened. It wasn’t just another conquest to Cole; it was an act of domination, a reminder of his absolute power. “So that’s how he got your clan to bend the knee,” I said bitterly. “And how he got you to spy on me.”

Anna nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. “My brother, the rightful leader of our clan, was taken hostage. He’s being held somewhere deep within your brother’s fortress, and Cole’s using him as leverage to ensure my loyalty. If I fail in my mission, if I don’t report every little detail about you… then my brother’s life is gone.”

I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of anger toward Cole. My own brother had used a family’s bond against them, manipulating Anna into betraying me. It was a cruel tactic, one that made me see Cole not just as a rival, but as something darker—something sinister.

“Your brother’s life is at stake, and Cole is holding the reins,” I said, the disgust evident in my voice. “And he’s using you to watch my every move.”

“Yes,” Anna replied, her voice breaking. “I never wanted this, Greg. I didn’t ask for any of it. But Cole’s made it clear that if I don’t do exactly as he says, my brother will die. And my clan… they’ll be left without a leader, scattered and powerless.”

I stared at her, seeing the pain in her eyes. She was caught in a web of deceit and fear, trapped by my brother’s manipulations. It was then that I realized how far Cole was willing to go to maintain his control—not just over his enemies, but over his own blood. He had positioned Anna between us, using her as a tool, not caring about the consequences or the lives he was destroying.

“Anna, you’re not the villain here,” I said, my voice softening as I reached out to touch her face. “Cole is. He’s the one pulling the strings, and he’s the one who’s put you in this impossible position.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into my touch as if drawing strength from it. “I wish I could change things. I wish I could just walk away from all of this. But Cole’s hold over me… it’s unbreakable. If he finds out about us, if he even suspects that I’ve stopped being loyal to him, it’s over for me—and my brother. My people too.”

The thought of losing her, of Cole punishing her for what we had, filled me with a fury I could barely contain. But more than that, it filled me with a resolve. I wasn’t going to let Cole continue to manipulate us, to use Anna as a pawn in his twisted game.

“I won’t let that happen,” I said firmly. “I don’t care what Cole thinks he can control. We’re going to find a way to get your brother and your people out of his grasp, and we’re going to do it together.”

Anna looked at me, her eyes wide with both hope and fear. “Greg, you can’t just defy him. He’s the king. He has all the power.”

“He’s not invincible,” I replied, determination coursing through me. “He’s just one man, and he’s only as powerful as the fear he instills in others. But he doesn’t scare me, Anna. And he shouldn’t scare you.”

A flicker of defiance sparked in her eyes, the same fire that I had seen when we first met. She was strong, far stronger than she gave herself credit for, and it was that strength that had drawn me to her in the first place. She wasn’t just a spy or a captive—she was a survivor.

“What do we do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“We start by making sure Cole doesn’t find out about us,” I said, thinking quickly. “We keep playing our roles. You keep reporting back to him, telling him whatever he wants to hear. But when the time is right, we strike. We get your brother out, and we expose Cole for the monster he really is.”

Anna nodded, the resolve in her eyes growing stronger. “I’ll do whatever it takes. For my brother… and for us.”

I pulled her close, pressing my forehead against hers. “We’re in this together, Anna. And I promise you, we’re going to win.”

The path ahead of us was treacherous, but I wasn’t about to back down. Not when so much was at stake.

Cole had underestimated me, thinking I was just another pawn he could manipulate. But he was wrong. I was done playing by his rules, and I was done being the prince who simply followed orders.

With Anna by my side, we would find a way to bring Cole’s empire crashing down. And when that day came, the world would see the truth: that even kings can fall, and that sometimes, the greatest strength comes from the most unexpected places.

I held Anna close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine as we lay back down.

The moon continued its slow climb across the sky, and as the darkness deepened, so did my resolve. Anna’s story had only confirmed what I had long suspected: my brother was not just a ruler—he was a tyrant, and his reign needed to end.