Chapter 67-

Ayla:
I startle awake when I hear sorrowful howling. Living with Oriel and Irvin and spending time with the wolf shifters at the yearly harvest festivals has me familiar with them calling out to each other this way, but I have never heard such a desperate sound and it scares me. I slip my shoes on and open my door to find chaos. Maids and soldiers are running through the halls in panic. I grab the hand of one of the maids to get her attention, the men in armor with weapons intimidate me but I need to know what’s happening. “What’s going on?” “No one can find her majesty and there is talk of an enemy army that has set up camp near the castle.” “Where is my uncle?” “Downstairs my lady, if you know where the princess might be please tell him right away, we are all scared for what might happen if we don’t find her.”
I run down to the kitchens where I know she had meant to go when I hear it, I know it’s him. His howl is fierce and angry, it sends chills down my spine. I thought I had more time before he came. I am torn between the desire to hide and the need to know that my dearest friend is not in harms way. I push through the fear threatening to paralyze me and find my uncle and Darius outside near the garden. “Uncle Rowen I just heard that Oriel is missing. Please tell me she’s okay.” When I see Rowen’s red eyes blazing in anger and his fangs drawn, I shrink back, he has always been so kind to me but right now he looks so much like my father that I want to disappear. Darius must sense my fear because he draws me into a tight embrace and whispers in my ear. “We can’t find Oriel and believe she was taken by our enemy; we must be strong for her and for Rowen. Your uncle would never hurt you; he is just not himself right now.” I hear the chorus of howls that have joined his and they are much much closer now, I can feel his anger burning me up inside. It is suddenly hard to breathe, and I can’t stop shaking. “Ayla are you okay? Did something happen? You are safe I promise.” “I…I…Oriel and I were together making sure the guest wing was ready…” It is so hard to force the words from my mouth when every second I can feel him getting closer, it feels like he can see me and that makes me want to run, but I must tell Darius about Maddie. If something happened to Oriel she might be involved. I told Oriel that someone with much hatred being so close was dangerous, but I know she wanted to give her the chance to redeem herself. I love that about Oriel, although she is fierce, she cares about others and wants to see the best in people. “It’s okay Ayla then what happened.” I take a deep breath to steady myself and then tell Darius about Oriel going to the kitchens and my suspicion about Maddie and her previous actions. “Did you say her name was Maddie? What exactly does she look like?” When I describe the lovely young maid Darius curses and I flinch, he hugs me tight again, stroking my hair. “Shhhh you did good. We will get her back.” Out of everyone in the castle he hated me the most and for a long time but now he has become like a brother to me. I start to calm down, safe in the embrace of someone who cares for me knowing that I was at least able to share my suspicions. Any sense of safety I had just felt is quickly ripped away when I hear his low, menacing voice. “Take your fucking hands off of her bloodsucker. You shouldn’t touch things that don’t belong to you.” I shrink back behind Darius who shares a look of confusion with Rowen. My uncle steps forward blocking Darius and I from Apollo’s view. “You will show respect to my niece and heir.” Some of the fear that Apollo’s overbearing presence brings fades when my uncle stands in my defense. Conflict always makes me want to run or disappear but the need to know what’s going on with my friend overrides that reaction. It seems Apollo’s need to threaten me has taken a back burner as well when he backs off and joins his fathers, although I still feel his eyes burning into me. I peer from behind the safety of Darius’s back, and I see the other warriors from Oriels pack shifting into their human forms like Apollo has. They must have a lot of faith in Rowen to change into their more vulnerable state, it shows just how much progress has truly been made already. I just hope things can continue to get better and that Oriel will make it home safely to see the world she and Rowen are building.
The warriors who stayed in human form ride up on horses and start handing the shifter men clothes. I know male nudity is common in packs since clothing can’t be worn in wolf form, they either have to strip before changing or their garments are shredded during the shift. My cheeks flush bright pink when I see the naked bodies of the large men standing before me. I quickly move my eyes to the ground, so they don’t see me looking and get the wrong idea. Mostly so he doesn’t get the wrong idea. My uncle’s voice booms out in the crowd that has now formed around us. “Thank you for coming to our aid. Our time of celebration has turned to war. Lord Hoffer and his men have set up camp near here. Our first messenger was killed and the second returned with a note nailed into his chest. A group of nobles have declared war on my coven in protest to our new alliance and laws that have been put into place to restrict our interaction with humans. They have captured Oriel and threatened to kill her if I don’t offer the crown to Liam Hoffer, Lord Hoffers youngest son. I am to meet them at dusk with my reply.” The pack Alpha speaks out. “We will fight alongside of you and your men. I won’t allow them to threaten my daughter, or her mates and we certainly won’t let them destroy all that she has built up.” “Agreed, but we need to make sure that we go about it the right way. This man will do anything to get the power he so desperately craves, including killing an innocent woman.” The sounds of angry growls make me shrink back behind Darius.
Rowen:
My best friend and lover moves Ayla so that she is hidden behind me before he speaks out. “I have a plan that just might work.” I nod but my gut turns, I have an idea of what he is going to suggest, and I already don’t like it. “They don’t know that our shifter brothers have joined us early, we should use this advantage. They could hide in wolf from in the forest that boarders the back of their encampment. Ayla and I will enter the camp pretending to join Lord Hoffers cause. I will tell him that I am jealous that you have moved on with Oriel and I have decided to move on as well. I will make him believe I have come to hate you and we.” He grabs Ayla’s hand and pulls her from behind my back, and her face goes so pale that her pink lips look like they were painted on. “We will tell them that Ayla is my chosen mate and that we plan to take the crown for ourselves. Since Ayla is Marcus’s only child the nobles will accept her, and my father will have the position he has always wanted, a child of his on the throne. While I have my father and the nobles in discussion of how we are going to usurp the throne that’s when the shifters attack the back of the camp. While they move to fight the shifters, I can use the distraction to kill my father and Ayla can escape with Oriel. King Rowen you and your men can then move forward to the front of the camp, getting Ayla and Oriel to safety while the soldiers surround the rest of the camp. With their leader dead and the camp surrounded they will be forced to surrender.”
This is what I was afraid of, I knew he would want to be the one to kill his father and I understand but it puts everyone I love and hold dear in grave danger. I see Irvin pacing back and forth still in his wolf form but listening intently. I look to him and after pacing for a few more minutes he nods. I know this is the best plan, but it scares me. “What do you think Alpha?” James and his brother have a small conversation without even speaking just as he goes to speak his son, the one who took issue with my niece earlier shouts. “Ayla is not stepping foot into that camp. It’s far too dangerous and look at her wide eyed and shaking like a leaf. There is no way they will believe her, send another woman in. I won’t have my sister killed because she can’t do her job.” I flash my fangs at Apollo, his clear distain for my beautiful niece is unacceptable. His father puts a hand on his shoulder and squeezes pulling him back behind him. James must sense my growing anger and short temper. “The blood that flows through Ayla is the blood of ancient royalty. The only way this plan will work and the only way the nobles will accept them entering the camp is because of her. She has shown nothing but loyalty and love for Oriel and despite her reserved demeanor she holds more power than you can imagine.” I pointedly look at Apollo, there is something else going on I can feel it, but I don’t have time to deal with whatever it is right now. Oriel is in danger, and I will do anything in my power to rescue her. I grab Ayla’s hand, turning to her so that we are blocked from the rest of the group. Her beautiful blue eyes are filled with fear and determination, I lean in close so that only she can hear me. “Will you be okay? Can you do this for me?” “I won’t fail you or Oriel, I promise.” I kiss the crown of her head and turn back to the men. “We will need to leave in the next hour to get everyone in place, lets hammer out the details.”
Oriel:
I slowly open my eyes and my head spins. My vision is blurry, and my body feels so heavy, I go to stand but the clanking of heavy, cold steel stops me. Panic floods my body and without thinking I begin to thrash about. Pain radiates through my arms as I try to free myself. My hands and feet are chained to a large tree with my arms positioned over my head and my feet chained behind me so that I sit on my aching knees. I immediately stop my escape attempt when I hear cruel laughter fill the air. I am surrounded by red tents and soldiers that I have never seen before. They seem to take enjoyment in my humiliation. I gather all the fear bubbling up inside me and smash it down. I need to figure out who has taken me and why. Where is Irvin, Rowen, Darius? I need to stay alive long enough for them to find me. With the remaining courage I have mustered up I raise my chin high making eye contact with one of the men I presume is guarding me. “I demand to speak to whoever is in charge.” A tall, older man with long snow-white hair comes out of the tent with a younger man who shares his features, they come to the tree that has become my prison. When his dark eyes meet mine, I realize I know exactly who has taken me, I instantly hate him not for chaining me up like an animal but for all the pain he has inflicted on my gentle lover. “Ahhh the bitch has finally woken up huh? We have heard that you mean to be our coven queen, but you see we have found you wanting. I simply can’t allow our young king to sully himself with you. He will make his choice tonight, if he wants his bitch back, he will have to give the crown to someone more worthy.” I hold my head high and smile at him, chuckling softly. “Enjoy the sunset Lord Hoffer, it will be your last.”