Chapter 85

Dylan POV

"So, Why did you decide to help me?" I finally managed to ask Ryan Clarke as I walked out from behind a tree after doing my business.

We'd been traveling for little over 14 hours altogether and it was tedious to say the least. My 'disappearance' as King Josh so eloquently described it, was all over the news. The car radio blurred out for most of the journey and luckily I was able to hear bits of it from inside the back of the truck.

The king, seemed to be under the complete delusion that Radicals, and rebels were behind my reported kidnap. Oh yes, in his strange, warped little mind, Poor defenseless me, was stolen away by members of the rebellion to be used as leverage against the crown, even though I knew the king was fully aware that I left of my own accord.

In fact, most of the worlds population knew I left of my own volition. Not to mention that I was the prime suspect in the burning of the districts main whipping post. The news anchor said herself that she wouldn't be surprised if I was behind the arson attack.

"The main reason I had to help you is, simply put, that we need you. Do you know how many people have been seeking us out since you've been claimed? Especially after your little speech last week. Your words hold meaning, Riley, you need to start putting them to good use." My words are what got my mom killed, they are what made me take lashing after lashing. I was a fool when it came to my words. The king hadn't silenced me completely, but I would be very wary about the words that I spoke from now on.

"I don't think I'll be making any speeches any time soon, Clarke." I sighed looking at the truck I would once again have to climb in. I would be genuinely happy if I never had to set foot in any form of moving vehicle again. "Once I get to the rebellion, I intend to just keep my head down, I don't want trouble."

"If you meant that, then you wouldn't have burnt the stage down." He chuckled and looked at me with pity and sorrow clouding his features. It was a look I was far too familiar with and it was a look I really hated seeing, more than anything else. "You aren't the type of person to keep their head down Dylan. I know you've been through a lot, but you are the only one that both species listen to. Your the only one who can invoke change. You've already proven that. Now you just have to live up to it."

I was confused by what I had done exactly, I hadn't ever changed anything, I just got tortured for speaking my mind. There were no positive outcomes to anything I had done.

"Are you insane? Everything I have ever done has ended with disaster." I argued back. He seemed to have the notion that I had it in me to aid the rebellion, when in reality I barely had any fight left. The king had squashed it. "Look, I fully support the rebellion, I really do, but I can't be a part of it. I just want a quiet life." After everything I genuinely did just seek a peaceful existence. No fighting, no pain, just peace and tranquility.

"You are already a part of it, Dylan..." Ok, that was seriously strange hearing him say my first name, and it caused a frown to form on my face. "You know you're the one who started the smuggling trade, right?"

I rolled my eyes and looked at him, the way he spoke, made it sound as if it was an entire business and not simply helping those who were desperate. I made arrangements for things and then talked Ryan into smuggling them across the borders in his van.

"I'd hardly call a few contraband items a smuggling trade." He shook his head rapidly and pointed to the truck.

"It's not just a few pieces of contraband though. Me and the other runners deliver to all the districts across America, because of you." Wait? The runners were smuggling things into other districts from all over the country? I thought it was just a few of the districts in my sector. "You got in touch with the rebellion, you organized all the drop offs, and you didn't utter a single word about it while living at the palace. You've been a part of the rebellion since long before you met the king."

Was that true? Was I really a traitor before the king even claimed me? No wonder the wolves of the pack were always on my back, eleven Freddie and my mom seemed to get a lot of threats at one point from half the Lucan's within the district. At the time, I knew what I was doing was going against the wishes of the stronger spieces, but for Clarke to say that I was already a part of the rebellion was going a bit far I think.

"You're telling me that I was talking to actual members of the rebellion with that cell phone I had?" He nodded his head and sighed looking around. I never actually paid much heed to who I was possibly speaking to, whoever it was, was helping me smuggle things in for the people that truly needed it. Finding out that I was talking to the rebels themselves was a shock to say the least.

"I'm saying, you have already planted the seed for change and revolution, you just need to let it grow now and do what you can." I didn't understand for the life of me how he saw me like that. How I had begun something was completely on me.

I had so many more questions to ask Clarke, but I could sense his urgency to leave quickly, not that I blamed him, we were very much at risk of being caught the longer we stayed out in the open, so I kept my thoughts to myself, and instead began heading back to the van.

"We should get going. We can't stay like this for too long." I was quick to get settled back down in the truck, it really did feel like I had been in and out of the vehicle for like a hundred times, a sigh left my lips as the door was closed and I was once again left alone and in darkness. Ryan was right when he said it wouldn't be the comfiest, but even still I managed to put my head down and doze off.

Another day dragged by and time was becoming my worst enemy. I was both bored and yet extremely occupied at the same time. You see my mind was running riot inside my skull but still I felt like I had been in that truck for a lifetime. We were currently camouflaged at the side of a road while Clarke got some sleep. It was fairly obvious that he couldn't travel all day and night without rest, he did say it would take a few days. I was on edge, and I would be until we pulled into the rebellions base. Freddie was repeatedly on my mind, I know Adrian said he would protect him, but there was only so much even an alpha could do when it came to the king.

I fiddled with the envelope inside the pocket of the coat I was wearing and pulled it out. I sighed looking at my mothers letter, I opened it for the hundredth time but I couldn’t bring myself to pull it out and read it. I had tried a few times but always ended up shoving it back in my pocket. I knew I wouldn’t have been able to bare it if she spoke about how disappointed she was in me.

I never even got to say a proper goodbye to her, the last thing I said to her was that I would kill myself, I called her a traitor, I made her believe that it was all her fault! How could I have been so stupid.

I felt tears brimming in my eyes again as I looked at the last reminder of my mother. I clutched it tight, willing my tears away before I shoved it back in my coat pocket. I wasn’t strong enough to hear my mothers words.

I hugged my knees tightly as I sat on the little pile of pillows and blankets that Clarke had laid out for me. I was actually really grateful for the little bit of comfort he had provided me, it was one of the nicest things anyone had done for me in months. At least I could take some form of solace in my situation.




BANG, BANG, BANG.

Three fast and loud bangs on the side of the truck jolted me from my already restless sleep and I instantly panicked. We’d been on the road for almost 52 hours, two and a half days without any problems, and now we were so close there just happened to be a big fucking problem.

I didn't have time to even wake up properly as the door to the van slid open and a giant burly man stood directly in front of it.

Shit?!

Couldn't we have just made it without any hiccups? Couldn't I have a bit of luck on my side for once? No, I would never be that fortunate, the cruelty of my fate was beginning to seriously cause me some deep rooted sorrow.

"Well, well, well... his grace will be awfully grateful to me when I bring back his queen. You've traveled a long way from your mate..." He quickly stalked towards me, and his face came fully into view, the moons dull glow lighting up his features enough for dread to sink into my consciousness.

One thing was definitely clear, and that was the solid fact that, I knew this man...


**Guys, I cannot apologize enough for the major delay, I promise i will get back on track now in regards to uploading. Thank you all so much for sticking with me, and i hope you continue to enjoy the story**