chapter 11

I remained as still as possible as Zane carried me through the town and onto the outskirts, a large building coming into view, something that could even rival the home of my master. Other smaller houses and something that blue eyes called flats were littered everywhere and I soon realised that this was a community, not a slave trade as I was used to. The people were so happy, the children laughing and playing, it was strange, seeing people so happy, but I guess it would be considering where I came from.

In Balthazar’s care you rarely smiled, I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be happy, to be a child who didn’t know the cruelty of the world. But he ripped all that away from me when I was seven, forcing me to watch in that room as my parents died slowly from torture. I wished and pleased to the moon goddess to help them, to save my family. But she never did, instead they died whilst begging for their lives, while pleading for a mercy that never came. Their screams would forever be plastered into my memory, and I doubt I would ever truly get over it.

I looked up at the wolf who was carrying me so gently, ensuring that he didn’t hurt me, whilst also making sure that my modesty was intact. It was sweet that he cared so much for how I felt even though he knew practically nothing about me. All he knew was that I was a runaway slave, someone who ran from the only home she ever knew, from the only people she ever knew. It was now early morning and I was almost certain that Balthazar would know that I was missing, that I had managed to break the collar and escape his vile land. I shuddered at the thought of him finding me, of what he would do to me, would he take me back to the windowless room? Lock me there for the near future and bind me with silver?

I hadn’t realised I was crying until Zane wiped my eyes with his thumb, his eyes filled with worry and concern, something I hadn’t seen towards me since I was a small child. I hadn’t had anyone who wanted me, any part of me since my parents were alive.

“What’s on your mind love?” He asked, his voice soft, almost soothing.

“If Balthazar finds me, he’ll lock me away. I’ll never see the sun again.” I sob, my body trembling with worry and fear.

“We won’t allow him to take you, you’re free now. You’re safe.” Zane promised, his voice just as soft, and for some reason I believed him.

I believed that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, that he wouldn’t let my master… no… Balthazar the warlock take me back. I was free, I was no longer a slave. I had done it, I had escaped the life my parents never wanted me to have, I hoped that they were proud of me. That they were looking upon me with pride.

“Why?” I whisper between sobs, sniffling as my nose began to run.

We entered what Dean had called a pack house, the smell of other wolves assaulting my senses and I was in complete awe with what i saw, I had thought it would have been immaculate and plain like Balthazar’s home, guards everywhere to make sure everyone stayed in line. But it was so much more than that, you could clearly tell that Dean cared about the people who lived under him, pictures scattered all over the walls of all the different people, some of which I had seen passing us by outside. To my left were several sofas and chairs littered around, each one currently in use as people laughed and chatted. Their eyes coming to lock on us as we entered, whatever what playing on the biggest tv I had ever seen soon forgotten.

A young woman around my age jumped up from her seat, her eyes locked onto me in shock, her blonde hair, wavy and knotted, as though she had just rolled out of bed. Though, by the time of day, I assumed that would probably be correct. Her crystal blue eyes locked onto me and I could instantly tell she was some relation to Zane, their features and freckles almost identical, though she was a little smaller she would still stand several inches taller than me.

Her eyes snapped towards Zane in the next instant, the sea-like vessels wide with worry. “Brother, who’s this and what happened to her?”

“Sarah . This is Annalise, she was the rogue that we spotted outside the southern border.” Zane answered almost instantly, his arms tightening around me slightly in a protective manner.

She frowned deeply, her features becoming cold like stone. “Why have you brought her here? Shouldn’t you have killed her on site?”

“She’s afraid and injured Sarah, she travelled hundreds of miles to escape Balthazar the warlock.” Zane growled, turning his body so that I was out of harms way. “I will not let anyone treat her with anything other than kindness.”

Sarah scoffed, her hands curling into fists. “You’re acting like she’s your mate! She’s a dirty rogue.”

“That’s enough Sarah, you can see she’s been through a lot.” Another wolf in the room spoke up, coming to my defence, her eyes reminding me of the spring red roses that Balthazar used to litter around.

She was smaller than Sarah , with dark brown hair that was pulled back into a high ponytail, she was still in her pink pjs but I wouldn’t have messed with her by the scowl she was giving Zane’s sister. She looked fierce.

“No one asked you Eve.” Snarled Sarah.

I was almost certain that Eve was turning red from anger, “No one needs to when you decide to be a bitch!”