Chapter 0698

Nina

"State your purpose, outsiders," the knife-wielding man repeated as more people emerged from the vivid foliage. I furrowed my brow as I took in their appearances; they certainly appeared human, but my wolf picked up a strange scent as I looked at them.

They were shifters, but not wolves; much like that strange woman I saw in the crowd in the city. I tore my eyes away from a woman with almost catlike eyes to meet Luke's panicked gaze.

I raised my hands slowly against the blade's cold threat. "Please, we mean no harm," I began shakily. "I'm just searching for my husband, Enzo. He was taken hostage and the trail led us here unexpectedly..."

I hesitated under their silent scrutiny before pushing on.

"If he passed through, please we only want to bring him safely home. We'll leave without causing any trouble, I promise."

I awkwardly met the gaze of one of the people, my heartbeat thrumming in my chest. For several seemingly endless seconds, our motley greeting committee only stared at us, their heads inclined, as if they were puzzling over some unspoken consensus.

Then, abruptly, harsh words in a strange melodic tongue passed between them. Before I could react, rough hands grabbed both of my arms and hauled me to my feet.

"Hey!" Luke snarled, shrugging his own captors off violently before they could restrain him fully. Chaos exploded for several long seconds as he grappled against six large men.

I screamed protests, only to choke as the knife returned to my throat, causing Luke to freeze.

"Luke, stop! I'm alright!" I said hurriedly. He shot me a desperate look but stopped struggling as the knife traced my skin

"There's been a misunderstanding," I gasped out. "Please, I'm... I'm the daughter of the Alpha King. If harm comes to me..."

My voice trailed off as I saw that no recognition flashed through their eyes as I mentioned my father. They merely whispered again in those strange lilting words that I couldn't decipher.

it, we were being roughly dragged along a nearly invisible trail through impossibly huge trees with Luke

dizzying blur-my heart was lodged too high in my throat as our small party

as my knees

me

feet, dusting my knees off. "They either didn't recognize my father's title or they didn't care," I said softly.

swept aside again. We

of me protectively. "Who are you?"

us, then held up her hands. The message was clear-no immediate threat was intended. Luke hovered a

to shift between shades of blue and green in the dim

glanced at Luke hesitantly.

frustration tightened the woman's mouth before she tried again, gesturing oddly at me. With my

her urgent motions and looked down and my

mats beneath my feet. No

cursing violently. "What did

up both palms placatingly now to calm his fury. She spoke soft foreign words, reaching gentle fingers toward my abdomen.

began, but my voice trailed off when

she spread both palms over my belly and shut her eyes. Nothing happened at first, but then... waves of warmth cascaded through my core, transforming my panic into abrupt calm. The tension seemed to slip out from my frame under that comforting heat until

baby?" I hit

shook her head, gesturing until I understood: not

then nodded approvingly at my understanding before fluidly returning to her feet. I grabbed her wrist without thinking. "Please, someone took my husband," I pleaded with her. "We only want to find him and then

eyes softened further. Gently, she pried away my clutching fingers, saying something in her language. Then

happened?" Luke whispered, turning to

and nodded. "I'm fine. In fact...

at least that's one good thing." Luke paused, crossing over to a small window. He pulled the curtain aside to reveal a small garden in the back. "Maybe we should go," he said.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255