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.

a nearly invisible trail through

all a dizzying blur-my heart was lodged too high in my throat as our small party emerged abruptly into

before being shoved through a low doorway. Candles flickered to life as my knees hit packed a tile floor. I barely registered Luke colliding beside me before the woven hanging

is absurd," he bit out, helping me to

"They either didn't recognize my father's title or they

the door covering was suddenly swept aside again. We both jumped as a tall woman with

protectively. "Who are you?" he asked. "What do you

held up her hands. The message was clear-no immediate threat was intended. Luke hovered a breath away, though, as the woman

shades of blue and green in the dim light, she extended both hands,

Luke hesitantly. "I

she tried again, gesturing oddly at me. With

I followed her urgent motions and looked down and

staining the woven mats beneath my feet. No no

the elbows, cursing violently. "What did you monsters do to her? She's pregnant!"

soft foreign words, reaching gentle fingers toward my abdomen. I flinched involuntarily, but

she..." I began, but my voice trailed off when she shot me a

shut her eyes. Nothing happened at first, but then... waves of warmth cascaded through my core, transforming my panic into abrupt calm.

baby?" I hit

until I understood: not a miscarriage. Thank

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

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

whispered,

"I'm fine. In fact... I feel

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. "We could fit through

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