Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
I summon fire in my hands and throw the flames toward the soldiers coming toward me. The villagers gasp, and they begin to bow to me again. After bowing, the villagers turn and push the soldiers away from me, but the soldiers strike them with their swords. A circle of around twenty soldiers suddenly surrounds me. King Fenris keeps his eyes on me with a glare. Summoning the wind, I push the soldiers back. I then summon the fire again and throw spheres of flame toward them. My knees buckle, and I fall to the ground. I try to stand up, but I feel too weak and unsteady. Clink, clink. King Fenris snaps the iron cuffs on my wrists. Dizzy and with no strength left, I fall to the ground into darkness.
I wake to see it’s now twilight. I’m in a tent.
‘Well, my love, you have decided to finally wake up.’ King Fenris says as he approaches me.
I turn my head to see King Fenris with fury on his face.
He is carrying a candle allowing some light. I’m chained in a chair, and my wrists are cuffed with iron.
Feeling a swift sting on my right cheek, I cry out in pain. King Fenris has slapped me across the face.
He grabs my hair and yanks my head up, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
‘You think you can turn my people against me?’ He snarls.
‘Your little stunt earlier cost a lot of villagers to be killed while others were whipped back into their places.’
I weep, knowing villagers were killed or whipped for attempting to defend me.
‘When did you accept to be Alpha King Damon’s mate and Luna?’ He asks.
I look away. I refuse to answer him.
‘Tell me now,’ he yells in anger as spit splashes from his mouth.
‘Last night at the ball,’ I sob.
‘You said you needed air that you had gone to the balcony?’ He says.
‘Well, clearly, that was a lie. I was with Damon,’
King Fenris begins laughing and not in a pleasant way.
He grabs my face.
‘You are mine Maia, and you will be my queen and not his. And you will have my heirs and not his, even if it means having you wear iron cuffs for the rest of your miserable life,’ he sneers, then forcefully kisses my mouth, still holding my face.
I bite his lip as hard as I can. He cries out and slaps me across the face again, and storms off.
The next morning, the army finished packing their tents and replenishing themselves. My face is throbbing. I know my cheek is red, and I still feel weak and now hungry. I haven’t seen King Fenris since he slapped me last night. He walks in, not saying a word, and begins to unchain me from the chair but leaves the iron cuffs on. His bottom lip is swollen, with a chunk of his lip missing. I am trying not to smirk at my work of art. He lifts me over his shoulder and towards his horse. He sits me at the front and hops on sitting behind me. Soldiers pack his tent up while he gallops his horse over to the well and fills his water pouch. He has a drink and then attempts to put the water pouch in my mouth. I turn my head, refusing the drink. He grabs my face and forces the opening of the pouch into my mouth,
‘Drink.’ He commands.
I choke on the water as he pours too much at once into my mouth. Then we gallop back to the army, ready to leave. Villagers are shocked at my red cheek, knowing King Fenris is the cause and to see I am now in cuffs. Even some of the soldiers in the army stare angrily at King Fenris. Sir Hugo in the army of soldiers gives me a look of pity. I take notice of him discreetly slipping away back towards the village.
King Fenris shouts at the villagers and warns them not to approach me nor try to attack his soldiers, or else no one will be spared, and they will all be killed this time. They all stand back and look down in guilt for not being able to help me.
We leave Garnet Falls and gallop towards the next village, which makes me realise we are now closer to my forest.
I miss my home, I miss Damon, and I miss Ember greatly. I cry, wondering if I will ever get to see them again. Finally, we arrive at Shadowguard village late in the afternoon.
As soon as King Fenris’ tent is set up, he chains me back onto that uncomfortable chair and has the gall to kiss me on the forehead.
‘My love.’ He says and exits the tent.
Sir Hugo
I want to kill King Fenris with my bare hands. He has Maia back in the iron cuffs that I regret putting her in when I had kidnapped her.?I’m going to help free you, Maia. You are very brave and will make one hell of a Queen.
I discreetly pull the reigns back, turn my horse, and head behind the army. I remain there until the soldiers and King Fenris are out of sight. I approach the villagers and tell them I have a plan that can help the princess, but I can’t do it without their help. A few hundred villagers follow my orders. I send a hundred of them to Hackle Spire Village and another hundred to Limestone village.
The rest follow me to Shadowguard village and spread the word of what has transpired and that we should choose Princess Maia to be our Queen and put an end to King Fenris. I inform them the werewolves are not cruel and that the rumours are all lies, revealing King Fenris made him and other knights and soldiers spread the lies around all the villages. I tell the groups to travel to every village and spread the news of our new Queen and help fight to free her, and join forces with Moon Crest Valley for the greater good of our Kingdoms.
Shadowguard awaits us. I warn the villagers accompanying me to keep low and away from the tents. Then, in the shadows, I secretly re-join the army.?The soldiers talk about how Maia grew the abundance of food, saving the village from starvation and how she stood up to King Fenris and how amazing and brave she is.
Some disagree and say she is a traitor to the king, still believing werewolves are the enemy. I see King Fenris leave his tent and walk towards Commander James’ tent. I take this opportunity and discreetly approach his tent.
I can see Maia chained to a chair and slumped over. I examine my surroundings to ensure no one is nearby before entering the tent. I stoop myself low in front of the chair to be at her eye level.
‘Kitten, are you alright? I ask her.
Maia looks up, her cheek is red and slightly puffy, and her lips are dry from dehydration. She is probably hungry too.
‘Hugo,’ she says, trying to muster up a smile.
‘Maia,’ I whisper.
‘I need to be quick before the King returns. People from Garnet Falls travel around to all the villages to spread the word about King Fenris’ lies and the werewolves offering them safe passage. The people want to see you free. They want to support you as their Queen and not King Fenris,’ I say proudly with a chuckle.
‘The people will help fight alongside the werewolves and not fight against them. They are going seek passage through your forest and join them,’
Maia smiles.
‘Thank you,’ she says softly.
‘Before you go, I need you to find my friend Vivian. She is staying at the Tavern at Garnet falls. She will be back there by now. Alpha King Damon and his Beta Troy will also be there. Please go and tell them what has happened. Tell them the army is already on its way to Moon Crest Valley. You must go now and not stop until you get there.’ Maia pleads.
I want to free Maia now, but King Fenris has her chained to a bulky wooden chair. I nod, accepting her order and knowing I can’t release her just yet. I leave the tent and tell the villagers that I have to go to Garnet falls and for them to wait until the army has gone, then continue to spread the word here of what has transpired and to seek as much help as they can gather. I ride as fast as I can through the night back to Garnet falls and only stop to give my horse a rest.
The sun is about to rise as I arrive at the tavern. I pay the innkeeper coin to feed and tend to my horse. I order a pint and sit in the corner of the inn and wait. There are many villagers inside speaking of what had happened here yesterday. Finally, four pints later, a man and a lady come down the stairs and order bread, cheese and drinks.
The lady let out a loud gasp overhearing what the other villagers in the room are saying. The man next to her pales with worry.
The lady approaches the villagers.
‘Please, you must tell me everything that has happened. We only arrived back here late last night. We have not heard this news yet,’ she says with worry.
The man standing next to her turns to face her.
‘Vivian, I will get Damon,’ he says and bolts back up the stairs.?
Good, I have found them.
The man returns down the stairs. Alpha King Damon follows Troy. He is taller and much more masculine than the other man and looks very strong. He would only be slightly shorter than me.
The villagers speak of how Princess Maia had grown an abundance of food for the starving villagers and how she was brave and even argued against King Fenris himself that he is a liar. She even claimed she is the Queen of Moon Crest Valley, Alpha King Damon’s mate! They say excitedly.