Isolde screams as she clings to Lyris, begging the wolf shifter to spare her.
“Please,” Isolde says, voice breaking. “She’s just a girl.”
But no one gets spared.
Lyris is lifted out of the wagon, her screams piercing the air.
“Mother!” she sobs, reaching for Isolde.
Isolde lunges, hysterical, clawing at the wolf shifter’s back as Lyris reaches desperately for her.
Another wolf shifter grabs Isolde’s arms and yanks her back, holding her tight as she thrashes and kicks and wails.
The wolf shifter shoves Lyris forward and she falls to the ground hard.
I grit my teeth as I watch the heartbreaking scene, indignation running hot.
“That’senough,” I shout, stepping forward with my chin held high. “Has the king given you the authority to commit violence on his future mate?”
They all turn to me. All of them silent.
“How about on his future mate’s family?” I roar. “I doubt the Wolf King would be pleased to hear of his future mate being shoved to the ground by ruffians. Unhand herat once.”
The wolf shifter releases Isolde and steps back.
“And you,” I shout, pointing at the giant wolf pinning Othric to the ground. “Release him.”
To my utter surprise, the wolf backs away.
“King Alaric will get his women one way or the other,” the leader says, staring me down.
I stare him down right back.
“Then we will be treated like proper ladies,” I say, meeting his cruel eyes. “Royalladies. That’s what we may be, so that’s how we shall be treated. Or, believe me, the Wolf King will hear about how his future mate and her family have been so cruelly handled.”
The wolf shifter’s hands squeeze into fists at his sides as he stares me down. His teeth are gritted. He looks furious.
I just glare back, shooting all that fury and fire right back at him.
“Very well,” he finally says, his voice dripping with contempt. “Torsten, fetch the wagon.”
A giant black wolf peels off from the group and sprints across the plains.
Minutes later, the wolf returns with a giant harness strapped around his body, and he’s pulling a large wagon behind him.
Isolde is still sobbing. Lyris too.
I catch Isolde’s eyes and let her know with a steely look and a firm nod that I’ll look after Lyris. I’ll look after all of these girls.
There are thirteen of us in total.
Thirteen who will be presented to the dreaded Wolf King.
And only one who will give him a piece of her pissed-off mind.
Me.
Chapter Four
