6. RHYSON

POV Rhyson:

"We both know I would be a terrible king anyway. Rune will be a better ruler." My brother, Marrow, should have been king, but he was dead now—murdered—and I intended to uncover who had done it. If I couldn't escape the mountains, Rune, my nephew, would be crowned. At twenty-two, he still had room to grow and learn, but I had prepared many capable wolves to guide him.

Anyway, I never planned to be king for long. I was terrible at politics.

My brother's killer didn't seek power. He didn't want the clan or Marrow's title. He had no interest in blackmail or information.

He simply wanted Marrow dead.

My brother had left a clue about his killer's identity, sent to me in a postcard the day before his death, featuring a picturesque view of the Greenville Mountains.  Known to shifters as Shadowed Moon Mountain, or the mountain of exile.

On the back, there was a single name: Emerson.

I had no idea what that name meant. Even after the mountains were exiled, the king at the time kept spies in place, but that was three kings ago. Gradually, the new kings cared less and less about the mountains filled with savage scoundrels and magic. King James hadn't even sent anyone to the civilian town at the base of the mountains to gather information or rumors.

I had nothing but a name.

Duke was right. I would probably be killed if I went in there, but Marrow was my family. For a long time, it had just been the two of us and our little sister, who had left almost two decades ago.

Rune didn't need me. He had a clan that still adored him and a bright future ahead.

And I had nothing. Rune was my family, and if I could leave him the legacy of a crown while avenging my brother, then that was more than enough for me.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and one of my guards entered. "Forgive the interruption, Your Highness, but there is an alpha here to see you. Bruce Callahan."

Had? I smiled fiercely. "Show him to the conference room."

(...)

POV Maya:

Three weeks later.

The doors and windows were locked, and a guard stood outside my door. It was an amateur move to try to run away while my father was out of town, thinking I would be safe. Champ liked to hit me, perhaps even more than my dad, and he had been itching to get his hands on me since prom night. I should have known he’d be keeping an eye on it. I should have stayed with Rhyson. There was a connection between us—not a bond of companionship, but most wolves didn’t find their mates. Even if Rhyson didn’t want to marry me, he would have at least found a place for me in his pack. I considered telling him the truth, but when I looked out the window, there was Champ, ready to break into the hotel.

I had just showered to wash away Rhyson’s scent, so the last thing I wanted was for him to come in and start a war. So, my meek side went to him, naked and prepared for the consequences.

My father had already taken pleasure in beating me and locking me up in my prison, and Champ was just waiting his turn. I had given it to him last night.

My bruises had bruises, but I ignored them. I was a prisoner until my father decided what to do with me next. Champ wanted me as his wife, but my father wanted to be sure I would be useless to him before handing me over to his right hand. As uncertain as this alternative was, being with Champ felt like rock bottom.

Of course, that was until a little freedom had proven my wolf side right. If I didn’t leave this locked room tonight, my father would come home, and my life would get much worse.

Closing my eyes, I wrapped my arms around my body and allowed myself the pleasure of memories. Your touch. Your kisses. I had never felt anything like what I felt when I was around him. Just thinking about it shattered me into a thousand pieces.

Rhyson from Summerset would protect me. I just needed to reach him. And I didn't have a plan.

The sun was setting. If I didn't go out tonight, it was highly likely that I wouldn't go out at all.

The lock on the door turned, and I quickly walked over to the corner. It was never wise to run to the farthest corner; then, you were trapped. By staying close to the door, at least I had room to maneuver. Not that I could fight much, but it had saved my life once or twice when my father was really angry.

He was not the one who had entered the room. He was already gone. It wasn't Champ either.

It was Serena. I froze.

The door closed, and we stared at each other. We were never close. I didn't even know we were cousins until she screamed it in my face one day when we were kids. I didn't even understand what that meant. Her father had taken her away, furious. But not at her. The few times I saw them together, he always treated her kindly, and I was jealous.

No, he was furious with my father.

Her eyes were red from crying and filled with tears again when she looked at me. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just... I had to tell you that just in case... I needed you to know that I didn't mean to hurt you."

Didn't you want to hurt me? I would be dead soon, and she was part of the reason.

"I don't understand," I said firmly. "Are you sorry that you took away my only chance to escape this prison?"

"Believe me, it wouldn't have been a huge breakthrough in life." Looking over her shoulder, she stepped toward me and halted as I took a step back. "You're afraid of me."

"I'm suspicious of anyone who locks themselves in this room with me." I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. It's already done. You can go back to your prince charming."

She snorted. "That's what I thought he was. The first time I saw him, I was twelve. I was certain he would be mine. I was so deluded that I even believed we had a mating bond. I was devastated when I realized it would be yours, but I didn't spread those rumors out of jealousy. I did it to protect him."

"Protect him from what?"

Sucking her lower lip, she glanced back at the door and stepped closer to me. "Maya," she whispered. "Your father wanted you to kill Alpha Larson."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I overheard your dad and Champ discussing it. They planned to give you an herbal potion to slip into his drink during their wedding night, making her think it would enhance their intimacy, but it would be poison. I warned Larson about it, and he seemed... cheerful. That should have been a red flag, but I was worried he wasn't taking the threat seriously, so I told him and everyone who would listen that you were a bitch. I knew he wouldn't touch you in that case. When you ran away that night, I thought you were escaping. Why did you come back?"

His story seemed absurd, but I knew my father. He was adored by his pack as the alpha who never missed, the golden wolf with a charming smile. He was loved by all. Only a few knew of the darkness within him, and I was aware of his obsession with dominating Chalmer Basin. That was why I should marry Larson.

I thought he meant union through marriage, not death. It was something my father would have done.

"Champ found me. You got what you wanted, Serena. Why did you feel the need to return?"

"Larson is a monster," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I went back to visit my father, but also to gather supplies. To escape. I can't marry him. He's going to kill me one day. I know that."