Chapter 16: He is Coming...

Chapter 16: He is Coming...

I felt hands on my arms and I opened my eyes. I tried to get up but the men who were now holding my arms where the ropes were pushed me back down on the cement bed. They looked to be a few years older than Jayden and like Romero had three long claw marks on their faces. I saw that the remains of my clothes were pulled out from under me and a sheer white tshirt dress was pulled over my body. The fabric was basically see through and I saw one of the men staring at my chest.

"Control yourself, Romero wants her pure." The other man said.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt' em." The man said and I felt his hand slide down from my shoulder where he held me down. I felt his hand above my bra and I heard him laugh above me.

"Stop fooling around Vlad!" the man said.

"Always a stickler for the rules. Right James?" Vlad teased James.

"If it gets me a rank then yeah." James said and grabbed a cloth. Without a second glance at me he draped the black cloth over my head like a bag and they both picked me up. I tried to move my legs but they were bound together. James and Vlad carried me out of the room and when I felt the cold air blow against my body I knew they had brought me outside. It was too cold for the sun to be out so I assumed it was dark outside.

Judging from the time they took to get outside it was a small building. Possibly a small house or cottage.

I smelt the air and it was laced with pine. Forest. Definitely the forest.

I heard water running and I knew there was a pond or river close to us. We weren't in White Thorn territory because I knew the forest like the back of my hand and there wasn't a river anywhere near the pack house.

I remained quiet the whole time not wanting to instigate them but to collect as many clues about the place as possible.

I remembered what my mother told me and I focus on building my strength. I was carried up a slope and I guess the cliff my mom had mentioned was here.

"Leave her there and you can go. Stay at the cottage. I'll be done here soon." Romero said. His voice sounded high up so I assumed he stood at the peak of the cliff.

Without saying a word Vlad and James dropped me on the ground and left. I heard their footsteps fade away and I couldn't hear them anymore I felt the cloth being pulled off my head.

Like I guessed we were in the forest and all around me were pine trees. It was dark and behind him the moon was clear as day. There was a podium of some sort and on top of it was a stone bowl with a fire lit inside it.

"Did you know shifter were created by the Goddess as protector when werewolves were killing humans? Many centuries ago werewolves had begun killing villages of humans as a sport." He walked around me and continued.

"They were blinded by their power and in order to restore the balance the Goddess created shifters. Shifters were stronger than werewolves and had a natural talent of leadership. They became Alphas and the werewolves that did not kill humans joined their packs. These packs then killed the wolves who were out of control protecting the humans and hiding their secret once again." He stood in front of the fire and lit a torch which then set fire to a string of torches around the cliff. The fire illuminated the clearing.

"These shifter then mated with werewolves creating a new breed of wolves that had special abilities. One of these packs was the White Thorn pack. But there were a few blood lines that stayed pure." He walked to me and grabbed me by my shoulders he pulled me up and bent down to cut the ropes tying my feet together.

"Your blood is pure Layla."

His eyes held an obsessive gleam as they scanned my face. I felt a shiver of fear run through my body and he must have felt it since his mouth tugged up into a smile.

"I brought your mother here once. She was beautiful and strong. I thought if I just took her power she wouldn't hate me and we made a deal. I get to take her power and she gets to return home to your father. But why would I let such a beautiful woman go. Not only was she beautiful and strong she was smart. Instead of making the deal she placed a curse on me."

I looked around the clear hoping for a way to escape. I scanned the tree line looking for an opening. There were only two ways off the cliff. Going back down the way James and Vlad went or running deeper into the forest.

Romero placed two cups on beside the fire and without flinching he reached into the stone bowl and took out two small glass canisters. He opened the first one and placed two drops in each cup. He handed me one cup and took one in his hand.

"What is this?" I questioned looking at the dark pink liquid inside the cup.

"My blood. Drink it to signify that you are bound to me." He said and brought his cup to his lips and drank the concoction.

Remembering my mother's words I said, "But the binding ceremony is complete. Isn't it?"

He glared at me. "Drink it. Just because I can't kill you yet doesn't mean I can't hurt you." He said and reached in his back pocket to retrieve the hunter's knife he cut me with.

I brought the cup to my lips and tipped it back. I felt the liquid go down my throat and a metallic taste was left in my mouth.

He pocketed his knife and grabbed my hand pulling me towards the fire. I stood in front of the stone bowl and saw that the fire was burning but there wasn't a log or fuel that ignited the fire. It had a sinister feel to it and I felt drawn to it.

"Hold you palm above the fire." I heard Romero say behind me. Without another thought I felt my body moving on its own obeying his words. I held my palm above the fire and I saw the flames reaching for my arm.

"Now repeat after me. 'I swear over the flames of thee that I surrender my life, blood, and power to you. Let this vow be heard by You and marked in our souls. I, Layla, give my life and power to, Romero, breaking the curse placed on him by Donna.'"

I felt my mouth open and I repeated the words after him. My voice sounded monotone, "I swear over the flames of thee that I surrender my life, blood, and power to you. Let this vow be heard by You and marked in our souls. I, Layla, give my life and power to, Romero, breaking the cur─"

"No!"

I heard my mother's voice and I stopped speaking. I blinked and shook my head pulling out of the trance Romero and the fire held over me.

"Finish speaking!" He said sounding furious and anxious.

I pulled my arm back down beside me and stood my ground.

"Ugh! You will listen to me and obey my order!" he said and wrapped his arm around my shoulders placing the knife on my throat. "Now let's try this again."

I struggled against his hold and stomped on his feet.

"No! I won't let you win." I said and remembering something I saw during fight training back in my pack I grabbed his wrist. I elbowed him and ripped his wrist far enough that I could get out of his hold. I ran towards the tree line I saw before and pumped my legs to go faster.

I heard him yell out behind me and I could hear him running after me. I saw two wolves running from either side of me and I knew it was James and Vlad. I couldn't out run them in human form.

I had to shift.

I concentrated in front of me and blocked out all the sounds around me. I visualized my body changing and my bones morphing. I saw a fallen tree in my path and jumped into the air.

I heard the sheer material ripping and I landed on the ground with four legs.

I dug my hind legs into the soil and shot straight through the trees. I was running on instincts and as I saw the trees pass by me I embraced the cold air running through my fur.

I pushed myself to go faster and put as much distance between Romero and myself. I ran to White Thorn territory and when I stepped into the boundary I yelled into the pack link.

"Come to the East border! Now!"

I was breathing hard and I turned around. I flexed my shoulders and fixed my eyes on the gap in the tree line where he would come any second.

"He is coming."

A/N Thank you to those who have been patient with my updates. I know the updates are not scheduled but I do dedicate a certain amount of time to writing this story and try to be consistent with my updates. Thanks for those who have been voting and commenting and also following! Means the world to me!

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