Chapter 9

Archer’s POV

What the hell is going on? Fear, like nothing I have ever experienced, gripped every fibre of my being. Everything felt wrong like I was awake yet still asleep; I was here but not here like I could see but not clearly. How did this happen, and where the heck am I?

“Ayla!” I shouted, but I was greeted with silence. This place looked the same as the Winter Moon Packs grounds, but wrong somehow. The world around me felt washed out, I could see the sun in the sky, but it was dim, weak like it couldn’t be bothered to shine today. No wind blew, and no animals made a sound; the place felt dead.

“Aiden, Axel, where are you” I shouted again, pushing myself up from the ground. Moments before, I had been surrounded by my brothers, my mate and a hell of a lot of Sun Valley Wolves, set on ripping our throats out. I vaguely remember Ayla’s father diving right in front of a wolf determined to hurt my girl; I knew it would kill her if her father got hurt, so I didn’t even think I just pushed him out the way, then pain, so much pain. That was it, nothing else until I woke up here.

The eerie silence of this place set my teeth on edge. I knew I wasn’t safe here; I just knew there was something more dangerous than all the Sun Valley wolves to together. And it was watching me. I could feel it; I just couldn’t see it…yet.

Running a hand through my silvery-grey hair, the bun I had it in had fallen out, and I looked a bloody mess right now, no doubt. My other hand rubbed my chin, trying to release the anxiety I felt; the fear was deep; there was no hope of dispelling that any time soon.

“Right enough of this, let’s go,” I tell myself sternly. I forced myself to walk back the way we had come and head toward the pack house. If this was some odd magic, I’m sure I’ll find the answers back at the house.

The walk was exactly the same. The grounds of the pack house were no different, apart from the eerie washed-out look. Picking up my speed, I jog down the driveway, wanting too not be out in the open on my own any longer. Just as I reached the house’s front door, the worst ear-splitting scream filled the sky and every space in between. It ripped through my mind and body like an unrelenting force, bringing me to a stop. I had no choice but to sink to the ground.

Gritting my teeth, I smash my hands over my ears as hard as possible, but the never-ending screeching continued to seep through the shield my hands were trying to create. I felt slick warm blood slip through my fingers as my eardrums burst, releasing a scream of pain of my own.

Curled in a tight ball on the dusty ground for goddess knows how long, I wait for the ringing and the pain in my now damaged ears to subside. The screaming had lasted a lifetime, or so it had felt when it was probably only a few minutes. Something was definitely here, and I was pretty sure it wasn’t friendly. I had a horrible feeling it knew where I was now too!

The light had dimed even further whilst I was on the floor, cradling my head. The blood had dried on my hands, feeling stiff and a little crusty. I could hear Titan whimpering in my mind. The noise had hurt him too. At least I still had my wolf with me; I’d be lost without him.

“Titan, are you okay, buddy” I send the message to my wolf

“Pain, so much pain”, Titan whimpered, and my heart broke for him.

“This place is wrong; it’s not safe for us here. I can't feel my way through on this plane,” he told me, his voice sounding weak.

“Plane? What do you mean” I didn’t like the sound of this; Titan had always known that we hadn’t known ourselves; all our wolves did. Now that we know our destinies and roles with the Exalted, I guess that would explain the different things we can do over other wolves.

“Yes, we are not in the waking world anymore, Archer, but I still do not know where we are yet”, he confessed, sending a wash of apology my way. His emotions were so strong right now that it felt like I was drowning in his feeling instead of mine.

“Bria”, he cried, and I fully understood how he felt. He loved Ayla’s wolf like I loved Ayla. Of course, he loved Ayla too, but Bria was his mate, his girl, and I felt every pang of pain he felt right along with him.

“We will get back to her, I swear it, I will not lose them now, not after we only just found them”, I swore to my wolf with everything I had, I meant every word, and I would fight to get back to her with every breath I had.

“Move quickly; it’s coming; we need to hide”, Titan shouted in my mind, making me jump out of my skin at his sudden change in demeanour.

“who’s coming? What is it?” I frantically asked as I made myself stumble across the gravel of the driveway and into the pack house. “Titan, answer me; who’s coming” I demanded. I pushed the door open and crossed the threshold. It wasn’t any better inside here, either. No one was around; the whole house looked abandoned yet spotless. How did that work?

“I don’t know its name, but you’re in their plane now, and they want you, so we have to keep moving; we have to find a way out” Titan’s normally strong voice shook.

“Come on, the archives would be here still, wouldn’t they? This is a mirror image of our world, so surely, they would still be here,” I asked myself more than him.

“Whatever you choose, choose it quickly.”

Aleena’s POV

Nothing had changed, and when I say nothing, I mean nothing. The elves were a stickler for tradition, whether rituals or clothing, houses or standards. They would never change the way they did anything. The streets were the same, all lined with elf fire lighting lamps and built into nature. All the houses and buildings were built into the trees or the surrounding rocks.

Growing up in this place was magical, beautiful, and entirely taken for granted. It wasn’t until now, being away from here for so long, that I could fully appreciate its beauty and wonder. I missed my home but enough to give up the freedom I had living with the wolves. I may not leave the grounds often or at all, but being free from the expectation of my family, and our people was more than enough for me.

Alysia, never let go of my hand for a second as we hurried along the ornate-looking pathways toward our parent’s palace. Our village was one of the larger elven settlements left now. There used to be hundreds; now, there is only a handful. I guess you could call my home more of a city, but we all liked to say village.

Looking back over my shoulder, I glanced at Michael; he was lost in the wonder of this place. Just like any other mortal would be. But just before I turned back around, his eyes snapped to mine and the brightest smile I had ever seen adorned his face, lighting a fire within my belly that burned so brightly I was sure the others would be able to see it. The feelings I had for him right now were so strong and overwhelming. I had always cared for Michael; he had been so good to be, saved my life even. And my feelings had grown stronger over time, but lately, they had escalated at such a rate I don’t really know what hit me.

“Why did you leave me, sister” Alysia’s voice was so quiet I almost missed her question.

“It wasn’t by choice, trust me, but I cannot speak about it yet; I promise I will, though”, I reassured her with a smile. The worry on her face only continued and increased by my elusiveness.

“Does it have to with the wolf” she jerked her head towards Michael; anger swelled inside me; I knew she didn’t know what had happened to me yet, but the sheer thought of someone blaming him for what my own people had done made my blood boil.

“No” was all I said, I felt terrible for being so short with her, but it was the best she would get right now.

The palace loomed ahead; Iven had to lead us the long way round, through the back streets. Obviously, he didn’t want my return being common knowledge just yet, not before our parents had seen me, at least, I was guessing. The sight of my childhood home sent shivers through my body. I wasn’t ready to face my parents, I loved them, but I knew how disappointed they would be once they learned I would not be staying here with them. I will leave with Michael when he leaves; there is no room for negotiation.

“Your little pet has to stay outside, Aleena; you know father will not tolerate it” Iven glared at Michael but spoke to me.

“Then you better go and fetch them then, Iven, as I will not be leaving my friend outside on his own, oh and if you refer to him as my pet one more time, then there will be more than just fathers anger you will have to worry about” I warned him.

“How dare you come back here and start throwing demands around? For years, you made us believe you were dead!” Venom laced his words and a scowl covered his face.

“Once you know the whole story, then you can throw your accusations around, but not until then,” I scowled right back. I felt Michael take a step toward me but stopped just before he would have placed his hand on my back. It was like he knew it was best to physically touch me right now, even though my body screamed for him too.

“Iven, leave it please, let Mother and Father decide”, Alysia begged. He huffed and struggled to restrain his anger physically.

“Fine, but father, anger is all on you, sister; I will not step in when he unleashes it on you for the way you have sadly changed, the way you allow lesser creatures to fawn around you. It’s disgusting; you know as well as I do how he will act,” Iven spat; I couldn’t see any of the older brothers I used to love shining through, just this twisted ball of anger.

One of the guards at the palace door nodded towards my brother, making my skin bristle. He was getting way too much respect in my eyes. He was a complete and utter asshole who felt he was way more entitled than he actually was.

We filed in through the open door and into the palace. Keeping my head down, I walked past the guards, slowing my pace so I was practically on top of Michael as we walked in; there was no way I was letting him get pulled away from me. Reaching back, I slipped my hand into his, and instantly he ran his fingers over the top of mine, sending tingles rushing over my skin. It took everything I had to control the look on my face.

“Open the doors; we must see our father right away”, Iven’s voice rang out loud and clear. We didn’t even have to slow our pace as the next set of doors swung open with yes Prince Iven repeated by all four guards posted on the doors. My heart hammered harder as I crossed into the throne room, keeping my head low still. I wasn’t ready to face my parents, but time quickly ran out. I could hear my father’s voice demanding to know what was wrong, making my breath hitch and tears threaten to spill down my cheeks. Michael ran his fingers over mine again, in a kind of promise. I knew he was trying to tell me he was right there with me, and right then, all I wanted to do was turn and throw myself into the comfort of his arms as this was becoming so much harder than I ever thought it would be.

“What is the meaning of this son” my father questioned. I heard him shift in his chair to look closer.

“Father, Aleena is back, and I thought it would be best to bring her straight to you so that you could hear her reasons for abandoning us first-hand,” my brother said, sending flashes of anger through my belly. I was going to make him pay for making me look like a traitor. If he says anything that could put Michael in any form of danger, then I won’t be held responsible for what I may say or do.

“Aleena”, my mother jumped up and gasped. Lifting my head at her voice, I met her eye, and I was damned as the tears fell, with no way for me to stop them. I had missed my mother so much more than I ever thought I could miss someone.

“Hello, mother”.