Chapter 10
10
TALIA
T he shelves behind me began to shake, vibrations coursed through my body as books were falling off the shelves around us.
I pushed against Declan and tried to leave his embrace, his body only pushed into mine further.
His grip tightening on my waist.
“I am getting you out of here and into my safety now.”
He growled.
A void began to open behind him.
Deep purples swirling within its depths.
Through it I saw a vast room with a sloped roof, chandeliers hanging from the solid pine beams.
A beautifully crafted stone fireplace sat in the center of the forest green wall.
How had he opened a portal in another pack’s territory? How did he open a portal at all? My gaze returned to Declan’s, “I am not going anywhere without Celeste!”
I screamed.
His nails began to lengthen, sharp points that were now cutting into my sides.
The material of my shirt darkening with my blood.
“We are leaving now little wolf, and it is not up for discussion.”
His pupils were fully blown, black hair was sprouting on his arms as he pulled us backwards towards the void.
His wolf was in control, not him.
“Declan please...”
I begged.
“I can’t leave without her, she is my lifeline.”
He didn’t respond.
Silence meeting my ears as the library door was torn open.
Trystan ran through shutting the door behind him.
His eyes met Declan’s and widened before he said, “We need to go now! The rest of his men are here.
They are here for her.
I did what I could but Jericho, Celeste, and that other shifter will be right behind me.”
BOOM!
Screaming and shouting met my ears, the floors shook beneath our feet, I turned my gaze to Trystan, fear consumed me as his eyes met mine.
I was sucked into a projection of his memory.
The front gates… they had blown them apart.
Metal twisted and pieces were flung all over the ground, the gates were hanging off the hinges.
Smoke filled the air as people were running and shrieking, some running towards the chaos instead of away.
Men were shifting into their wolves to fight, women were corralling the children towards the pack houses.
My heart rate increased as three figures came into view.
My breathing hitched.
I went to scream as my vision returned to normal.
I looked towards Trystan and then up at my mate.
“We need to help them! I cannot leave them here to fight.
They want me!”
I kicked and screamed as Declan turned my body and my back now pressed against his front.
His arms almost crushing my ribs as he pulled us towards the void.
“I’m sorry about this little wolf.”
He whispered into my ear.
Then my vision turned to black as my mate knocked me out from behind.
“She has been out for almost a week… How hard did you hit her?”
A deep growl responded, “I wasn’t in full control, I didn’t realize… she is going to wake up, isn’t she?”
The other voice sighed, “Your mother is getting anxious, you haven’t let anyone near her, not to mention the threatening messages you have been receiving from Jericho and his niece.
That one is a handful.
If you don’t give her proof that Natalia is unharmed, she will break through the barrier.
My guess is with Sasha’s help as well.”
“That doesn’t answer my question...
Will she wake up?”
pain laced the voice as my body was jostled.
Was I in a bed? A warm hand touched my arm and a deep pine scent hit my nose, my body heated as the image of a dark-haired man with blue eyes appeared.
Declan.
Wait a minute.
Where the fuck am I? A searing pain shot through my head as I opened my eyes, I blinked rapidly trying to clear my vision as a groan tore from my lips, “Can someone turn the lights down.
It's bright as fuck in here.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will the pain to disappear.
A throat cleared, “Sure thing princess, Declan I’ll be downstairs.
Just holler if you need back up.”
The sound of a door closing met my ears, and I tried opening my eyes again.
This time it didn’t hurt so much.
“Here drink this, you need to get hydrated.”
Declan whispered.
I turned my head to the left and Declan was holding a glass of water out to me.
Shadows covered his face, and it looked like he hadn’t shaved in a while.
I pulled myself out from under the covers and leaned my back up against the headboard of what I assumed was Declan’s bed.
I reached my hands towards the glass and pulled it towards my lips taking a small sip while looking around the room.
Declan had simple taste.
The walls were a deep forest green, he had crown molding around the top of the walls, and a few simple paintings of the Scotland highlands on the wall opposite of his bed, hanging above the stone fireplace.
Next to the fireplace was an arched doorway that led to what looked like the master bathroom and in the far-left corner he had a small table with two lounge chairs, near the opening of his balcony.
“How are you feeling?”
Declan asked me.
I turned my gaze back to his and hardened my gaze.
“How the hell do you think I feel Declan? You knocked me out and forced me through a portal to your home.”
“I was- “
“Don’t try to tell me you were protecting me, you ignored all my wishes after I had agreed to come with you!”
I was screaming at him now, my heart pounded in my chest as I started to think about how worried Celeste must be.
He rubbed his hand down his face as a sigh escaped him.
“I want to see Celeste. Now.”
I growled his way.
“I need to make sure my pack is okay.”
But were they really my pack anymore?
Declan stood up from the bed, the mattress shifted beneath my legs as he moved.
He strode across the room to the doorway, gripped the handle and turned around to meet my gaze, “I will have her brought here by portal, by the Killen coven leader.
Sasha is in my employ and will make sure she is not followed or her magic traced.”
“I will have some food sent up, you need to eat.”
He said, hit back turned away from me as he walked out the doorway.
He began grumbling to himself as he walked out the door and I swore I heard him say I was a pain in his ass.
Good.
Serves him right for taking me against my will.
This was not going to be easy for him.
“You could just sleep with him, it might make you feel better.”
Sionn snickered.
“Are you kidding me? You choose now to speak up? Where were you when our supposed mate was taking us through a damn void to his territory!”
I yelled at her.
“Well, we were in danger and he was going to help keep us safe." She said.
“He stole us!”
I roared at her.
“Oh, quit whining, you were already going with him anyways, he just sped up the process.”
she laughed at me.
Laughed.
“I’m done with this right now.”
Pulling the blankets around me I climbed out of the bed.
I exhaled heavily, shoulder dropping.
I made sure to wait until I could no longer feel his presence or hear him near before I allowed myself to let it all out.
My emotions came flooding to the surface.
My body gave out on me, my knees hitting the floor with a soft thud.
I could barely breathe.
My whole body was shaking.
My face felt numb, I felt numb inside.
I could barely feel the presence of my wolf.
What had become of my life? Five years ago, I was a normal girl.
I just wanted to be a social worker, help kids who were dumped into the foster system, and those whose families did not want them.
Then I was attacked.
And turned into a fucking wolf for the first time.
I had tried to adjust to the best of my abilities over the past five years, hoping I would be able to move on and live a peaceful life.
I felt as if someone is trying to punish me.
What did I ever do to deserve this? Being born a royal and hidden away in the human realm? Not my choice.
I didn’t I have any memories of my life in the shifter realm.
Those were taken from me. Once again , not my choice. Having a group of assassins hunting me down because of my lineage? Still not my fucking choice!
If I didn’t release some of this energy I would explode.
My hair was starting to lift from my shoulders as the wind picked up around me.
Sparks were flying from my fingers as I clenched my fists so tightly my nails were breaking the skin.
The curtains draped over the bay window were moving with the currents of my magic.
My insides felt like a whirlwind, a stone lodged in my throat as my vision blurred.
I felt distant from myself, my magic was becoming stronger my body trying to force the energy from me.
I needed to find an outlet soon or assassins would not be our only problem.
I need to overcome these emotions, or I won’t be able to protect myself and my friends.
Let alone figure out what the hell I am supposed to do about the shifter realm? I still haven’t told anyone about meeting Aurelia…Fuck.
Too much had happened.
But I would not let it be too much for me to handle.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself off the ground.
I could do this.
I was Natalia fucking Thornsgate.
I was the last heir to the shifter realm.
I was a badass motherfucker, and I would not let myself be overcome by my emotions.
Forcing them into the little box in the back of my mind, I locked them away to deal with later.
A knock sounded at the door, I didn’t answer and after a moment a soft, quiet female voice spoke up, “Miss, I have some food for you.
I will leave it out here for whenever you are ready.”
Waiting a few moments longer until I could not hear anyone outside the room, I walked over and cracked the door open.
Glancing down the hall I could see a small woman with light blond hair leaving the hallway.
I wonder if she is a pack member.
The smell of bacon hit my nose drawing my attention to the tray to my right.
An array of fruits, meats, and breads were spread out for me to choose from.
I mean I did need my energy, I could only go so long without nutrition, even with being a shifter.
After bringing the tray of food inside I walked over to the small table tucked in the corner of the room, sat down, and ate my fill of bacon, sourdough bread, and strawberries.
I drank a few glasses of water and felt a ton better.
I felt like I hadn’t eaten in months.
I really should go find Declan and see if Celeste was here yet.
He owed me that much after knocking me out and dragging me through his damn portal.