Chapter 6 Caged
❀ Maeve ❀
The overpowering stench from the large, rotund man I was pressed against was suffocating.
Twelve of us, nabbed solely for the crime of being in the vicinity of District 3, stood in a tight, wolf-pulled metal cage that had no canopy.
The hot sun bore down on my head. I’d lost my shawl in the scuffle.
“Let me out! You have no proof of any crime. What gives you the right?!” the man beside me growled at the IronWolf soldiers outside.
Every time he yelled, his rancid breath and spit rained down on me.
I couldn’t believe my first step into IronWolf territory would be by arrest.
“Please, sir. I only came to trade my mother’s baskets,” I implored.
The lance-wielding hulks ignored us. Wolves who’d been caught were sedated with heavy doses of wolfsbane. They leaned against the cage lifelessly, at risk of being trampled.
I hadn’t been sedated because they smelled no wolf in me. But I wished the man beside me had been. He kept screaming expletives at the top of his voice.
I had to think of something, and fast. I couldn’t afford to let them take me to the dungeons. There was no telling when I would ever see the sun again, if I wasn’t executed on arrival for being rogue.
Deep down, I hoped Nikolai would swoop in and rescue me. He must’ve heard the commotion, and if he cared, he would have come out to save me.
But I knew the chances were slim, if not impossible. It was light out, and for all I knew, he was alone. He couldn’t take all these wolves in the daylight.
Then I remembered, he had venom. He was a Crimson vampire. What in hell was he doing in Blackbridge? Vampire royalty never left Veilmoor, at least not since the Crimson War.
I shook off thoughts of him to focus on my predicament. He’d already shown how he felt about me, and it wasn't wise to cling to hope like a lovesick child.
I was in trouble.
What would Mother do if I didn’t return? She’d be worried to death and could never join the pack. Being human, she would have no hope.
I decided to bide my time. IronWolf was far away by carriage. I counted three other carts crammed with people. They would make stops, and maybe, just maybe, I could escape.
I gripped the metal bars as a wave of nausea washed over me. My vision wavered. My palms grew sweaty.
I’d had bloodmeal for breakfast, but the portions had shrunk over the last few days.
The pudgy man leaned his weight against me. His protruding stomach pressed against my back and… was that a hard bulge?!
“Move,” I snarled, trying to steady my breathing.
He ignored me, rubbing harder.
I hissed, turned sharply, and raked my nails across his face.
He roared, collapsing into the people behind him. Four red welts marked his cheek. He glared at me with murderous intent.
“Tell me where you see space in this fucking cage, bitch. You think anyone here is gonna protect you?” he growled.
“I don’t feel your disgusting body on me right now. So I’d say there’s enough space!” I spat back.
I turned back to the bars, breathing heavily.
A soldier, his long hair in a single braid, walked directly alongside me.
I avoided his piercing gaze and focused on his booted feet, ready to seize any chance to escape.
Hours later, my hair matted with sweat, vision cloudy from hunger and exhaustion, the soldiers stopped to rest.
I had no idea where we were, but it wasn’t IronWolf territory yet.
The rocky, mountainous terrain of Blackbridge still stretched into the distance. My limbs carried my weight by sheer will, my lips were chapped with thirst. At least the sun had set.
“Excuse me,” I croaked, trying to catch a soldier’s attention. Some had shifted into their wolf forms, running ahead to scout the road.
Finally, one glanced my way.
“I need to relieve myself,” I said.
“Do it where you stand,” he snapped.
Tears I’d been holding poured out. I couldn’t bear the cage anymore.
“Please! I’ll be quick, you can even watch…”
He scowled, disgusted. “No one wants to watch you, filthy rogue.”
I swallowed my pleas and cried silently as he walked away.
There went my only chance.
“Don’t be such a grouch, Edgar,” an amused voice chided.
I raised my head to see another soldier. This one looked younger and held no lance. His black leather pants looked clean, like he’d just put them on after a shift.
“Come to the door,” he beckoned.
My heart lifted.
The other one, who’d asked me to relieve myself in the cage, scoffed and rolled his eyes.
I pushed through the sea of bodies toward the door, watching as the younger soldier opened it.
Immediately the latch slid, and the door swung open, people scrambled to go out, pushing me back.
“Stop. Only the girl gets out.” He snarled.
He stood at the opening with a menacing look in his eyes. The air, thick and charged with promise, made the hairs on my nape rise.
I stepped out without anyone pushing me as he took my arm to help me down.
He snapped the cage closed and turned to me.
“Thank you.” I gave him a grateful look.
A deep scar ran down his temple to his jaw, partly hidden by straight brown hair that fell over his face in limp strands.
He smiled, but it felt wrong. “Go ahead.”
I swallowed, clammy palms gripping my dress, and turned toward the bushes. I heard him follow closely behind.
“If she can’t walk after, leave her behind,” the second soldier called out. The other soldiers echoed his snorts of laughter.
My blood froze.
“We don’t have all day, sweetheart. Let’s relieve ourselves.” His words slithered over me, tightening my chest.
My legs wobbled weakly. I dragged myself further into the bushes.
He hadn’t singled me out to help.
I should’ve just stayed in the cage.
I walked a few paces more and stopped, squeezing my eyes shut. I couldn’t outrun or fight a wolf.
“Faster. Or I’ll do it for you.” He said, casual and cold.
My eyes flew open.
I lifted my dress, inhaled a ragged breath.
I looked further into the field, praying to all the gods to help me. Somehow. Anyhow.
Then I saw a silhouette in the bushes.
A creature crouched low with glowing red orbs for eyes.
Eyes pinned on me.