Chapter 18

When Fiona got back to the abandoned fortress, Eric and the rest of the wolf hunters were there. Fiona, still reeling from what happened earlier would have preferred to be by herself to think about what she’d just done. It shouldn’t have mattered; it was not the first time she’d killed a man, much less a wolf. As a wolf hunter, she’d killed well over fifty wolves. So why then was this different?

Why was this kill gnawing at her mind nonstop?

When Fiona was twelve, her parents were killed by two rogue wolves who had attacked them while they were on a camping trip. To protect her, her parents hid her out of sight and tried to distract the wolves by running in the opposite direction. It had worked, because she was still alive but they had not been so lucky.

Her knowledge and hatred of wolves started that unfortunate day. She vowed to avenge her parents but after the first kill, it wasn’t enough. Or rather, it had not done much in the way of easing her hatred. And so, Fiona decided that she would spend her life cutting short the continuity of the wolves’ species.

She’d met Eric when she was eighteen. Kane was already a part of the wolf hunters when she’d joined and it’s been love at first sight for her. He had been young but ambitious and his eyes had held deep secrets she would have given anything to uncover. But try as she might, he did not develop for her the kind of feelings she did for him and as a result, it created an ache deep down in her heart because she knew he never would. And to this day, it ached still.

“Where have you been?” Eric asked her once she'd walked into the camp.

For the first time since Fiona joined Eric’s crew, she was beginning to see him in a whole different light. If one was a part of Eric’s crew, it was not new knowledge that the man was a brutal son of a bitch. He killed without mercy and did not forgive betrayal. That she could tolerate. He was the leader anyway and to the best of her knowledge, he had not been killing any wolves that were not dangerous.

But burning an old woman’s hut while she was inside?

Fiona was sick to her stomach. She stared at Eric, wondering how she’d not seen it before; his penchant for blatant viciousness. “Why did you lie?”

Eric’s eyes narrowed at her as the crew quieted. “What the hell are you on about now?”

“You told everyone Kane was corrupt, that he was part of the wolves when you know damn well that’s a lie,” she spat at him.

His brows raised. “Do I now?”

“All you care about is your damn prophecy. A prophesy you are yet to say who told you. One that has every chance of being a lie.”

Eric’s nostril flared. “Watch it.”

Fiona was too far gone to stop now. Her actions towards Emmett were her cross to bear but she would not be here, in this fucked up kingdom, if it hadn’t been for Eric. “Instead of trying to kill an innocent old woman in her sleep, you should have been trying to rescue Kane from the claws of the wolves!”

“Ah,” Eric chuckled. “That’s what this is about? Your little crush on Kane?”

“Don’t.” Fiona felt a pinch in her nose and angry tears welled up in her eyes. “Don’t you dare.”

Eric’s devious chuckle gradually transformed into a booming laugh that went on for way too long. No one spoke as he laughed, and Fiona felt the helpless tears run down her face as she folded her fists, her fingers digging into her palm painfully. Rage filled her; rage towards Eric and towards herself for being so pathetic.

Eric’s laugh came to an end and he dramatically wiped a tear from one corner of his eyes. “Pathetic, isn’t it?” he asked her. “Loving a man who only sees you as nothing but a… colleague? Especially when it’s evident to everyone else but him?”

A few chuckles rose in the air. Fiona tightened her fist further, trying to control the heavy heaving of her chest as she tried to suppress the sob that was threatening to come out. Never in her life had she felt so humiliated. Eric knew what he was doing and he knew it was working.

“I’d feel sorry for you, Fiona, if I gave a shit about your feelings,” Eric’s tone was hard. “Kane betrayed the wolf hunters and everything we stand for the second he decided to fall in love with one of them. I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks, I do not condone betrayal.”

“You’re a heartless bastard,” she managed to get out without breaking down. “I can’t believe I’m just seeing it.”

Eric shrugged. “Your perception of me is irrelevant, sweetheart.” His tone was condensing and the small smile on his lips could’ve passed for the devil’s.

“I will never let you hurt him, Eric. I won’t.”

Eric’s thin lips straightened. “Then be prepared to die alongside him.”

A few of the crew gasped. Fiona was not surprised. She’d known Eric was planning something that greatly resembled death for Kane. Even if she would die in the process, she would make sure nothing happened to the man she loved.

“In two days, the wolf hunters will strike and overtake this kingdom and all that resides within it,” Eric said, turning from her and facing the crew. “We will kill anyone who stands in our way, leave no stone unturned.”

“Eric—” Fiona’s voice was desperate. “—don’t do this. We can go. We don’t have to kill anyone. They’re not rogues like you said. They have a king.” Eric had convinced them the Blue Hound kingdom was one saturated with rogues. It was one of the reasons she and Kane had joined on this expedition. He’d also said the Blue Hound wolves were the worst of the worst but Fiona thought about how the princess had fought for her life even after she’d killed her best friend. It had all been a lie.

Eric’s head snapped to hers. “A wolf is a wolf! Whether or not they’re rogues is redundant. They are all abominations that need to be wiped out and I will take great pleasure in doing so. You’re either for us or against us, Fiona. Make a choice.”

Fiona resigned. There was no changing Eric’s mind. She could not leave the hunters as there was nowhere else to go. They were too far from civilization for her to part ways with them. The wolf princess might have been against killing her but the same could not be said for the rest of the wolves. If she went back there, she was sure to die.

So, she swallowed her protest and her pride and begged Eric to let her stay with them. She would follow his lead and would do as he commanded. After all, Kane was the one he wanted. Killing Emmett had not made her an enemy of the hunters. It was either Kane or her and the choice was not a difficult one to make.

Love be damned.