Chancing Luck

Chancing Luck
Emmalee
"Emmalee, you're not thinking straight," Sybille claims as she follows me around the room. I'm packing a small bag with some water and supplies that will last me around two days. I'm only taking the basics—most of the things I currently own aren't even mine. 
"You asked me to wait a few hours for news about him. That's what I did out of respect for you. I want you to know that. But now it's time for me to figure out what to do and get involved. This is my family we're talking about, Sybille."
"I know," she admits, throwing her hands in the air. "I just don't want you to get hurt. I've never had any other relative apart from my father. I don't want to lose anyone else."
I halt and take her hands in mine. We stare at each other for a few beats before I say, "I know that, and I consider you a sister even though we haven't known each other for long, but my son who's in danger, not a stranger."
"Romain will bring him home. How will you head out there and try to save them? You haven't even started fighting properly yet. There's so much more you need to learn."
"I know more than I ever did before. It's something and I'm extremely grateful for it."
Her warnings are all falling on deaf ears. There's no way in hell that I'm going to let Soren get the upper hand in this. My son? I've been a terrible mother as it is. I put him in this situation and it's my job to take him out of it.
He'll believe me over Romain. That, I'm sure of. 
"Fine, okay," Sybille whispers, nodding and blinking back tears. I feel bad because I know she's genuinely worried about us. About me. "I'll accompany you about halfway. I need to be back here. My father needs me."
"I appreciate it," I say genuinely. 
We're just heading out when Fang stops us. I swear this man materializes in front of people. He'll be locked in his office all day in his robes, then randomly appear where he isn't wanted. I despise him and will never keep that a secret. 
His face is grave and his voice is a low rumble in his chest when he says, "Something terrible has happened."
My heart sinks to the very pit of my stomach when these words leave his lips. I know it has to do with Romain before he even says a word. 
"Oh, Dad. What is it now?"
"The men who went with Romain inside your husband's estate were found by our scouts. They were in a burning pile right in the middle of the road. It was established that Romain wasn't among the dead but we lost good men. Men we've known for years."
"What...what does that mean? Where's Romain?"
"I doubt he got away. He has most likely been captured by your husband."
Sybille exclaims and my chest tightens. Fang steps forward and grabs me by the arms. "There's no time to despair. This is where you come in. You know that man better than anyone else. We're losing this war and fast. Something must be done."
"Dad, how can you say that?" Sybille chides him angrily. "What's Emmalee supposed to do? Hand herself over to that sick man on a silver platter? What a cruel suggestion!"
"That's exactly what I must do," I say to her. Her eyes meet mine and I notice that shock is stamped all across her face. I nod and add, "It's the only way we'll gain the upper hand. My life in exchange for Romain's."
"Oh, Emmalee," Sybille gasps. "But what guarantee do you have that he'll let Romain go once you're in his clutches? He'll have complete control over you and you'll be powerless. I think this is a terrible idea."
"It's the only card we have left to play," Fang cuts in. "I'll have some guys escort you there."
"Dad!"
O put a hand on Sybille's arm. Her gaze meets mine as Fang walks away from us. I tell her, "I'll be fine. I'm an adult. It's the only way."
We embrace and in her eyes, I see defeat. I can't lie and say I'm not terrified of what's going to happen next. I know that this is Soren's ideal situation and that he's just waiting for an opportunity to trap me. Perhaps he already has. I'm not even allowing myself to panic about Romain. 
I will do everything in my power to ensure his release. 
"I have to go now," I whisper. "I'll see you soon, alright?"
Fang arranges for me to leave right away. He doesn't say a word to me. I opt to keep my lips sealed, too. I'm heading out there with no fixed plan in my mind. I'll figure it out along the way—it's my only option. 
Shifting and racing there is the fastest way to leave the mountain. Enough time has been wasted and all I can think about are the horrors he's probably enduring at the hands of Soren and his men. 
And Brent. What happened? Was he warned? Did Romain even get a chance to talk to him?
Three hours later, we're running through the forest that borders Iron Claw. We have to move silently and this isn't a strength of mine but I do my best. It's frightening, trying not to be caught by Gammas. They're everywhere—there's not a single spot where—
The wolf in front of me steps on a twig noisily, attracting the attention of two Gammas who shift before I can even blink and race toward me. They howl, attracting even more attention. I run. The wolves Fang sent with me have disappeared. I don't even know where they've gone. 
I don't have the time to look around. I can only run for my life. 
But I'm caught. Five Gammas circle me and I have no way out. In the end, I'm carried to Iron Claw by two of them, unable to fight back because I've been bound. I'm pretty sure there are traces of silver on these chains because they're biting into my flesh. 
Arriving at the gate sickens me. I didn't think I'd ever come here again. It seems I was wrong. I overhear one of the Gammas tell the guards that I'm a rogue prisoner and that's when I realize that they have no idea who I am.
I don't know why I didn't think of that before. For some reason, I thought they knew exactly who I was. 
They don't know that I'm no longer on their side. 
I try to shift back but it seems I was right—the traces of silver in the chains stop me from doing so. Freeing myself is no use, so I wait for that time when they'll be removed from my body so I can shift back. 
Right now, my priority isn't worrying about standing before these men completely naked. 
I announce who I am and demand them to release me and fetch Soren. 
Only one of my commands are obeyed.