The apothecary was the final shop Fabio decided to stop by before he took any other measures, however drastic they may be. Every other place had yielded nothing, no lead and no sight of Giselle. He knocked and upon receiving no answer, he entered ducking his head under the door's beam.
It was a simple stall with nothing very significant save for the rows and rows of vials lining the shelves. A soft breeze blew through the shop, carrying with it familiar herbal scents. A woman sat motionlessly at the counter, only looking up when Fabio was right in front of her. It was strange but he overlooked it. Another shadow lingered behind the black curtain. He subconsciously reached for his sword, only resting his gloved hand on it without drawing it. Perhaps he was now too used to being referred to by his title; even the other stalls seemed slightly aware that a noble was standing before them or at least recognized him as King but this woman was an exception. Her demeanor was startlingly cold and if Fabio didn't know any better he would conclude that she hated him.
"Greetings, miss. Have you seen a fair young woman–"
"–I have seen nothing, sir. You'd best be on your way."
A frustrated growl ripped from Fabio's throat before he could stop it. It seemed the suppressant he'd taken earlier was already working its magic else he was sure his wolf would have reacted worse. His instincts were more heightened than ever before; Giselle, as much as he despised calling her his mate, was still missing and badly injured. And it was all his fault. Guilt turned into anger and he slammed his fist on the counter, splintering the wood.
"I think you have, and you will tell me where to find her or face the consequence!" He bellowed, voice cracking with emotion. "She unmated and injured and in grave danger, if I don't find her–"
"Your Queen, my Lord, is in more danger from you than anyone else."
Her words settled painfully in his heart. His lips parted to reply but stopped when his gaze fell to her bare collarbone where her blouse had worn out. He recognized the symbol etched on her skin from a recent meeting with a caravan passing through his kingdom from Terra seeking trade and safe passage.
"Why would I trust the words of a witch?" This time, he didn't hesitate when drawing his sword with a loud swish, holding the blade to her throat. "There are many ways to get the information I need from you. Don't make me use them."
She didn't cower at the sight of his blade. "You wouldn't need to, dear King. I will tell you where she is, put your blade away. I only do this, however, because she is in real danger."
Against his better judgement, Fabio's heart broke at the thought of his mate somewhere out there, injured and lost, at the mercy of strangers and nature's elements. Reluctantly, he put his sword back in its sheathe. If finding his mate meant swallowing his pride and beseeching a witch, then so be it.
The woman continued, "She is headed northeast, at the gorge near Stygian Woods but I must warn you, King, that if you continue on this path of pain and distrust with your mate, you will plunge Montegnera into inevitable doom. The Gods are already angry at your actions thus you must be careful lest you bring even more judgement upon yourself."
Fabio has had this conversation so many times that it was tiring but the words seemed fresh even though he's heard it before from his sister, Dorian, the Elders and other well meaning advisors. Everyone seemed hellbent on getting him to accept Giselle without any regard for how he felt. This woman's warning carried a new weight, one which he hadn't been cautioned of prior to now. But of what concern did the kingdom have with his personal life? No matter, it was all hogwash, he thought to himself defiantly.
"I will not stay with an omega I do not love. Tell that to your gods."
"Hmm. Very well, but beware that in your quest to change your destiny, you don't destroy your kingdom."
Fabio left without another word to the witch, riding quickly for Stygian Woods, a bandit-infested area that merchants rarely passed through for fear of being robbed.
The sun had long dipped into thick clouds as dusk set upon the land. The weather was still fair, with a simple light breeze that did little to hide the familiar scent of roses leading up the crawling trail into the forest. There were horse tracks, as Fabio expected but he didn't pay it mind. Giselle's scent was clear as day.
Their bond was weak as should be expected since there was no love between them yet every time it rekindled, Fabio could only feel pain. She was always in pain.
And whose fault is it?, his wolf chided. He wouldn't pretend it wasn't. Even as he marched on to save her, the bitter taste of guilt still filled his mouth. All he could recall from this afternoon was their heated argument, his usual threats and Giselle's usual pleas for leniency and then nothing. Slowly bits and pieces of memory formed; her fearful eyes when she gazed up at him, the sweet scent of her blood, the absolute terror that coursed through the bond as she fled…
He had only traveled for a while when he came across an abandoned camp of sorts. It wasn't hers, that he could tell. It was a rather large camp with more than four tents, the remains of a large smouldered fire and footprints, that of grown men. By how stale their scents were, probably rogue alphas too. Fabio rummaged through the empty camp but found no one, all their belongings remained in their tents along with some food and water. It was after making his way back to his horse that he realized that there were no weapons left in the camp. Whoever was here had gone hunting and by the looks of it, not too long ago.
Giselle was still out in these woods somewhere.
"Shit." Fabio cursed under his breath, a million thoughts racing through his head.
Just then a bloodcurdling scream cut through the silence of the woods.
Whatever sane thought in him was long gone; he mounted his horse and kicked the animal's sides, galloping towards the sound in breakneck speed.
Giselle didn't see them coming but their stale smell sent fear licking through her. She had gone on hunting trips with her father before, never in these areas but in the secure lands surrounding their duchy so she knew that these alphas were out hunting. Dogs barked ahead of them, sending prey scattering in the forest but it also scared her horse. It veered off course, sending them right into their path and before she knew it, it was too late and she was surrounded.
The men laughed amongst themselves and leered at her, their canines bared in a way that sent shivers down her spine. There were more than a dozen men, some she could smell–a stench that was horrifyingly alpha–their voices echoing and distorting through the trees.
"What's a helpless omega doing in the middle of the forest?"
"Look at her silk skirt! A noble one at that—we've hit the jackpot!"
They had her surrounded and at their mercy. Bitter tears stood in her eyes but Giselle knew there was no use crying now. She could only hope to plead her way out of this or make a run for it and hope she could, maybe, outrun them.
"Please… you can have all my money, just let me go." Giselle realised how foolish she was to have ventured out into these woods with only a vague memory from years ago when she traveled to meet her auntie Marge. Not only was she utterly helpless, defenceless and alone, she was also injured. At that moment, she yearned for her Alpha in spite of what he had done to her. Biting back a heavy sob, she tried to maneuver her horse but was stopped by one of the men who had a jagged scar running down the side of his face. He forcibly steered the reins of her horse, bringing them to a sudden stop. "P-please, I will give you everything you ask, sir."
The scarred man cackled cruelly, pulling her down from her horse. Giselle staggered to the ground, crying out in pain from the sudden pressure to her wound.
The brute didn't let her fall all the way, pulling her up with rough hands holding her chin in place. "Everything, you say? I knew omegas were desperate to get their wet holes filled up but I didn't know they were this thirsty." He mocked. The others exploded into laughter, as if his disgusting words were the funniest thing all year. The tears she'd tried her hardest to keep at bay now fell freely down her cheeks.
In an instant, her blouse was ripped from her body amidst her startled cries, leaving only a thin chemise beneath. She screamed, trying to run away when another dragged her back. Hands, hands everywhere. They pulled on her hair, pushing her down to the grass. From the corner of her vision, she could see the scarred man reach for her but she evaded him. It did little to help her, though, he simply found her again, forcing her mouth open with his dirty hands. Within her, her omega reared to life with a howl and she bit down, hard until she drew blood.
With a sharp cry, the scarred man withdrew his hand, holding it close to his chest.
THWACK!
Giselle fell back at the brutal slap, hair strewn all over her face but didn't stay cowering for long. Unwanted hands forced her to kneel as he gripped her face in his hand.
"Worthless bitch! I'm going to enjoy ripping you in half–"
She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself for the inevitable pain. These men were lawless, a band of thieves that plundered whatever they wished and destroyed whatever remained. If she did survive them, the aftermath would be beyond brutal, that she knew well. Thin strips of tears ran down her cheeks at the thought that she may never see her parents again, her beloved friend Lysara, her sister and hell, even Fabio flashed through her mind for a moment. As deeply as her hate ran for him, she still wished with all her heart she could see him just once, just one last time.
Suddenly, the man's stale scent seemed to vanish into thin air followed by a dull thud like bone meeting granite. Giselle opened her eyes to see her assailant lying motionlessly a foot from where he stood before, body limp and broken, arms spread like a ragdoll.
The bandits looked around, confused and muttering fearfully to themselves, but didn't let her up. One ventured out further but the result was the same.
He sailed through the air as if flung by an unseen force, smashing into a tree and coming to a rest at its root. A flash of white zoomed across the clearing, too quick for normal eyes to see.
Only when it was clear that whatever stranger this was, was definitely superior did the bandits loosen their grip, some slinking back into the woods. It would seem they didn't go far, however, as horrified screams echoed throughout the forest. Satisfaction licked through her at the thought of those vile men meeting their horrible end but she didn't want to stick around to see what happens next.
Giselle's horse was long gone in the chaos—she could find it anywhere but she wasn't waiting around until whoever this stranger was came for her next.
She scrambled to her feet, leveraging her weight on the nearest tree as she limped away. She dipped into a groove of apple trees, snapping off a dried branch for support. The flash of white was back again, this time zooming dangerously close to the groove where she hid. She heard screams, another wretched bandit probably.
The forest was completely silent after that; no birdsong, no screams of a dying bandit. Just absolutely, chilling silence.
Giselle sunk deeper into her hiding spot.
"What are you doing, fair omega?"
She screamed at the top of her voice and broke into a run, not expecting the stranger's voice to be an inch from her ear.
He was chasing her and she was no match like this, wounded and tired.
"Please don't kill me please don't kill me please sir, please don't kill me!"
He was yelling something but she couldn't hear him, she wouldn't. Stopping would mean sure death.
Giselle's legs ached but she didn't stop, not when she tripped over an upturned root, not even when she stepped on a rabbit's carcass.
It was only when she ran into a solid block of flesh that she halted, recoiling in panic, ready to run away again.
"Giselle—stop!" She struggled with her captor relentlessly, pushing at his firm hands, "Giselle, wait! It's Fabio! It's your mate!"
Familiar cedar wood flooded her lungs and she inhaled his scent for the first time with relief. "Fabio, oh thank the gods!" her arms wrapped around him and he reciprocated, pulling her tight until their bodies melded together. All the cold of the forest seemed to vanish as she sunk into his warmth, crying and laughing with relief.
"I am so sorry, Giselle, it was all my fault. Fuck, if anything had happened to you–"
She was so cold, he thought, as he pulled her even closer rubbing into her scent gland until she let out a content purr.
"Is she alright?" The stranger was back, his voice crooning behind them.
Giselle turned around to look at the man for the first time. He was tall, perhaps the same height as Fabio but they couldn't be anymore different. He wore a silver shirt that did nothing to mute his pale skin—paler than driven snow, eyes red like blood and a shock of white hair on his head. His lips were as red as his eyes but didn't curl into a smirk like Fabio's usually did, rather his smile seemed genuinely kind. As if he cared. As if he didn't just rip more than a dozen men apart without breaking a sweat.
Fabio didn't look too surprised to see the stranger. Suddenly, the stranger wasn't a stranger at all.
"Lucien?" they shook hands with Fabio's still wrapped around her, this time even tighter?
Giselle stifled a gasp at his name. His reputation as the ruthless vampire King of Ravathorne was one to be feared.
"I thought I'd come earlier to see you, dear friend."