(Amaia)
My eyes open and I find myself on the back of something moving along a bumpy road. My head hits the cold, hardwood below.
Rubbing my head, which is throbbing as if I have taken a bushel of alcohol, I sit up.
Where am I? I look around, and it's dark except for the celestial body in the sky guiding this open cart along the broken road.
It's being pulled by two sturdy horses and is filled with sacks of food, I assume. I have been dumped alongside these sacks.
A man with his back to me is guiding the cart forward, his head bounces with every bump we hit.
My hand tries to go behind my back and I find them tied in front with silver ropes. They seem to shimmer and glint under the silvery light of the moon as if alive.
Like molten mercury…
What kind of rope is it?
It doesn't hurt; it just leaves tingling sensations which seep into my skin like small jolts of pleasure.
I try to force my hands open but they won't budge.
And then his scent hits me.
My eyes wander and I find him travelling alongside the cart, mounting a sturdy white stallion.
His mouth-watering scent travels to me in waves of ecstasy. It makes me dizzy, and my eyes droop; I can't tear them away from this specimen. He seems to have descended right from the moon.
His long hair, which has been tied back in a thick braid, now rests on his spine. His steely jawline is no longer obscured by them.
His blue cape flies behind him while his pristine white uniform sets him apart from others.
The tattoo of a crescent moon glints on his forehead, revealing his status as an enforcer to everyone. Whoever passes by just gives way or stops to bow to him, appearing awestruck by his natural beauty and status.
The definition of heroes and celebrities has changed in this new world. They are the celebrities now.
I am sure he is not an ordinary werewolf, he is an alpha and a warlock. That explains the magic in his hair.
What a fucking perfect day.
Huradis has given me some kind of potion so my mate can no longer detect me.
Is this the reason Alnilam doesn't feel any connection with me?
He fails to recognise me as his mate?
Or maybe he is just a cold-hearted bastard who doesn't believe in mates and love.
"Where are you taking me?" I ask, unable to look away from his ethereal self while I lean against the cart.
He keeps his head straight, not sparing me a glance. Silvery rays of the moon bathe him in their glory, intermingled with a gold halo that stays around him.
"Where you so desperately wished to go, even if it meant sleeping with a man-whore. Do you have no dignity?" he venomously says.
The words dig into my heart like a glass dagger and shatter into a million pieces—each jabbing with its sharp edges.
I breathe through the pain, which is not only emotional but also draining.
Seems like he has already formed an opinion about me.
"I wasn't…he made me drink something, and it messed with my head," I still try to explain, to which I earn a scathing snort.
"Right!"
I ignore his remark.
"Where is my weapon?" I ask, instead and try to keep my body straight so I won't bump my head at the back of the cart.
It's getting bumpier and bumpier and the cartman doesn't seem to care.
"It's with me. Once we get to the academy, you will be ready to be tested in the pit. It will be returned to you."
He is going to throw me in the pit with the intent of testing. That's the first step to becoming a hunter in our world.
You fight and show you are capable of joining their ranks. If you survive, the training begins.
My stomach growls. My shoulders ache from the wound that bloody monster had given me and my thigh hurts.
There has been no food in my stomach since yesterday and I gave away the money I earned.
Using my elbow I poke the point where my thigh is hurting, remembering something had happened back in that room.
I remember the ominous words, they echo in my brain. Even Tarian's betrayal and rejection hadn't hurt the way this bleak future is doing.
Gathering up my dress I inspect my thigh and am left horrified to witness a mark there.
Like an eclipsed moon, a black and red circle rests on my right thigh as if it has been burnt into my skin.
I am pretty sure this is new, I have never seen such a mark on me before. Not only does it give dark vibes, but it feels ominous.
What have I ever done to deserve this? This angst, this hurt, this curse.
"If you are trying to seduce me like you did, Huradis, it won't work." Alnilam's smooth yet deep voice has me tipping my head and gazing into his eyes.
He is watching me with abhorrence and it pricks at my skin. The ropes tighten on my hands, a warning he gives me to behave.
I am pretty sure, these are not ropes but his hair.
Quickly, I cover my leg before he accuses me of something more.
"I wasn't…"
"Hasten up, we need to reach home before dawn. Don't want to attract too many monsters," he drags his gaze away and focuses it on the cart driver.
I see tall trees alongside the road and any lurking monster can attack our little caravan. But I sense something like a shield around us, a thin white veil which moves along him and the cart.
It has to be a protective spell against the monsters which freely roam our world.
"Milord!" The cartman answers, tightening and releasing the reins to give the horses enough freedom to pick up their pace.
Milord? Was he nobility? His impeccable attire and the way he carries himself definitely scream that he is from the upper echelons.
"Can I have something to eat?" I request, trying to sound humble and innocent. That mostly works with men and this one is supposed to be my mate.
His gaze returns to me, keenly scrutinising, and my heart unhealthily hammers against my chest. All the sweat decides to pour out of my pores although a formidable breeze is blowing, circling the tall trees alongside the road.
The unnatural effect this man is having on me, makes me doubtful of future survival.
Before the disappointment washes over me, he bends towards the satchel hanging from his saddle and takes something out. Tossing it towards me, he waits and observes as I lean forward and catch it.
Wrapped in large leaves and held together by a piece of rope I think it's food. Quickly snatching the rope away, I let the package rest on my legs and unwrap it, revealing a piece of meat inside. Most probably lamb.
"Thank you!" I appreciatively say and grab it in both hands. Bringing it closer to my mouth I take a bite and relish the taste of the meat. Juicy and tender, I have never tasted such meat before. I don't care if he is watching or not, I just devour it as if I'm starving for centuries.
The juice trickles down my chin and I just use my tongue to lap over it.
Alnilam shakes his head and I am not sure what he finds more disapproving, me eating like a savage or not caring he is watching me.
The meat has some kind of sedative in it because I instantly fell asleep after finishing it.
By the time I wake up again, a bird is screeching overhead and the cartman announces.
"We are here." I raise my head, which has been resting on a coarse sack, and blink several times, letting my eyes adjust.
Huge walls made from grey and red stone loom in front of us. The battlements have archers employed in them and I am sure they have warlocks too. The wall is guarded by the biggest metallic gate I have ever seen.
The sigil of the constellation of Orion is embedded in it, the stars are indicated by blue and golden orbs. They shimmer and twinkle with some kind of material trapped inside, as if alive.
We are here. We have reached the State of Orion, and the guards bow and open the gates for us.