Freya's Pov
The rope dug into my skin, rubbing harshly against it. I stumbled in the darkness as they pulled me along, struggling to match their fast pace when the moon barely illuminated my path but they walked leisurely, unaffected by the darkness and the uneven ground of the forest.
" Please I promise I won't tell anyone what I saw just let me go". I tried begging my way out of this , my voice hoarse from hours of shouting
Someone snickered, I wasn't sure who it was but it sounded feminine. One of the men I had come to know as Ryker walked closer to me and tilted my chin up forcing me to look up at him
"No one would believe you even if you did. You'd probably end up in a looney bin". He said with a smile that barely reached his eyes as he toyed with my hair.
End up in a looney, the irony. Just three days ago my supervisor had called me into his office after getting 'complaints' about my mental health and forced me to go on a paid indefinite suspension.
"Think of this as us doing you a favour." His fingers dug into my chin, holding a moment too long before he shoved me away.
I stumbled, almost losing my footing. The man pulling my rope caught me just before I hit the ground, letting go the second I regained my balance. The others laughed and jeered, mocking my inability to stay upright.
"Ryker, enough!" he snapped, finally glancing back. "You know the Alpha decides her fate not you."
"Theo, we all already know her fate… You're the only one selfish enough to deny it" . Ryker gestured towards the group. Some of them nodded in agreement, the rest ignored him.
"Even if I'm the only one that's willing to admit it. Not even your moral code can save her". He snorted.
Theo's steps faltered.
" Rogue or human she still trespassed our borders that means execution, you know that better than anyone else". Ryker said as he placed his hand on Theo's shoulder, his smirk now long gone.
Tears welled up in my ears, I waited for theo to say otherwise. That all this was just some misunderstanding but all I was met with was silence.
I tried to choke back a sob but it came out loud and ugly.
" This is all a misunderstanding, I was just on a camping trip, I didn't know I had crossed your borders, please just let me go". I begged desperately, walking towards Theo.
Theo turned back to look at me, pity etched on his face but he was conflicted. I noticed his grip on the rope loosen just enough and tried to make a break for it.
I hadn't even gotten five steps when I was dragged back with an inhumane like force. I hit the ground with a loud thud. Pain wracked my body, and my sobs became louder. With blurry vision I looked up to see my captors with different expressions of boredom and pity.
Theo crouched beside me.
"Don't make things worse for yourself, I'm the only one stopping them from tearing you to shreds, just stay close". He whispered into my ear.
Looking into his eyes, I didn't see a hint of betrayal, I gulped and nodded showing I understood. He pulled me up but I could barely stand on my own.
He picked me up and threw me over his shoulders like I weighed nothing.
Ryker shook his head as he and the rest of the group followed behind.
"You're just delaying the inevitable, if you really cared about her you would give her a quick death". Ryker called out to him again
This time Theo's steps didn't falter, if anything he picked up his pace now that he didn't have to worry about me lagging behind.
"Keep up, we're almost home".
Home.
Their home.
My death bed.
It didn't take long especially without me slowing the group down, we had reached the end of the tree line. A huge bonfire was burning at a distance. Laughter, dancing and the sound of drums permeated the air. We were here.
Theo moved toward the bonfire.
"We almost sent out a search party to look for you pups, that might just be the record for the longest first run ever". A jolly voice said followed by loud laughter from the crowd gathered that stopped as soon as theo dropped me to the ground.
"We ran into a problem". Ryker mumbled shoving me towards the man speaking to him. He was tall but ripped, every part of him was made of muscle, he was made for battle and to instill fear.
The crowd that had been dancing earlier had begun to gather around us, murmurs ran through the crowd .My heart thundered, my palms sweaty as I moved toward Theo who had somehow become my safe space .
"Why would you bring a non-pack member deep into our territory, have you lost your mind". The once jolly voice had given way to a terrifying yell.
The group I had arrived with flinched hard at the loud outburst . Their heads lowered.
"She's not just a non-pack member." Ryker muttered as he threw Theo a nasty look.
"Beta John, she's human we didn't know what to do. Pack protocols say nothing about what to do if a human breaches our borders". Theo said trying to reason with him.
"Human? A human can't breach our borders, the enchanted wards were created specifically to keep them out". Beta John said, his eyes narrowing as he stalked closer.
Hand's trembling, I moved backwards slowly trying to put as much distance between the both of us as much possible.
" Please,he's telling the truth I'm human. I had no idea I had come into your territory". I said as tears poured profusely from my eyes.
He sniffed the air, my scent confirming I was human. His gaze softened and his lips pressed together, he stared at me for a while thinking. A glimmer of hope rose in my chest.
"You are still an intruder and pack rules call for immediate execution". He said finally.