Hey guys! So, if you've read my other books you'll soon realize this is nothing like them. But I hope you still enjoy! 

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-&-

Chapter 1

       "We shouldn't be here." Mae groaned as we crouched lower under the bush just outside the soldier's eyesight.

       "Shush." I hissed under my breath and shot her a glare before turning my gaze back on the small squadron jogging pass. They were the border patrol, and with how heightened and trained their sense were- I was surprised they hadn't caught us. "Do you want to see him or not?" I grumbled when the patrol was far enough out of hearing range.

       "Yes, but not at this risk-!"

       "This is the only way, Mae. It's not like he's going to pay a peaceful visit to the village anytime soon."

       I could feel her nervous, crouched figure shuffling behind me, but I tried not to take my attention too far away from our situation. I could lie to her all I wanted, but there was no hiding the truth from myself. This was a bad idea. And we were too far into his territory to turn and make a run for it now.

       It was almost mid-day, and we would have to wait at least six more hours until nightfall. That was the only chance we had at making it back down the mountain without getting caught.

       "We shouldn't have done this." She groaned as I slowly rose from my crouched position behind the leafy bush, the heavy skirts of my dress catching on the sharp twigs. Perhaps I should have stolen some of Leikos's pants for this little adventure.

       I glanced carefully over the leafy bush that had provided our much-needed hiding spot, and could just barely make out the tops of his castle over the tree tops. "Maybe we should just head back, Emrie." The grip Mae had on my sleeve tightened, by I ignored the frightened and stressed tone in her voice. She was right, but that didn't mean I wanted to leave.

       "We are so close. I can see his castle." I whispered in something close to awe as I double checked the tiny dirt path before crawling out from under the bush- Mae reluctantly followed behind me. "We'll head back as soon as the sun sets. I promise." I gave her a small smile that she tried to return, but I could see the fear and worry in her eyes.

       I had no doubt that the rumors circling around the King of the North were true, and none of them were pleasant. I honestly didn't know what drove me to suggest our little adventure up the mountain and into his territory- I really didn't. The stories of what he did to simple travelers that stumbled across his land were horrifying enough. I didn't want to think about what he would do to us.

       "He'll eat the raw flesh from our bones Em!" Mae's tone trembled as she voiced the very thing I was thinking- but hearing it out loud just made me laugh. Out in the air, that idea sounded ridiculous. Not even wolf-bornes could do that, right?

       "Yes, and he will also make soup with our blood and liver." I snickered at the horrified look that crossed her face and shook my head. She was too easy sometimes. "Relax Mae, those are just stories. I highly doubt that they're true."

       She didn't look convinced, and if anything- she only seemed to be turning greener by the minute. I rolled my eyes and turned back towards the path. She was such a worry wart sometimes.

        And yet, even I was beyond nervous.

       The King of the North.

       That's what they called him. No one knew his true name, but his title alone was enough to make most shiver. Even me, though I tried to hide that fact from the trembling girl a few feet behind me.

       The King and a few of his soldiers had visited the Lower Kingdom a few months ago, and word of his awe-inspiring beauty had reached even the darkest corners of the far North that made up our home. This little trip wasn't an attempt to meet him, or even fawn over him like many of the southern women were said to have done.

       Oh no, that would definitely lead to our death. We just wanted a glimpse of him. One teeny, tiny, little glimpse of that other-worldly beauty the villagers and townspeople seemed consumed by.

       But no one was ever dumb enough to venture into his castle- much less his territory- to find out. Except, you know, for me. And I dragged poor, dear, sweet Mae along with me. I wouldn't let her fool me though- I knew she wanted to see him too. I just could not get that rambling nagging out of my head.

       One look. Just one look.

       It repeated over and over again in my mind like a dark mantra until it was the only thought taking over my subconscious. I needed to see him, even if it was only one quick glimpse. That should have been enough to satisfy the persistent voice pounding away in my skull.

       Mae's death grip held onto the long lapel of my rather thin cloak as her frightened hazel eyes glanced frantically around the forest. I tried to shake off that same fear coursing through her gaze as it crept slowly into my chest.

       Just one look, just one.

       The small squad of soldiers were nowhere in sight, and I let the soft sounds of the forest slowly calm my racing nerves. I was never one to do something so- so dangerous. Usually Mae and I were in the same boat when it came to keeping our noses out of trouble, but I could not stop this desire inside of me.

       The tall, overhanging trees made a dark canopy of green that let little light through. It was only because of the thin strands sparkling on the ground that we could tell it was still daytime. The snow softly gleamed under those thin streams, and I marveled at the crystallized beauty of it.

       I loved the snow, the cold, the northern kingdom. It was my home. Where I was born- where I was raised. The mountain called to me more than any place ever had before. My heart ached every time we took a trip to the Lower Kingdom. There was no cold there, and it never snowed.

       Mae's cloak was thicker than mine, and I could feel it brush against me every time a little woodland creature made a noise and she took a step closer. I kept my back straight and my breathing even. I had to be brave for both of us. After all, it was my stupid idea to come here in the first place.

       Her grip on me tightened as the trees around us began to thin, and the snow under our feet grew deeper. We were reaching the edge of the forest- and the entrance to his village. The King of the North might have been our king on paper, but he hardly ever left the village surrounding his castle, and he more-or-less left the other towns to fend for ourselves.

       He cared for no one, and nothing apart from his people. The wolf-borne.

       I was surprised to find no wall surrounding the kingdom, and even more surprised when we spotted only a few guards sulking around the outskirts. As far as we could tell, the few houses near the entrance were empty, and besides the occasional guard, there appeared to be no one near.

       "Is it supposed to be this... empty?" Mae asked softly from behind me as we crouched low behind a shrub near the edge of the forest.

       "I don't think so." I whispered back as a guard walked past the entrance before disappearing around a corner. "Maybe there's something going on in their square. Let's go find out." I didn't give her second to register what I said before I shot out of the shelter of trees and headed straight for the village entrance. Mae stumbled quickly after me.

       "Emrie wait!" She hissed at me as I quickly jumped around the side of a house with her toppling on top of me just in time to avoid the guard walking by. "What the hell Emrie?! Give me some warning next time!"

        I gave her a sheepish smile as she brushed the snow off the front of her thick dress. "Sorry Mae." She ignored my weak apology, but shot me a scowl anyway as I shimmied around the back of the house.

       I peeked around the corner of the cold, stone structure to make sure the guard had passed before quickly sneaking my way to the next one. They were all squished together with very thin strips of ground separating the tiny shacks. Just big enough for her and I to squeeze through. I didn't know what I was expecting really. It was just like any other village- except for the wall.

       Maybe I was hoping the rumors would be true and that there were wolf dens and wolves themselves running around everywhere. But there weren't, and I couldn't help the disappointment that surged through me.

       We had just squished in the little crawl-like space between two houses when movement flashed in the corner of my eye. I quickly shoved Mae into the side of the house and slapped my hand over her mouth as one grumpy looking guard stormed pass the little alley with cursed words tumbling under his breath. I didn't let go of her until he exited the village.

       "Ow." She groaned and rubbed the back of her head as I stuck my head out into the main street. "We really shouldn't be here, Emmy." She mumbled as I turned around and walked towards the end of the alley.

       Bingo.

       There was a little space between the back of the stores and houses for a few small bodies to fit through. I shot her a victorious smile and wiggled my way into the little space. I could hear the profanities grumbled under her breath, but chose to ignore them. I was the one who persisted to come here. She had a right to be a little peeved.

       "It's not too late to turn back, you know." She tried once again to persuade me from the goal I was one-hundred-percent set on. I shot her an apologetic smile. The space was so small were nearly squished flush against each other, and I could practically feel the fear streaming off her.

       "No one has caught us yet. We can turn around and go home-"

       "One look. I only need one look." I honestly had no idea why I was so adamant about seeing him. It truly was a stupid idea. I wished I could have just stayed home on my little cot next to some cozy fire and be content with the image my imagination created of him- but I couldn't.

       It wasn't a fascination to see him. It was a need.

       "What happens if we get caught?" She whispered as we edged our way behind the houses. I honestly wasn't sure where we were going, but this way felt right so I was sticking with it.

       "Honestly? I have no clue. I'll probably just wing it."

       Her arm shot out of the air and gripped onto me tighter than any death grip she had ever given. I turned to her with a raised eyebrow. Her wide, terrified eyes stared back in anger. "You'll just wing it?!"

       I shrugged my shoulders and nodded. Her hazel eyes only widened even more. I turned away from her and began scooting back down the passage. "I haven't really thought ahead this far. I was almost positive we would have been caught by now."

       "I'm going back, Emrie. This was a horrible idea-"

       "Sh!" I hissed as loud voices suddenly broke through the silence surrounding us. I grabbed ahold of her hand and crouched down low as shadows passed the end of the passage just four feet away from us. She squished against my back in terror. At least one of us had something to lean on.

       "The King is running late. Something about some stragglers near the border." A gruff voice that suggested the owner was twice the size of a normal man reached our ears- I gulped. The quiet gasp of terror that passed from Mae's lips let me know she was thinking the same thing as me. Was he talking about us?

       "You think they would learn by now." Another voice chuckled as I pushed Mae and I back a foot when the shadows drew closer to the passage's opening. I didn't even want to think about what would happen if we were caught now. In their village, right under their noses. Fear raced down my spine.

       God, we should have turned back- we should still turn back. But I can't.

       Just one look.

       "They were handled by the Southern Patrol. Just some family passing through."

       Relief slammed into my chest and I tried to hold back my heavy sigh as Mae slumped heavily against me. Luck must have been on our side that day.

       "The ceremony is about to start, are you headed that way-"

       Their voices trailed off as their shadows faded away- and I nearly fell on my hands and knees in relief. We weren't caught, and that hadn't been us they were talking about. That was close. "We should really go now." Mae whispered and tugged on my hand as I climbed back onto my feet.

       "Are you crazy? Did you hear what they were saying? There's a ceremony going on, and we get to find out what!" Excitement over took my fear and I was holding onto her hand with new vigor as I checked the small street outside the passage.

       The King of the North and his people were not only highly feared, but highly secretive. No one knew what they did all the way up in their tight-knit little village, and we were going to find out. Not only did I finally get to see him, but I got to see a little glimpse into their culture as well.

       That was more than any shifter at the base of the mountain ever saw.

        I pulled Mae across the vacant, snow covered, cobblestone street and into an alley that held a bright light at the end. I edged us as close as I dared. On the other side of the two wooden planked stores we were crouching behind was a flat area filled to the brim with people.

       Most of them were huge male figures with small children and women woven in between them. Whoa- There were stories about the size of the Northern soldiers, and despite a few confirmations from those in the Lower Kingdom- many thought they were overexaggerated.

       They weren't.

       In the middle of the throng of people there was a raised platform with six, large, wooden chairs sitting in a row- and a throne sitting proudly between them.

       "I can't see anything." I groaned as someone walked onto the stage and the villagers cheered. The loud, booming, voices of the men sent vibrations through my entire body. These people made me feel like a four-foot sized munchkin.

       "M-maybe that's a good thing." Mae mumbled as I stood on my tip toes and tried to glance over the tall bodies fifteen feet away from us. "This could be an execution, o-or a punishment, Em. We shouldn't be here-"

       "Help me look for somewhere higher to watch." I had barely finished speaking when I saw a thin copper ladder attached to the side of the house we were crouched against. I couldn't help the smile that reached my lips.

       Yes.

       "No Emrie, don't-" I ignored the desperate plea in her voice and reached up until I had a firm grip on the bottom rung. I wanted to laugh out loud at the excitement surging through me, but I knew better than that. It took me a good minute or two before I could haul myself up enough to plant my feet on the bottom of the old iron ladder.

       "Are you coming or what?" I whispered down at her as I began climbing the rest of the way to the roof. When I finally pulled myself onto the hard, wooden roof- with a grumpy Mae following behind me- six ginormous males had begun filing onto the stage. I sent her a sly smile which she chose to ignore. I knew she would follow.

       We crouched low to the floor of the roof, and hid behind the small ledge that enclosed the building. We could see everything from this height, and thankfully they couldn't see us- hopefully they couldn't see us.

       We watched six, giant, brutish looking men walk along the stage and take- what I assumed- was their respected seats. The throne remained empty. I frowned.

       Where was he?

       That unnatural feeling hidden deep inside me flipped uneasily as a man shorter and thinner than the rest walked onto the stage. Something about him was off- and dark. Please don't let that be the King-

       "I apologize for the delay." He didn't yell or shout, but his voice reverberated throughout the whole area without major effort. Wow... only the elders in our village could do that. "Our Great King had some important matters to attend to. But now the ceremony can begin!" The crowd cheered as the creepy announcer raised his hands.

       I watched in blatant wonder as he held his thin, long, white arm out towards the stone steps at the base of the platform. The cheers were quiet and respectful as a figure the size of two male villagers put together stepped onto the stage. My eyes widened at the impossible size of the man. That was definitely the King.

       "There, Emrie. You saw him. Can we please go now?" Mae begged as her eyes darted around the large guards below us.

       I frowned in disappointment.

       "You're kidding, right? We haven't seen any of him."

       Which was true. That nagging in my head didn't fade or diminish as the big, no doubt muscled-covered figure, took a seat on his throne. He was covered from head to toe in black. He wore long black cloak over and equally black pants and tunic that clung to his huge body. A hood was pulled far over his head and hid all features from the view of his people- and me.

       "I'm sure this is what his people see every day. We can-not risk being here any longer." She tugged on my hand and tried to edge back towards the ladder, but I only dragged her down again.

       "Not yet, I want to see what the ceremony is."

       She let out a loud groan and fell flat on her stomach besides me. "Emmy please. I hardly ever beg, but I'm begging you now. Please let's go while everyone is distracted-"

       "It's starting."

       I waved her off as the announcer gained the attention back from the crowd and away from the King. But I couldn't find it in me to tear my eyes off him. He looked like he was trying to appear lazy and relaxed in the throne that was so ginormous it had to be made specifically for him- but I could see the way he leaned slightly off his right shoulder.

       He was in pain.

       A phantom ache surged through my own arm, and I rubbed it absentmindedly as the creepy announcer addressed the crowd once again. "On this fifth day of the new year, we gather together to celebrate the ceremony of our Great King's birth!"

        I groaned in disappointment as the crowd once again clapped and let out respectful cheers. They were here for his birthday. Just perfect. Some great secret ceremony we stumbled on. But I still didn't want to leave, and I couldn't tear my gaze off the overly large man resting against the back of the throne.

       His arms crossed lazily over his chest, his left shoulder hanging just a fraction lower than the right. I had no idea why I noticed it, or how, but that small symbol of pain drew my eyes to him like a magnet.

       Despite that, his body language suggested that he was just as annoyed with the ceremony as I was. The announcer-person I didn't like started trailing off about something to do with the moon and stars, and some cosmic thingy, but I was staring too hard at the King to notice.

       Just one look- one glimpse was all I needed, and then we could run out of here like the Underworld was on our heels. I just needed him to turn his head up a little bit, just enough so the light of the sun could hit his face under that hood-

       "Em! What are you doing?!"

       I hadn't realized I was leaning over the edge of the roof, like I could somehow get closer to him, until Mae's hand suddenly gripped onto my arm and yanked me back. If anyone had looked up at that moment, they would have seen me hanging almost completely over the side of the building- and we would have been screwed.

       "Shoot!" I hissed as she pulled me back down and crouched low like that would help what just happened.

       "Did anyone see you?" She gasped as we crouched even lower on the roof. I didn't dare try and glance at the crowd.

       "I have no idea. Let me check-" My voice, as well as my body, shook as I carefully peeked over the edge. A breath of relief left me when I saw everyone's attention focused on the announcer- even the men sitting in the six chairs on stage.

       Except one.

-&-

I hoped you enjoyed!

For those of you who are having obvious issues with the main character, I don't care about you leaving your opinion in the comments, what I care about is you insulting myself as a writer and readers who actually enjoy the book. Be respectful to everyone, everywhere. Even if you don't like what you read. Encourage compassion and caring, not hate.