The cold nipped at their fur and hide. Bowed heads with noses plastered to the snow. Transitioning from the bloody dress, that Sakura held so tenderly, to the ground.

Scent.

     The tainted smell of vanilla and stranger was what they we're looking for. It's what they followed to the foot of a certain mountain range where the trail went dry. The collective clutch of mountains before them were known as the Imperium Mountains. "Mountains of Power" was what the ancients called it. The most deadliest terrain that no mortal nor creature dare to climb.

"How do you think they got up there?" A giant muscular tan wolf questioned as a Sakura rode on his back. Looking at the black Alpha that didn't dare to remove his ruby red eyes from the range. Remaining silent as Jason continued with his questions. "How are we gonna get up there?"

"Simple," spoke the Alpha. Walking away from the foot of the mountain as his body dissolved. Paws turning into two leather shoes as his hand rummaged in the black pocket. Slipping an iPhone from his pants before the light of the screen lit up with the motion. A sneaked picture of Serena's smile flashing before his eyes before the unlocking, swiping threw his contacts quickly. A perplexed Jason stared as an oblivious Daren and Alice scanned the mountain. Feeling their nerves getting the better than them. His thumb found the name, tapping the number before slipping the phone against his ear. Jason hearing the distant ring of phone as snowflakes fell around them.

"Hello?" A familiar voice picking up the phone. The tinge of frustration and worry apparent in his tone.

"Henry," Ky replied, addressing Serena's older CIA brother. "Get the Heli...we have a lead."

And the phone went dead. The time for goodbye unnecessary.

*

The padding of small feet against marble broke the silence of the long, wide hall. A nonchalant hum vibrating from the small throat. The small hop of red curly hair jumping and falling through the air with every skip. The young girl playfully dancing through the hall. Lost in her own little mind as she was unaware of her distance from the throne room. The groan of pain and fastness of air coming faintly. Her mind was torn away from her little dance as the disturbing sound slipped into her ears. The hum and skip came to a slow before stopping all together, standing still. Her weight on the front pad of her feet, her heels off the ground cautiously. Her body leaned forward out of instinct, peering eyes yearning for an image. The sound non-stop as she hesitantly walked directly towards the room. Moving like a deer about to leave the shelter of the forest out into an open meadow. Seeing a familiar outline of the master she had been staying with for so long. Of the only man should could remember, the same one she had open her eyes to. And then, that was when the smell hit her. Blood, salt, vanilla, and hard dried leather. That was when she knew...and that is when she wanted to run in and tear the scene in two.

"Young Lady!" A maid called from behind. Startling the young girl as she jumped back, facing the woman quickly. "The Master told you not be here during the day!" She scolded. The middle-aged woman wagging her finger in disapproval. "It's not good for a child to be all around...this. Bad for the soul, bad for the mind. Hurry! Come before the master finds us! I can't imagine what punishment he could possibly have for you or I." She urged, a hint of fear trembling slightly in her voice. Her eyes scanning the area carefully, not wanting the two to be seen. Terrified if word would get back to Dante of their presence near the throne room. She grabbed the young girl's wrist gently, but her pull was firm. Walking quickly as she dragged the young girl behind her. The small red head not putting up a fight for she didn't want to show bias for the female werewolf she so wished to spare. Looking over her shoulder at the throne room; confirming that she would have to sneak painkillers for the twelfth time.

The hallway lost its atmosphere as they slipped away. Leaving nothing but the faint sound of pain that escaped Serena's lips after every thrash of air. Hands tied together above a head of brown. Strands soaked in blood as they clung to exposed breast. A tired forehead with furrowed brows against the wooden pole that trapped her hands. Knees weak and tender from kneeling too long in the pool of blood. A ragged brown cloth covering her crotch and ass as the rest remained exposed. She flinched with the flick of the servant's wrist. The hard black leather whip ripping a new gash across her spine. Hearing it fall against the floor with force before blood splattered against the marble floor. Feeling the warm liquid of her blood trickle down her raw, swollen back. Every contortion of her back made the numerous gashes extend and swell. Every movement painful. He stared at her, admiring the frame of her slender beautiful body. Finding it a shame that she was the enemy. He sighed, getting tired of the game they have to play. He snapped his finger and the servants took a step back. Allowing him to round the scene before he stood before her. He tugged at his suit jacket before crouching in front of her, coming face-to-face.

"Look," he began. His hand reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket. Pulling out a small, white, marble box. His thumb flicking open the lid before he brought the contents to his mouth. Biting gently on a white cigarette before he pulled it out with his teeth. Balancing the small white tube on his lips as he closed the box with a snap and put it away. Without a second thought he pulled out a white marble lighter. Flicking the top open with a snap. "You've been here for like, what? 10 days and still no sign of rescue or word of search party?" He taunted with the shaking of his head. His thumb running over the metal gear before it ignited the gas. Bringing the small flame to the end of the tube. Inhaling the nicotine to catch the flame.

"15 days," her voice a whisper.

"What?" His eyebrows rose with the snapping of his lighter. Slipping it back into his coat pocket with a taken back expression. She swallowed and lifted her eyes to his.

"I have been here for 15 days," she gritted through her teeth. Looking upon him with the same hate as she did the very first day they met. A gaze that had not broke no matter what he did to her. He was expressionless...for a moment. Eyes almost fascinated by the woman before him. Taking another moment to stare into her glaring eyes. He exhaled and the corner of his lips pricked up into a smile.

"And you haven't wavered since," popping the cigarette in between his lips before straightening up. Breathing out a puff of smoke as he left her on the floor. His dress shoes clipping on the marble as he approached his master butler. Putting his hand upon the elderly man's shoulder before he whispered in his ear. "Have the maids clean her up and the royal physician treat her wounds."

"My lord-" the elderly man began in protest. Surprised by his young King's request.

"Do as I say!" Dante commanded, squeezing the Butler's shoulder in a threatening tone. "And get this shit cleaned up!" Taking a hit of his cigarette as he walked away. Flopping down onto his throne as the butler clapped his hands. The other butlers moving quickly on cue as several maids helped Serena get to her feet. Helping her out of the throne room as the men removed the whips and cleaned up the blood. Making the scene vanish completely as if it had never happened. Being dismissed so the two men could be left alone. The elderly butler looking upon the young King with suspicion.

"My majesty," he began in monotone. A storm locked behind tense lips. "May I ask a question?"

"Am I going to like what I hear?" He sneered, eyes flashing ruby.

"You won't know until I say, do you?" His remark was unshaken and steady.

"Very well then, speak! Get it off your chest...while you can." Dante toyed with him. Laid back in his throne without a care in the world.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The lock broke and the wind had only begin to stir. The young King's nonchalant facade snapping with the disrespectful tone of his butler.

"Excuse me?" He scoffed, getting to his feet.

"You heard me! What the hell do you think you're doing?! Isn't the goal not torturement?" He was rhetorical, switching tactics quickly. "Isn't the goal to break her up into pieces until she can no longer differentiate the difference between her mouth and her ass hole? To get some fucking answers so we can get revenge for your father's murder!!!"

"Would you please enlighten me on what you think I am doing? Please, tell your King how he should be running his operation." He was pissed. Reveling in his anger as he took another hit of his cig. Blowing a puff of smoke in the Butler's path.

"Treatment? Really? After all that hard work you're washing it all away with the physician curing her wounds??? I would have let her bleed out in her cell. Leaving her to rot as the rats fed on her flesh." He gritted between his teeth. Looking like a snake about to strike. Unfortunately for him...a snake was no match for a lion. With the stealth for a predator, Dante stalked. The cig still between his lips before his hands slipped into the pocket of his pants.

"Rot...huh? Is that what you would do?" Tilting his head to the side. "Leaving her to the rats and bacteria is that what I'm hearing?" He stepped down the steps. Eyes narrowed and piercing as daggers. "Leave her prone to infection and have her die on me because you wanted to, oh wait, what was the word again? Oh yeah...ROT!" He spat in the butler's face. The butler taking a deep breath as he stood his ground. "I need her ALIVE to get answers from her. I need her to be fucking conscious to find the goddamn name. Did you think about that, Charles? Huh?! Did you think about that before parading in here thinking you should run the show!" He snarled. His eyes like fire as he stared at his butler straight in the eye. Hands tense as he waited for another snarky comment.

He hesitated and with a deep sigh bowed his head in submission. "My apologies your highness. I was afraid that your true intentions had been tampered with." The butler admitted, his tone sincere with a hidden warning behind it.

"Tampered with in what way?" Dante cocked his eyebrow. Picking up the small warning that Charles was putting down.

"I was afraid...that you perhaps started to fancy the young girl." A taunting tone hidden in his words. "That you were forgetting that she was the enemy and...your future queen in the process. But it seems I had made the wrong assumption. My deepest apologies my king, I will get out of your way quickly." He bowed fully this time, quickly taking his leave as he left Dante dumbfounded. Taking another hit before the white fog escaped from his lips. he scratched his head before he turned to the many windows that lit the room. Staring at the storm that raged outside.

* Play Song *

Unlike him, his words did not leave. They sat in the pit of Dante's stomach. Churning and echoing in his thoughts as the idea didn't seem too far fetched. Weighing him down as his mind seemed to play into the idea. Gritting his cigarette between his teeth. Troubled. Did he allow himself to become fascinated with this girl? To be impressed by her loyalty and her body? To be bewitched? He couldn't have, could he? And if he did what could he possible achieve from it? She can't even stomach the sight of him. Spitting on the mere thought of his face before having the urge to wrap her beautiful hands around his throat. She would rather die than be in a room with him for more than ten seconds. Could he really blame her though? After all he's done how could he even fantasize the idea? His butler had to be wrong, he couldn't possibly fancy her. Never! He tried to deny.

     He snarled and quickly took another hit. His nostrils flaring as he inhaled the nicotine, about to let his head fall back so he could watch the smoke rise from his lips. But the action was interrupted when a glint of light flashed against his eyes. His eyes dashed towards the source before his jaw dropped, releasing the puff of smoke that he held. Being met with the color red. He chuckled and the corners of lips pricked into a smile.

"Looks like you finally found me."

On the other side of the glass was the black helicopter whose blade produced the glint of light that caught Dante's attention. The red was  the blazing Alpha eyes that belonged to the infamous Ky Severs. Bearing his canines in rage as he nearly lunged out of the helicopter. The four Betas holding him back as the snow whipped throughout the helicopter. Having to pull up quickly do to the wind tunnel they found themselves caught in. So after a brief twenty second stare off between the enemies, they left but not before noticing the hidden road. A smirk playing on Ky's lips, knowing he had found his way in. His ticket to his beloved and he wasn't gonna waste another second.

"Let the games begin."

*

"We found it. We finally found it!" He growled into the head set. Daren and Jason closing the helicopter doors to block out the loud wind and the cold. "I fucking had him!"

"Had him?? We were ten thousand feet off the ground! What were you gonna do?! Become a flying squirrel??" Jason was hysterical. Shouting at a rage-tensed Ky as he hid his concern for his Alpha. "You were lucky we were there to fucking stop you!"

"Don't you fucking understand!?" Ky snapped. Huffing with all of his pent-up anger. "We were there! We found her! And we could have had her if..." he growled in frustration. His head whipping to the helicopter window as he tried to cover the tears that brimmed his eyes. Blinking them away as his heart and tone became heavy. "If the circumstances were different." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing from the action before clearing his throat. Peering back at his Betas with Hazel nut eyes. "Thank you for stopping me. My actions were reckless and, quite frank, very dumbass like. But do know that once we get home, I will not wait another second before going back to that god-forsaken castle to get my mate back."

"And we will be with you the whole way," Daren intervened. Shattering the idea that Ky might have to go alone. Not allowing him to think that they won't be there even if he told them to stay behind. They were in this no matter what the cost.

"There is no way in Hell we were about to let you do this alone. I hope you already knew that," Sakura added, placing her hand on Ky's in a comforting way. Earning a broken smile as an uncomfortable feeling rose in Jason, eyeing Sakura's and Ky's hands intensely. He could feel an unwanted growl about to escape his throat, but he quickly covered it in a cough and suppressed the unknown feeling for later. Despite Jason's quick cover up, Ky could sense his uneasiness and slipped his hand gently from Sakura's.

"Thank you guys, I...I wouldn't know what I would have done without you." He was sincere, touched by his friends' loyalty and compassion. Touched that even after all the months of avoiding them they would stay by his side despite all his bullshit.

     The rest of the ride was silent, but their minds were hard at work. Buzzing with ideas and thoughts as they hovered over mountain range and wood. The wisp of wind was the only sound that passed through the cabin. Weaving it's way through and out the door little by little. Slowly dying off as they began to lower their altitude, coming closer to their destination where they could regroup. Within moments they landed, feeling the jolt of gravity taking them over before the helicopter doors swung open. Generating the sound of metal swinging passed metal as each individual began to slowly unravel from the helicopter. Their feet slushed against the snow as they made their way towards the warmth of the pack home. Four out of the five wolves had no concrete plan, only one was clever enough to figure it out. Only one had the determination so great that he would give up one of their most valuable assets for trade. It was the only way it could work, the only solution to getting her out alive. To get them all out alive.

"Get the chains engraved with a priestess's blessing and the blades doused in holy water."

"Why? What are you planning?" Alice asked curiously. The four looking at the one as his back was turned to them.

"Because..." he began before he looked over his shoulder. A grinning Ky looking at them with trickery and cunningness. "...we're gonna need to keep our guest comfortable."

________________________________
Song: "I'm a wanted Man" - Royal Deluxe

Hello my Lovelies I know it's been a while (probably half a year to a year already) I am so sorry for the wait but college is severally kicking my ass. I'm trying to find more time to write but every time I do a new project comes and hits me in the face. I've been also having a lot of stress lately due to family problems, so that has taken a toil on my stamina. I am so frustrated with myself and so very sorry for keeping you waiting. However I'm gonna try my best and have decided for my New Year's resolution is to at least update one of my books every month. The chapters may be short, but I rather give you guys something rather than nothing. I am so very sorry again and thank you so much for your time and patience. Hope to hear from your guys soon!